Production Team Lead

  • All Posting Locations: Lowville, NY, US
  • Job Functions: Manufacturing
  • Date Published: February 11, 2025
  • Ref#: R-90111

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About the Role

Job Description

The Kraft Heinz Company is currently seeking a Team Lead to work at our food processing facility in Lowville, NY. Successful candidates must be willing to supply improvements suggestions and ideas to help continue the success of our facility. Ideal candidates must be safety and quality orientated along with demonstrate adaptability and willingness to work in a team orientated, fast paced work environment. This position requires individuals to perform general production duties in a food manufacturing environment following strict quality and safety standards.

EEO Policy

Kraft Heinz is an EO employer – Underrepresented groups/Women/Vets/Disabled and other protected categories

The company will review reasonable accommodations for those employees as required.

Benefits & Compensation Overview:

We offer a variety of benefits depending on how you chose what is best for you, but what is offered are:

  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Reimbursement/Health Savings Account
  • Additional perks: Employee Assistance Program, Company paid Life Insurance, Company paid Short-term disability
  • $28.21-33.36/hr
  • A $1.00 shift differential for second shift or and $1.25 shift differential for third shift

Work Schedule:

Schedule is based on 7 days per week production.

Plant & Community Overview:

The Lowville plant produces the legendary Philadelphia Cream Cheese and Kraft String Cheese! Built in 1971, the facility is over 400,000 square feet and houses 18 production lines. Milk and cream is supplied by local farms. With over 500 employees, the plant is one of the largest employers in Lewis County.

For more information on the company or the community, visit https://www.kraftheinzcompany.com/ or https://lowville.racog.org/

Primary Function

Under the direction of the Process Owner and with the support of management staff, the employee will own results for clean inspect and lube, centerline management system, 5S system, integrity of process data and the Oscar scrap elimination system. This employee will actively participate in annual planning, weekly reviews/PDCA meetings, Lead Daily Level 1 and attend Level 2 meetings (as the need arises).

This employee will assist in development of center line definition and associated standard development. Develop control strategies to enable operators to respond to out of control situations. Leads root cause problem solving efforts on key losses in the process. Coaches teams on CIL, CLM, 5S, and Oscar systems execution. Coaches and develops teams by building problem solving skills within the process.

Job Responsibilities and Accountabilities

  • Facilitates the line loss analysis (waste elimination and yield improvement) and line throughput improvement plans. (OEE current/future state).
  • Analysis daily and shift line data to identify and prioritize loss elimination opportunities.
  • Participates in internal audit program, food safety committee, and sanitary design team.
  • Spends time on the floor to collect information on stops, centerlines and changeovers over the past 24 hours.
  • Investigates initial root cause of top stops.
  • Begin to develop plan for the day for ownership areas.
  • Lead level 1 meetings.
  • Discuss top stops and root cause. Establish countermeasures in plan for the day.
  • Ensure centerline completion and compliance. Create countermeasures on any outages.
  • Works with Process Owner, CI Lead and Maintenance Lead to address losses.
  • Lead centerline and Quality Daily Management Systems.
  • Perform all other duties as assigned by management.
  • Follow all established GMP, Housekeeping guidelines, Housekeeping responsibilities and QRMP operating procedures.
  • Assist in the implementation of the QRMP program and acts as trainer.

Overall Skills and Abilities

  • Capable of learning intermediate Microsoft excel, Power point, Word, Metrics, and ZPI skills.
  • Strong planning/organizational skills and interpersonal skills.
  • Understanding of requirements and importance of documentation.
  • Can understand and write SOPs, OPLs and CIL’s.
  • Project conceptualization, generation, implementation, and project completion.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work successfully in a team environment with people of varying skills and backgrounds.
  • Knowledge of safety policies and procedures i.e. (lock-out / tag-out, confined space entry).
  • Understanding of requirement and importance of documentation.
  • Ability to lift 50 lbs

Qualifications

  • High School Diploma or equivalent experience/GED required.

Attributes Desired

  • Knowledge of processing and packaging
  • Ability to multi-task.
  • Excellent digital literacy
  • Ability to supervise and report on the workflow of others.
  • Attention to detail in daily tasks.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Participation in Company Committees

Safety Responsibility:

  • Demonstrate leadership in all plant safety programs and efforts.
  • Incorporate safety considerations into the daily activities of the work group.
  • May be required to obtain training and perform tasks vital to follow various safety and environmental programs, e.g. LOTO, Machine Guarding, etc.

Quality Responsibility:

  • Ensure the quality of our products and our workplace by following all procedures and guidelines.
  • Follow all established GMP's, HACCP guidelines, housekeeping responsibilities and ISO operating procedures.

Productivity Responsibility:

  • Actively participate in team goal setting/implementation to ensure that we are the low cost, high quality producer.
  • Strive to improve the efficiency of the plant/department by developing & implementing continuous improvement initiatives.

Working Conditions:

  • Subject to work in all environments of the plant.
  • Overtime, Weekend, and holiday work is required.

Must have demonstrated leadership ability, excellent interpersonal skills and verbal/listening communication skills. It is crucial that the facilitator be self-motivated and has an ability to work with a team environment.

Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:

  • Physical – Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments

  • Social – Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Recognition, Training

  • Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs

  • Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

Location(s)

Lowville Plant

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer that prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants who require an accommodation to participate in the job application or hiring process should contact NAZTAOps@kraftheinz.com.

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About Us

Kraft Heinz is a global food company with a delicious heritage.  Our emerging and iconic food and beverage brands deliver the best taste, fun, and quality to every table we touch. Worldwide.

We’re on a mission to disrupt not only our own business, but the global food industry. Consumer obsession and unexpected partnerships fuel our progress. As we drive innovation company-wide.

Our people are connected by a culture of ownership, agility and endless curiosity. We believe in being good humans — working to improve our company, communities, and planet.

We’re proud of where we’ve been and even more thrilled about where we’re headed as we nourish the world and lead the future of food.

Why Us

We grow our people to grow our business. We champion great people who bring ambition, curiosity, and high performance to the table as the guardians of our iconic and nostalgic brands.

Good isn’t good enough. We choose greatness every day by making bold decisions and challenging what’s ordinary. All while celebrating our wins – and failures – as we work together to transform the future of food.

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