Manufacturing Team Leader

General Scope of Duties: The Manufacturing Team Leader is responsible for the safe and efficient execution of daily production activities at the Waco facility. The position leads supervisors and plant employees to ensure customer orders are produced on time, within established quality and operating standards, and with effective use of labor, equipment, and plant capacity. The Manufacturing Team Leader is accountable for daily production performance, including safety execution, staffing, scheduling, productivity, machine efficiency, scrap, product quality, and employee performance. Responsibilities and Duties: Lead the site in achieving a Zero Accident Culture and drive ZAC360, safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory compliance. Lead daily production activities in accordance with established safety, quality, production, and operating requirements. Lead, coach, and manage Production and Shipping Supervisors and plant employees to maintain a productive, accountable, and engaged workforce. Coordinate daily staffing and labor deployment based on production requirements, available capacity, and approved labor plans. Manage production scheduling, machine loading, overtime, and workflow to meet customer delivery requirements. Monitor daily production performance, including output, machine efficiency, labor utilization, scrap, downtime, quality, and delivery results. Take timely corrective action when production performance does not meet established targets or expectations. Conduct performance management activities for direct reports and address employee performance issues in accordance with Company policies and procedures. Identify and implement production-floor improvements that increase efficiency, reduce waste, improve workflow, and support reliable production. Ensure incoming materials, work-in-process, and finished products meet established quality requirements and documented production standards. Maintain required production records, reports, and performance information and communicate significant operating issues to the Site Leader. Coordinate with Customer Service and other internal functions regarding production status, scheduling needs, and customer delivery requirements. Ensure production equipment is used properly and promptly communicate maintenance or equipment reliability concerns to the appropriate function. Other production-related initiatives, projects, and responsibilities as required. Preferred Skills and Experience: Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, operations, or a related field preferred. Equivalent education and relevant experience may be considered. A minimum of 5 years of leadership or managerial experience in a manufacturing environment. Experience supervising production employees and frontline manufacturing leaders. Knowledge of the needle-punch manufacturing process preferred. Qualifications and Skills: Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, motivate, and develop manufacturing employees. Strong knowledge of production operations, scheduling, labor utilization, machine efficiency, productivity, and manufacturing performance measures. Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills. Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and respond to changing production requirements. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Ability and willingness to work extended/flexible hours and travel as required. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 40+ hours, with extended and flexible hours as needed. Reporting Relationships: Reports to Site Leader. Coordinates with Customer Service, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and other functions as needed to support production requirements. Supervisory Responsibilities: Provides leadership and coordination across plant operations and works closely with Manufacturing, Customer Service, Sales and Marketing, customers, suppliers, industry associations, academic institutions, and other internal and external stakeholders. Effort & Working Conditions: The Manufacturing Team Leader is expected to have frequent involvement in the manufacturing environment and regularly move throughout the facility. The position requires attention to safety, quality, production, equipment, and operational conditions. The role requires use of standard office and computer equipment as well as frequent interaction with employees, leadership, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders. The Manufacturing Team Leader must be available to respond to critical operational needs and may be required to work extended or flexible hours, including outside of normal business hours. This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive statement of every duty and responsibility required of the job holder. The Company may amend duties, responsibilities, and reporting relationships from time to time.