Find & Apply For Production Worker Jobs in Rahway, New Jersey

Production Lead

• 2.1 830 Elston Street, Rahway, NJ 07065 $22 - $28 an hour - Full-time Apply with Indeed About Protek Cargo At Protek Cargo, we pride ourselves on being a leader in the passive insulation industry since 1994. From our beginning in California's Napa Valley, our operations have continued to grow and expand throughout the United States and abroad. We are known for delivering high-quality insulation products, dependable service, and a strong commitment to our customers. Protek Cargo is a family-owned business, and we place a high value not only on the quality of our products and services, but also on the members of our Protek Cargo family. We work hard to maintain a close-knit, team-oriented atmosphere across all of our operations. As we continue expanding our production operations in Rahway, New Jersey , we are looking for a dedicated, experienced, and hands-on Lead Production Operator / Production Lead to join our team and help drive production performance, quality, safety, and accountability. Position Overview The ideal candidate is a strong, hands-on leader with real production floor experience. This position is not only an administrative or paperwork-based lead role. We are looking for someone who can lead from the front by operating equipment, troubleshooting machine issues, training team members, monitoring production flow, and helping ensure that daily production goals are met. This individual must be comfortable working directly with production machinery, understanding how machines run, identifying issues quickly, and helping resolve problems to minimize downtime. The right candidate will have strong mechanical knowledge, good leadership skills, and the ability to keep the team focused, productive, and working safely. The Lead Production Operator will be responsible for supporting daily production schedules, maintaining product quality, assisting with machine setup and adjustments, completing required paperwork and system entries, and helping create a positive, organized, and accountable work environment. Key Responsibilities Lead daily production floor operations to ensure production goals, quality standards, and safety expectations are met. Operate production machinery as needed and assist operators with machine setup, adjustments, troubleshooting, and changeovers. Provide hands-on support to the team during active production runs. Monitor workflow throughout the shift and help adjust labor, machine assignments, and priorities as needed. Train, coach, and support production team members to improve performance, consistency, and accountability. Identify machine issues, production delays, quality concerns, and process problems, then communicate and help implement solutions. Perform basic mechanical troubleshooting and assist with reducing equipment downtime. Ensure production paperwork, work orders, trackers, counts, reports, and ERP/NetSuite entries are completed accurately and on time. Maintain quality control checks to ensure finished product meets company and customer standards. Support safe work practices and ensure team members are following all company safety procedures. Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient production floor. Communicate production status, staffing concerns, equipment issues, material shortages, and shift updates to management. Work closely with management, logistics, procurement, maintenance, and warehouse teams to support daily operational needs. Help maintain a positive team environment while holding team members accountable to company expectations. Required Qualifications Minimum of 2 years of experience in a production lead, machine operator lead, or similar manufacturing leadership role . Strong hands-on mechanical ability and experience working with production machinery. Ability to troubleshoot basic machine issues and support production equipment during active runs. Proven ability to lead, train, motivate, and hold team members accountable. Strong understanding of production flow, quality control, safety practices, and manufacturing efficiency. Ability to work under pressure and make sound decisions in a fast-paced production environment. Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with operators, supervisors, management, and other departments. Must be reliable, punctual, organized, and willing to lead by example. Experience completing production paperwork, tracking counts, reporting machine issues, and documenting shift activity. Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, NetSuite, or similar ERP/production tracking systems. Ability to stand, walk, bend, lift, and work in a production environment for extended periods. Preferred Qualifications Experience with plastic extrusion, bubble/foam/film production, converting equipment, sealing equipment, or similar manufacturing machinery. Experience with lean manufacturing, workflow improvement, or production efficiency programs. Familiarity with

ISO 9001

2015, GMPs, or similar quality systems. Certificate or formal training in mechanics, manufacturing, industrial maintenance, or a related field. Forklift experience or certification is a plus. Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus. What We Are Looking For We are looking for someone who can do more than simply supervise. The right person for this role must be willing and able to get directly involved on the production floor. This includes operating machines, assisting with troubleshooting, helping team members improve, reviewing production paperwork, and ensuring that the shift stays on track. The ideal candidate is dependable, mechanically inclined, organized, and comfortable holding the team accountable while also maintaining a respectful and positive work environment. We need someone who understands that a strong production lead must be able to both manage the details and physically support the work being done. How to Apply Interested candidates should submit the following: Updated resume Cover letter or brief summary of relevant experience Professional references References should include previous supervisors, managers, or professional contacts who can speak to the applicant's leadership ability, mechanical knowledge, reliability, and production experience.

Please send application materials to:

sgonzalez@protekcargo.com Please include the following in the subject line: Production Lead Application — Rahway, NJ Equal Opportunity Employer Protek Cargo is an equal opportunity employer.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$22.00 - $28.00 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Education:

High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience:

Leadership:

3 years (Required) Lean manufacturing: 5 years (Required) Mechanical troubleshooting: 2 years (Required) Mechanical knowledge: 2 years (Preferred) ERP systems: 2 years (Required)

Microsoft Excel:

2 years (Required) Computer skills: 3 years (Required) Inventory control: 3 years (Required)

License/Certification:

Driver's License (Required) Shift availability: Night Shift (Required) Overnight Shift (Preferred)

Work Location:

In person