Lead Mold Technician

The Lead Mold Technician is responsible for leading mold setup, changeovers, and maintenance operations while maintaining full accountability for mold SKUs, mold maintenance documentation, and production performance. This role ensures all products are manufactured within prescribed specifications through efficient machine operation, troubleshooting, and proactive problem-solving. The Lead Technician provides leadership across all shifts, actively managing technicians and material handlers, ensuring proper training, and maintaining operational continuity. This position requires taking ownership of staffing coverage, including supporting and covering absences, vacations, or other operational gaps, to ensure uninterrupted production and consistent performance. Key Responsibilities Leadership, Shift Oversight & Accountability Provide direct leadership and accountability for technicians across all shifts, ensuring consistent performance, communication, and adherence to standards. Actively manage shift-to-shift transitions, ensuring clear communication of priorities, issues, and production status. Monitor technician performance and address gaps through coaching, retraining, or escalation to management. Ensure all shifts are properly supported, staffed, and aligned with production goals. Take ownership of operational continuity, ensuring no disruption to production due to lack of direction, support or staffing gaps. Staffing Coverage & Operational Continuity Proactively cover technician responsibilities during absences, including sick leave, vacation, or staffing shortages Adjust priorities and resources to maintain production output despite staffing challenges Be hands-on and available to step into any technician and material handler role when needed Ensure production continues efficiently across all shifts regardless of personnel availability Training & Development (Technicians & Material Handlers) Lead all training efforts for technicians and material handlers across shifts, ensuring consistency in processes and expectations. Develop team capability by cross-training employees to improve flexibility and coverage Ensure all technicians are properly trained in: Mold changes and setup Machine operation and adjustments Safety, GMP, and HACCP standards Evaluate skill levels and implement ongoing coaching to close performance gaps Train and develop Assistant Mold Technicians to independently perform all required technical duties Material Handler Management Directly manage and oversee all material handlers across shifts Assign daily responsibilities and ensure timely and accurate material movement Hold material handlers accountable for performance, organization, and adherence to procedures Ensure proper material flow to prevent production delays or downtime Provide hands-on support to material handlers when workload is high or additional assistance is needed Maintain compliance with GMP, HACCP, and inventory handling standards Production & Technical Execution Set up, change, and remove molds according to production schedules Perform mold SKU changes accurately and efficiently Maintain mold SKUs and ensure all mold maintenance documentation is accurate and up to date Operate machines within established parameters to meet quality and efficiency targets Take primary responsibility for troubleshooting and resolving minor mold and machine issues, including correcting leaks, clearing clogs, adjusting alignment, and cleaning tooling Adjust machine settings to minimize waste and maximize output Quality & Compliance Ensure all team members follow company policies, safety regulations, GMP, and HACCP standards Maintain molds in compliance with food safety requirements Inspect production output and immediately address or escalate defects Enforce accountability for quality standards across all shifts Documentation & Communication Detect and report machine malfunctions immediately to management and maintenance, ensuring all issues are documented for follow-up Communicate machine issues, production concerns, and staffing challenges to management promptly Maintain detailed mold maintenance and usage records Serve as the central communication link between shifts, departments, and leadership Skills & Competencies Strong leadership with ability to manage teams across multiple shifts Ability to hold employees accountable and drive performance Training, coaching, and workforce development Strong troubleshooting and decision-making skills Excellent organizational and time management skills Effective cross-shift and cross-department communication Strong understanding of safety, GMP, and HACCP compliance Mechanical aptitude and technical proficiency Manual dexterity Physical Requirements Ability to lift up to 85 pounds Ability to work in a fast-paced production environment Education & Experience High School Diploma or equivalent required Prior experience in mold setting or manufacturing required Proven leadership or team management experience strongly preferred Additional Requirements Must be flexible to support multiple shifts as needed Must be able and willing to perform all technician duties at any time Must demonstrate reliability and ownership in maintaining production continuity Disclaimer This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities. Additional duties may be assigned as needed.

Pay:

$35.00 - $38.00 per hour

Benefits:

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

Work Location:

In person