Production Lead

Job Title:

Production Lead / Production Trainer Job Description The Production Lead / Production Trainer develops, delivers, and evaluates training programs to ensure production employees have the knowledge, skills, and competencies to perform their tasks safely, efficiently, and in line with quality standards. This role supports onboarding, upskilling, process improvements, and compliance initiatives in a fast-paced production environment, while also providing day-to-day leadership and guidance on the production floor. Responsibilities Deliver hands-on training for new hires and existing employees on production processes, equipment operation, safety procedures, and quality standards. Develop, support, and maintain training materials such as standard operating procedures (SOPs), job aids, videos, checklists, and presentations. Maintain training schedules and ensure all required certifications and recertifications are completed on time. Assess worker skill levels and recommend additional coaching, retraining, or upskilling as needed. Lead orientation and on-the-job training for new production employees to support a smooth onboarding experience. Partner closely with supervisors to ensure new employees transition smoothly into their roles and meet performance expectations. Track trainee progress and provide clear, constructive feedback to both employees and management. Collaborate with production, quality, and safety teams to ensure training content aligns with current processes, quality requirements, and regulatory standards. Observe production activities regularly to identify opportunities for process improvements, safety enhancements, and efficiency gains. Reinforce adherence to SOPs, quality standards, and safety protocols through coaching and daily oversight. Maintain accurate, up-to-date training records, certifications, and competency assessments for all production staff. Ensure training programs comply with internal company policies, industry standards, and applicable regulatory requirements. Support audits by preparing and providing training documentation and records as needed. Provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to production staff to support continuous improvement. Communicate changes in procedures, equipment, or expectations clearly and in a timely manner to all affected employees. Create and sustain a positive learning environment that promotes employee engagement, open communication, and continuous improvement. Follow all safety and quality standards at all times and model safe work practices on the production floor. Work assigned shifts, including weekends and overtime, as required to support production and training needs. Perform other related duties as assigned by leadership to support production goals and employee development. Provide day-to-day supervision and guidance to production team members, ensuring quality checks, visual inspections, and nonconforming product handling are completed correctly. Support quality control and quality assurance activities, including quality inspection, visual inspection, and documentation of quality checks. Interpret and use blueprints or technical drawings as needed to support production and training activities. Support preventive maintenance activities in coordination with maintenance technicians, particularly in areas involving electrical systems and pneumatics, to minimize downtime. Essential Skills Proven leadership capabilities with the ability to supervise, guide, and motivate production staff. Experience delivering hands-on training in a production or manufacturing environment. Strong understanding of production processes, equipment operation, and safety procedures. Knowledge of quality control, quality assurance, and quality inspection practices, including visual inspection and quality checks. Ability to interpret and follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and other technical documentation. Strong communication skills with the ability to explain procedures, changes, and expectations clearly and effectively. Ability to assess employee skill levels and provide constructive coaching and feedback. Organizational skills to maintain training schedules, track certifications, and manage accurate training records. Attention to detail to ensure adherence to safety, quality, and regulatory requirements. Ability to work assigned shifts, including weekends and overtime, as required. Additional Skills & Qualifications Experience in a production lead, supervisor, or similar leadership role in a manufacturing environment. Background in working with quality systems, nonconforming product handling, and continuous improvement initiatives. Familiarity with preventive maintenance concepts and collaboration with maintenance technicians. Exposure to electrical systems and pneumatics within a production or industrial setting. Ability to read and interpret blueprints or technical drawings. Experience working in a paper mill or similar industrial production environment is a plus. Why Work Here? You join a company that offers great benefits and values employee development, safety, and quality. The organization promotes a culture of continuous improvement, where your ideas for better processes and training are welcomed. You have the opportunity to make a direct impact on the success and growth of the production team while building your own leadership and training expertise in a supportive environment. Work Environment The role is based in a clean manufacturing environment that emphasizes safety, quality, and organization. You work on the production floor alongside operators, technicians, and quality staff, using standard production equipment and tools as well as training materials such as SOPs, job aids, and visual aids. The position requires flexibility to work assigned shifts, including weekends and overtime, to support production and training needs. The facility maintains a professional industrial setting with a focus on cleanliness and adherence to safety and quality standards. Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Saint Cloud, MN. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $24.00 - $27.00/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Saint Cloud,MN.

Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on May 18, 2026.

About Aerotek:

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meets their goals, skills and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry - from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role solving for companies' construction, manufacturing and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow. Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.