Production Lead (1st Shift)

JOB TITLE: Production Lead (1st Shift)

FUNCTION: Production

REPORTS TO: Production Supervisor

LOCATION: Hilbert, Wisconsin

POSITION TYPE: Full Time

SCHEDULE: M-TH 6:10am – 4:10pm, Friday overtime as needed

HOURLY RATE: $22.25 + Eligible for quarterly bonus

Ornua (meaning “new gold”) is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, proudly bringing the unique taste of Irish dairy to the world since 1961. 

Ornua is actively seeking a Production Lead to join the Ornua Family as we continue our growth trajectory. As a Production Lead you will oversee the day‑to‑day operations within your designated area, ensuring that production, safety, and quality standards are consistently met. You’ll provide hands-on guidance, training, and support to team members while driving efficient workflow and fostering a positive, safety‑focused culture.  This is a working lead position, meaning you will actively participate in production activities and step in wherever needed to support both the team and the process on the floor.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Continuously acts in a leadership capacity, striving to create a positive and motivating environment within the team.  
• Assists with the daily plan for where individuals are stationed in the production and packaging process. Assists in training and oversees other training to ensure this.  
• Implements/translates daily production schedule at floor level, ensuring that it is met in terms of formula translation and number of required batches. 
• Fills in for the Production Supervisor in their absence. 
• Ensures finished product is properly labeled per customer requirements. 
• Makes sure all necessary raw materials are available and properly staged for efficient production of the daily production schedule.  Work with inventory/warehouse/ordering personnel. 
• Translates Ornua’s food quality and food safety procedures, policies and protocols, including HACCP to hourly production staff on shift. Creates and updates training materials to assist in same. Does the necessary record keeping and documentation encompassed with all programs. 
• Addresses and documents personnel and equipment issues on the production and packaging floors, collaborating with Supervisors and Plant Leadership to drive prompt resolution.
• Ensures planned filter changes take place and other key production elements. 
• Assists with product changeovers. 
• Determines when daily breaks are to occur in production rooms. 
• Ensures equipment is ready for end-of-run sanitation procedures. 
• Handles daily attendance and reports temp workers, absences, vacations, and early quits.  
• Generates documentation for use on the production/packaging lines.  
• Helps the Senior Management Team in ensuring facility meets MDA, FDA and USDA requirements as well as the BRC and customer audits. 
• Handles employee needs, requests, and issues timely, thoroughly, and effectively, communicating with HR as needed. 
• Participates in the Risk Management Program as applicable: 
  • Assist in accident/near miss incidents as needed. 
  • Perform daily pre-op audits. 
  • Review occupational JSA’s as needed. 
• All other duties as needed or assigned.  

EXPERIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Qualifications

• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in warehouse operations.
• Proficiency in inventory management systems and basic computer applications.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to stand/walk for 10 consecutive hours
• Willingness to work in a food manufacturing environment with variable temperatures
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S.
• Ability to use hands to grasp, grip and manipulate boxes or product
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Ability to understand and communicate in English

Desired Qualifications

• Prior food manufacturing experience
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and food safety standards.
• Experience with ERP systems.
• Forklift certification.
• Knowledge of lean warehouse practices.
• Ability to understand and communicate in Spanish or another language

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This role requires regular standing, walking, bending, twisting, pushing, pulling, and lifting up to 60 pounds. Employees must be able to perform repetitive motions and safely operate equipment while following all safety and quality procedures.  

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a food manufacturing facility with variable temperatures — cooler warehouse areas and warmer production zones. The environment includes exposure to moving equipment, moderate to loud noise levels, and required use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety shoes, safety glasses, hearing protection, hard hats and hairnets.

WHY ORNUA?

Ornua is a purpose-driven, values-led co-operative creating value for Irish dairy farming families through our global operations. With 10 business units, 16 production facilities, and in-market teams across the world, we operate through two divisions — Ornua Foods, which markets our iconic consumer brands including Kerrygold and Pilgrims Choice, and Ornua Ingredients, which provides innovative, customized dairy ingredient solutions to our customers.

• Our Values lie at the core of everything we do. Our five values encourage us to Seek and Embrace New Ideas, Make It Happen, Be Our True Selves, Show You Care, and Achieve Great Things Together.
• We invest in our people and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Career progression opportunities, including global mobility.
• Comprehensive benefits with region-specific offerings.

Ornua is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will be provided with equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, or genetic information.  Ornua is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you require an accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact Ornua People Services at 833-450-2385 or peopleservicesus@ornua.com. 

This employer participates in E-Verify, a federal program that verifies the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. As part of the hiring process, information provided on your Form I-9 will be submitted to the E-Verify system. 

E-Verify compares your information to records maintained by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.
For more information about E-Verify, please visit www.e-verify.gov.