Shift Lead — Second Shift

POSITION SUMMARY

The Second Shift Lead leads the production crew on second shift. This is a people leadership position first and an operational execution position second — the Shift Lead delivers results through the team, setting expectations, coaching in the moment, and holding the standard for safety, quality, and output.

Second shift carries responsibility that first shift does not. For most of the shift, this is the senior operational employee in the building. The Shift Lead is expected to exercise sound judgment when something goes wrong, know what can be handled on shift and what has to be escalated, and hand off a clear picture of the shift to the team that follows.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

People Leadership & Crew Development

• Lead, direct, and motivate the second-shift crew — this is the core of the role
• Set clear expectations for performance, productivity, safety, and accountability, and hold the crew to them consistently
• Assign work effectively across the shift and make sure every employee understands what they are responsible for
• Provide real-time coaching and feedback on the floor rather than saving it for a review
• Address performance, attendance, and conduct issues promptly and document them as they occur
• Train and cross-train operators to build crew flexibility, and verify competence before leaving someone to run a job alone
• Build a shift culture of teamwork, ownership, urgency, and continuous improvement
• Lead by example and maintain a consistent, visible presence on the production floor throughout the shift

Production Performance & Shift Execution

• Own delivery of the shift’s production targets — know the rate, know where the shift stands, and know why when it is behind
• Execute the production schedule and communicate early when it is at risk
• Monitor performance through the shift, identify gaps as they develop, and take action to keep production on track
• Manage labor effectively — staff the lines to the plan and adjust as conditions change
• Minimize downtime and keep throughput steady across the shift

Safety & Quality

• Set the safety standard for the shift by example — PPE, lockout/tagout, and safe work practices are held without exception, including when the shift is behind
• Hold every employee on the shift accountable for safe work practices and correct unsafe behavior immediately
• Lead safety discussions and toolbox talks, and maintain combustible dust housekeeping standards throughout the shift
• Respond to incidents and near misses — secure the area, get the right help, and report accurately and immediately
• Verify product meets specification throughout the shift and hold product that does not
• Ensure quality checks are performed as required and that operators are held to the quality standard

Equipment Reliability & Troubleshooting

• Ensure equipment inspections and operator-level preventive maintenance are completed on shift
• Serve as first-line response when equipment goes down — diagnose the problem, restore production where it is safe and within scope, and coordinate with maintenance when it is not
• Identify developing mechanical issues before they become failures and report them with enough detail to act on
• Know the line between an adjustment the shift can make and a repair that belongs to maintenance, and do not cross it
• Record downtime accurately — what went down, when, for how long, and what was done about it

Operational Discipline & Process Control

• Ensure operators consistently follow standard operating procedures, startup and shutdown procedures, and changeover steps
• Hold process parameters and additive rates to specification and flag deviations rather than working around them
• Maintain process stability across the shift and correct drift before it affects product
• Enforce established operating standards consistently, including when the shift is under pressure

Continuous Improvement

• Identify recurring production problems and bring them forward with the detail needed to solve them
• Suggest practical improvements that increase throughput, reliability, and consistency
• Support implementation of improvements on the shift and make sure changes actually hold

Shift Communication & Handoff

• Provide a complete shift turnover — production status, equipment issues, and the outstanding priorities the next shift is walking into
• Complete production reporting and shift documentation accurately before leaving
• Escalate issues to the Plant Manager appropriately — promptly when it cannot wait, with the facts when it can
• Keep communication clear and direct between the crew, the incoming shift, and plant leadership

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate’s degree in industrial technology, manufacturing, engineering technology, or a related field preferred
• 5+ years of manufacturing experience, including at least 2 years in a lead or supervisory role
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop a production crew, and to hold a standard with people you work beside every day
• Sound independent judgment — responds effectively to operational problems and knows what can be handled on shift versus what must be escalated
• Mechanical aptitude and genuine curiosity about how the equipment works
• Demonstrated record of delivering results — production, safety, or quality performance they were accountable for
• Experience with automated production systems and PLC-controlled equipment is a strong plus
• Experience with pellet mills, refiners, or similar bulk material processing equipment preferred — we will train the right candidate
• Able to follow and enforce process and procedure consistently, with real attention to detail
• Forklift and skid steer experience preferred; certification provided if needed
• Able to work second shift, with occasional nights and weekends as production requires
• Reliable transportation

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position is performed on the manufacturing floor for the full shift. The work environment is not climate controlled, with exposure to paper and wood dust, industrial equipment, noise, mechanical and electrical hazards, and seasonal temperature extremes. PPE including safety glasses, steel-toed boots, gloves, and hearing protection is required at all times in operating areas. The role requires standing and walking for extended periods, climbing stairs and ladders, and lifting over 50 lbs.

WHAT LSC OFFERS

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Bi-annual PPE allowance

Pay: $23.50 - $27.50 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 – 55.0 per week

Benefits:

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

Work Location: In person