Job Description

Job Overview

We are hiring a Bakery Production Lead for a full-time, contract-to-hire opportunity in Manteno, IL. This is a hands-on production-floor leadership role supporting daily bakery operations, employee training, production flow, safety, quality, and operator-level troubleshooting.

The ideal candidate has food manufacturing experience and is comfortable leading employees while staying actively involved on the production floor. Openings are available on 1st and 2nd shift.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support employees during daily bakery production.
• Train new employees on job responsibilities, safety procedures, quality expectations, and production processes.
• Assign employees to workstations and coordinate task rotations and breaks.
• Monitor production flow and address bottlenecks or operator-level equipment issues.
• Help ensure compliance with GMP, food-safety, safety, and quality requirements.
• Conduct safety checks and report unsafe acts or conditions.
• Work with Quality Assurance to ensure products meet established food-safety and quality standards.
• Maintain accurate records for production output, downtime, material usage, and centerline documentation.
• Verify production lines have the correct materials and are following accurate recipes.
• Coordinate with warehouse personnel regarding materials and inventory.
• Track production information and communicate KPIs to the team.
• Escalate machinery issues, shortages, safety concerns, and production challenges to supervisors or management.
• Provide ongoing coaching and direction to production employees.
• Support continuous improvement efforts involving safety, quality, productivity, and efficiency.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum 2–3 years of production experience in food manufacturing or a similar manufacturing environment.
• Ability to lead, train, coach, and direct employees on a production floor.
• Mechanical aptitude with the ability to troubleshoot production equipment at the operator level.
• Understanding of GMP and food-safety practices.
• Good math skills.
• Ability to read and follow work instructions, recipes, procedures, and production requirements.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to maintain accurate production records and documentation.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Ability to lift up to approximately 50 lbs. and stand or walk for extended periods, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to work up to six days per week based on business and production needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on food manufacturing experience.
• Experience with bakery production equipment, bagging machinery, mixers, packaging equipment, or similar production equipment.
• Bilingual skills.
• Technical certification related to mechanical equipment.

Compensation & Benefits

• Pay: $24.00–$28.00 per hour.
• 1st Shift: Approximately 5:00 AM–2:30 PM.
• 2nd Shift: Approximately 2:00 PM–10:30 PM.
• Assignment: Contract-to-Hire.

Upon eligible client hire, benefits include:

• Health, dental, and vision coverage effective from day one.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off.
• Growth and development opportunities.
• Additional benefits.

Why Apply

This is an opportunity for an experienced food-production professional to step into a hands-on leadership role while remaining actively involved with employees, equipment, production flow, and quality. The position offers exposure to daily floor leadership, training, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement, with the opportunity to develop toward greater leadership responsibility.

You should be proficient in:

• Leadership / People Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• Manufacturing Instruction (MI)
• FDA Regulations
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Supervisory Experience
• Production Optimization
• Coaching and Mentoring Experience
• Operational Metrics & KPI Management
• ERP & MRP Systems
• Inventory Management & Control
• Workplace Safety & EHS Management
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

Machines & technologies you'll use:

• ERP Software