Machining Team Leader

Role Purpose

The Machining Team Leader provides frontline leadership for a machining manufacturing operation, ensuring the safe, efficient, and high-quality execution of daily production activities. This role is responsible for leading operators, coordinating resources, driving operational excellence, and fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and employee development.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily machining operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and productivity targets.
• Provide clear direction, coaching, and support to production employees to ensure successful execution of production plans.
• Manage personnel, materials, equipment, and production priorities to optimize throughput and product quality.
• Coordinate production activities with maintenance, engineering, quality, and other support functions.
• Balance production requirements with equipment maintenance, process improvements, validation activities, and capital projects.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Promote and maintain a safe work environment through active engagement, hazard identification, and proactive risk mitigation.
• Foster a culture of operational discipline, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor, analyze, and communicate key production metrics, identifying opportunities for improved performance.
• Develop workforce capability through effective onboarding, training, cross-training, and employee development initiatives.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide timely coaching, feedback, and recognition.
• Support problem-solving activities, root cause investigations, and corrective action implementation.
• Build strong working relationships with employees and cross-functional teams to achieve business objectives.
• Drive workforce flexibility and establish staffing plans that support evolving production needs.

Work Hours

• Ability to work a 2-3-2 rotating schedule, transitioning from days to nights and from nights to days every two weeks.
  
• Willingness to work flexible hours to meet business needs, including weekend and evening support, as well as occasional coverage for 12-hour rotating shift supervisor assignments.

Education & Experience

• 2+ years of manufacturing or engineering experience. 
• Leadership experience (work, school, community)

Required Skills

• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate across all levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to coach, mentor, and develop employees while providing clear direction, establishing expectations, and driving accountability.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating activities across multiple functions and collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve operational objectives.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, personal accountability, and leadership presence.
• Strong team-building skills with the ability to foster engagement, trust, and a positive work environment.
• Commitment to operational excellence through process discipline, standardization, and adherence to established procedures.
• Demonstrated learning agility with the ability to adapt to changing priorities, acquire new skills, and continuously grow.
• Strong customer focus with the ability to align team performance and decision-making to meet customer and business needs.

Desired Skills

• Experience in machining, precision manufacturing, semiconductor, advanced materials, or other high-tech manufacturing environments.
  
• Experience supporting new product introduction, startup operations, or early-stage manufacturing.
  
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, problem solving, or continuous improvement methodologies.
  
• Familiarity with CNC machining operations, process controls, quality systems, and production metrics.
  
• Experience working in highly regulated manufacturing environments.

Soft Skills

• Builds trust and credibility through actions and results.
  
• Creates an inclusive, respectful, and engaged team culture.
  
• Effectively manages conflict and drives accountability.
  
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic manufacturing environment.
  
• Leads by example and willingly supports the team in achieving critical business objectives.
  
• Develops talent and creates opportunities for employee growth and advancement.