Production Lead

About Us:

Essenhaus Foods is a growing food manufacturer located in Middlebury, Indiana, known nationwide for our high-quality Amish egg noodles. We take pride in producing consistent, dependable products that reflect our values of excellence, integrity, and teamwork.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a Production Lead to join our team and serve as the right hand to our Production Manager. This individual will play a key leadership role on the production floor — assisting with daily operations, ensuring smooth line startups and shutdowns, coordinating changeovers, and maintaining efficiency and product quality. This role is ideal for someone with prior leadership experience in a manufacturing environment who thrives in a hands-on, fast-paced setting.

Work Schedule:

This is a full-time position averaging 36–40 hours per week, Monday through Thursday, with occasional work on Fridays as needed to meet production demands.

Responsibilities:

1. Support the Production Manager with daily plant operations, including startup, shutdown, and production scheduling.
2. Lead production team members and promote a positive, team-oriented environment.
3. Oversee and assist with line changeovers and setups to minimize downtime.
4. Fill in for production line operators during breaks or absences to maintain workflow.
5. Ensure all safety, quality, and food safety standards are consistently met.
6. Communicate clearly with team members, maintenance, and management to resolve issues quickly.
7. Monitor production efficiency and recommend process improvements.
8. Help train and mentor new employees on production procedures and company standards.

Qualifications:

1. Proven experience leading or supervising a team in a manufacturing environment (food production experience preferred).
2. Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
3. Ability to multitask and adapt to changing priorities.
4. Willingness to work hands-on in production operations as needed.
5. Dependable, detail-oriented, and committed to maintaining high standards of quality and safety.
6. Flexibility to work occasional Fridays or extended hours when required.