Operations Team Lead 1st Shift

Location: 

Watertown, WI, US, 53094

Job Posting Date:  Mar 26, 2026
Requisition ID:  53302
Shift:  First Shift
Employment Type:  Hourly
Full-time

Position Facility: Watertown

 

 Our manufacturing members are the heart of our organization. Members of our manufacturing team, which includes machine operators, packaging, shipping and more, take pride in ensuring we produce only the highest-quality, most consistent products for our customers and consumers. If you’re passionate about making a difference, we want you to help make our products, processes, communities and each other better.

Position Overview

Pay Range: $30.87/hr - $37.01/hr  
Hours: 4:40am – 3:30pm, Monday-Friday (Overtime as production demands).


The Team Leader will perform as a proactive, “change agent” in the facility and provide support and direction to Members of a work team.  The Team Leader will be expected to lead, motivate, and facilitate learning for Members to achieve productivity results, improve individual skills, and enhance teamwork; ensure compliance with safety, quality, and sanitation requirements; function as a technical and business resource in areas of system operations; work towards continuous improvements in performance measures by leading actions for assigned duties; and establish and sustain effective relationships with all Members in order to foster an environment where innovation, cooperation and ownership are used to solve problems.

 

Responsibilities

•    Coach Members to deliver continuous improvement in the areas of safety, food safety, quality, cost of goods manufactured, customer service and Member development 
•    Write and conduct performance reviews
•    Be responsible for the performance, productivity, and efficient utilization of resources
•    Complete production-related paperwork and work orders
•    Create an environment that ensures Member involvement and implementation of programs, ideas, and guidelines
•    Ensure appropriate Coaches/Members are aware of problems, issues, and events that could affect safety, food safety/quality, cost, customer service
•    Work closely with the USDA and suppliers
•    Work closely with your internal customers to get timely quality feedback
•    Responsible for working with accounting to establish and achieve budget targets
•    Partner with Production Coordinators on profit enhancing capital projects to produce a favorable internal rate of return (IRR)
•    Leverage problem solving tools to lead improvement teams
•    Encourage cross training and Member growth through Skill Blocks
•    Lead daily team meetings and be a champion for the Industrial Athlete Stretching program 
•    Jump on the line as needed to support your team
•    Complete all other duties as assigned

Experience

•    Three years of experience in a leadership or supervisory role preferred
•    Experience in a food manufacturing environment
•    Demonstrated experience in providing positive feedback and coaching on performance improvement
•    Knowledgeable in regulatory compliance areas (Human Safety, USDA, HACCP)
•    Strong computer skills preferred in SAP, Outlook, Word and Excel highly preferred
•    Ability to manage multiple tasks and to be flexible by adjusting priorities

Skills

•    Strong written and verbal communication skills required
•    Excellent mechanical and mathematical aptitude 
•    Ability to work safely from elevated platforms and lifts
•    Demonstrated problem-solving skills and the ability to function in a team-based environment
•    Proven ability to multi-task
•    Desire to learn, grow and take on increasing responsibility
•    Excellent written, verbal and people skills 
•    Based on business necessity, must be proficient in English.

 

Physical Demands:
•    Ability to lift up to 60 lbs, hand grip up to 50 lbs, and push/pull up to 40 lbs on a regular basis
•    Walking and/or Standing throughout the shift
•    Bending and/or Reaching throughout the shift
•    Willingness to work in cold conditions

Other Requirements

•     Ability to pass a pre-employment, post offer drug screen, physical and background check

Benefits and Compensation

Members have potential for a monthly bonus and 401k with a company match. Members also have access to terrific benefits including affordable medical, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; disability and life insurance; and fertility and adoption assistance. Johnsonville also offers competitive paid time off, including paid parental time off! Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the country where this job is located, without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

About our Company

Since 1945, our family-owned band of sausage-makers has invented better ways to make, eat and prepare crave-able sausage.  Today, we are 4,000+ Members strong.  We sell our famous sausage in all 50 United States and more than 40 countries.  We have a culture built on the idea that if we make developing your talents our top priority, great business results will follow naturally.  We call it The Johnsonville Way.  It has been our secret sauce for decades, and we hope you get to experience it for yourself!

Johnsonville is an equal opportunity employer, including Vet/Disability. 

We embrace the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including protected veteran and disability status.

The Johnsonville Way

Our culture, called the Johnsonville Way, guides the way we behave, operate and treat one another. We truly believe that here at Johnsonville, we have a moral responsibility to create and maintain an environment that requires each Member to fully develop their God-given talents and help others to do the same. We achieve this by living the Johnsonville Way.

Our owner is famous for saying that, "Other companies use their people to build a business, but at Johnsonville, we use the business to build our people." We are proud to offer endless opportunities for continued learning and growth here at Johnsonville.


Nearest Major Market: Milwaukee