Day Shift: 6:00am-4:30pm Monday-Thursday
Located in Jacksonville, ILLINOIS
ROLE OVERVIEW
The Team Lead is a frontline leadership role responsible for overseeing daily manufacturing operations across assigned production areas, ensuring efficient product flow, consistent quality output, and full adherence to standardized work and safety practices. This position serves as the critical connection between the Production Supervisor and the operator workforce — providing hands-on guidance, real-time problem solving, and shift-to-shift continuity that keeps the production floor running at peak performance. The Team Lead carries responsibility across one or more assigned manufacturing areas, with the expectation of cross-area coverage and shift backup support as assigned by the Production Supervisor. The ideal candidate is an experienced production professional who leads by example, drives continuous improvement, and is equally comfortable operating equipment, coaching team members, and troubleshooting process or equipment issues in real time. As a working lead, the Team Lead is expected to roll up their sleeves and operate production lines alongside the team when coverage, volume, or staffing conditions require it — while maintaining ownership of job assignments, task delegation, and area accountability throughout the shift.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Production Operations & Scheduling
Ensures assigned production areas operate efficiently, on schedule, and in accordance with daily production requirements.
· Read and interpret production schedules, operations manuals, and verbal instructions to sequence and execute daily manufacturing start-up across all assigned areas
· Conduct pre-shift meetings at the start of each shift to align the team on safety topics, production goals for the day, staffing assignments and who is working where, and shift priorities — ensuring every team member starts the shift informed and ready
· Communicate production schedule deadlines clearly to operators and team members to maintain on-time output
· Maintain efficient flow of product through the manufacturing process, identifying and resolving bottlenecks before they impact throughput
· Operate assigned equipment as needed and relieve primary operators for scheduled breaks to sustain uninterrupted production
· Complete accurate production reporting for assigned areas at the close of each shift
· Review and verify all shift production counts, output records, and reporting data for accuracy before submitting to the Production Supervisor — resolving any discrepancy with operators or the floor record before the shift closes
· Provide shift continuity by coordinating staffing setup and communicating key handoff information to oncoming personnel at shift change
2. Team Leadership & Operator Development
Guides, instructs, and develops production team members to build a capable, engaged, and high-performing workforce.
· Provide clear direction, instruction, and day-to-day guidance to operators across all assigned production areas
· Train and support operators on job tasks, standardized work procedures, and VKS work instruction requirements
· Coach team members on quality expectations, safety practices, and production standards, reinforcing correct behaviors in the moment
· Identify individual skill gaps and development needs and communicate them to the Production Supervisor to inform training plans
· Identify and communicate operator performance concerns and disciplinary needs to the Production Supervisor in a timely manner, providing specific observations and documentation to support appropriate follow-through
· Model a professional, accountable, and team-oriented work culture that supports retention and engagement on the floor
3. Quality Assurance & Process Compliance
Ensures all production work is completed in strict accordance with documented standardized work, VKS instructions, and applicable quality standards.
· Verify that all operators follow established standardized work and VKS work instructions in assigned areas at all times
· Monitor output for defects or non-conformances and escalate quality concerns to the Production Supervisor or Quality Assurance team promptly
· Recommend and implement corrective or preventive actions to address quality issues and improve product reliability
· Partner with the Quality Assurance department to improve documented processes and drive measurable quality improvements in assigned areas
· Ensure accurate and complete documentation of production activity, quality observations, and process deviations within assigned areas
· Self-verify the accuracy of all completed work, records, and communications before submission or handoff — including shift reports, quality logs, and operator assignments — taking personal ownership of correctness before information leaves the production area
4. Safety Leadership & Regulatory Compliance
Champions a safe work environment by enforcing safety rules, modeling safe behaviors, and proactively identifying and addressing hazards before they result in incidents.
· Ensure adherence to all safety rules and practices across assigned production areas during every shift
· Identify safety hazards, unsafe behaviors, or near-miss conditions and take immediate corrective action, escalating to the Production Supervisor as appropriate
· Reinforce safety expectations during pre-shift meetings and throughout the shift, ensuring all team members are aware of active hazards, updated protocols, and safe work practices
· Participate in incident investigations and contribute to root cause analysis and corrective action development
· Maintain a clean, organized, and compliant work environment in all assigned areas throughout the shift
5. Continuous Improvement & Equipment Reliability
Actively contributes to lean manufacturing, process improvement, and equipment reliability initiatives that reduce waste and increase operational efficiency across assigned production areas.
· Identify and communicate opportunities for improvement in safety, quality, cost, or efficiency within assigned production areas
· Participate in lean manufacturing events, kaizen activities, and continuous improvement initiatives on the production floor
· Troubleshoot equipment issues that arise during the shift, resolve basic problems independently, and restore product flow with minimal delay
· Perform routine equipment maintenance and escalate equipment concerns that exceed the Team Lead's scope to the appropriate maintenance resource
· Help monitor and maintain preventive maintenance (PM) schedules for equipment in assigned areas, ensuring scheduled tasks are completed on time and escalating overdue or at-risk PMs to the appropriate maintenance resource
· Provide input on plant or production layout improvements and support the development of manufacturing infrastructure for new or modified processes
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position has no formal supervisory authority but carries significant informal leadership responsibility over production operators within assigned areas. The Team Lead functions as a working lead — responsible for assigning jobs, delegating tasks, and driving area accountability while also being expected to work production lines alongside operators when staffing, volume, or coverage demands require it. The Team Lead provides daily direction, training, and performance feedback to team members and serves as the first point of escalation for operator questions, quality concerns, and equipment issues during the shift. Personnel decisions remain with the Production Supervisor.
QUALIFICATIONS
· Required: High School Diploma or GED
· Required: Minimum of two to three years of hands-on experience in a manufacturing or production environment, with demonstrated ability to perform multiple production roles
· Required: Prior experience operating manufacturing equipment in one or more production areas relevant to the company's operations
· Required: Demonstrated ability to read and interpret production schedules, operations manuals, and standardized work instructions, including VKS-based work instructions
· Required: IPC Qualified Electronics Assembler Certification (IPC Safety, IPC ESD, IPC Handling, IPC Overview) or ability to obtain during onboarding
· Strongly Preferred: Prior experience in a team lead, lead operator, or informal supervisory role in a production environment
· Strongly Preferred: Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles, continuous improvement methodologies, or participation in kaizen events
CORE COMPETENCIES
· People Development — Invests in the growth of operators through hands-on training, real-time coaching, and consistent reinforcement of workmanship and safety expectations.
· Accountability — Holds self and team members to clear production, quality, and safety standards — and addresses gaps directly and constructively without escalating unnecessarily.
· Problem Solving — Identifies equipment issues, quality defects, and process deviations quickly and implements effective solutions to restore flow and prevent recurrence.
· Safety Awareness — Enforces all safety rules, models safe behaviors consistently, and actively promotes a culture where safety is everyone's responsibility on the floor.
· Process & Operational Discipline — Ensures standardized work and VKS instructions are followed with precision and consistency across all assigned areas throughout every shift.
· Adaptability — Operates effectively across multiple production areas, shifts, and staffing configurations, maintaining composure and performance when priorities shift.
WORKING CONDITIONS
· On-site presence required; this position is based on the production floor and requires active presence across all assigned manufacturing areas throughout the shift
· Regularly exposed to a production floor environment including moving mechanical parts, manufacturing machinery, and associated noise levels; appropriate PPE required at all times
· Cross-area coverage and shift backup responsibilities may be assigned on a rotating or as-needed basis
· Must be available to work overtime as production schedules, customer delivery requirements, or staffing needs demand
· Exposure to chemicals, materials, and substances associated with the company's manufacturing processes; ESD-safe protocols required in applicable work areas
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
· Standing/Walking: Frequently required to stand and walk throughout the shift while moving between workstations, production areas, and equipment locations
· Sitting: Occasionally required to sit during administrative tasks, reporting, or operator training activities
· Hand Use: Frequently required to use hands to operate equipment, handle components, and perform production tasks; occasionally required to reach, stoop, kneel, or crouch in equipment maintenance or troubleshooting situations
· Lifting/Carrying: Regularly required to lift and/or move up to 25 lbs.; occasionally required to lift up to 50 lbs.; items exceeding 50 lbs. should be moved with mechanical assistance
· Vision: Must be able to read production schedules, work instructions, and equipment displays at both close and standard reading distances; close vision required for quality inspection tasks
· Hearing: Must be able to communicate clearly with operators, supervisors, and maintenance personnel in a manufacturing environment; hearing protection required in designated high-noise areas
THE ORGANIZATION
Founded in 2021, Foxhole Group is a private equity firm based in Denver, Colorado. The firm invests in growth-stage companies in the manufacturing and industrial sectors, partnering with leadership teams to drive operational improvement and sustainable value creation across the portfolio.
CLOSING
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required. Management reserves the right to modify this job description at any time.
Foxtronics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Pay: $20.00 - $22.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Will you now, or in the future, require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B visa status)?
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Experience:
- Leadership: 2 years (Required)
- Manufacturing: 3 years (Required)
Shift availability:
Ability to Commute:
- Jacksonville, IL 62650 (Required)
Work Location: In person
