Shift Lead Days - Bethlehem, PA

Kerry Taste & Nutrition is a global leader in the food and beverage industry, dedicated to shaping how people across the globe view and experience food and drink. With a firm commitment to innovation, sustainability, and health, Kerry offers its employees dynamic opportunities to explore and grow professionally in a diverse and supportive environment. Their Applied Health & Nutrition sector further emphasizes the company’s focus on delivering products that not only taste great but also contribute to consumer health and wellness. Kerry's dedication to a sustainable future reflects in every aspect of their operations, making it a forward-thinking employer you can trust and feel proud to be part of.

The Bethlehem, Pennsylvania facility is a vital part of Kerry's Liquid Beverage division, specializing in the production of coffee extracts and flavorings that are integral to Kerry's product offerings worldwide. Located at 5000 Township Line Road, this facility is a hub of activity centered around advanced coffee product manufacturing, blending traditional methods with state-of-the-art technology.

The available position at this site is centered around leadership and production support within a food-grade manufacturing environment that focuses exclusively on coffee products. This role is critical for maintaining high production standards, seamless operations, and ensuring safety and quality compliance throughout the production process. The shift runs from 5:00 am to 1:30 pm, with a competitive hourly pay rate of $29.00.

As a team leader or senior operator, you will provide day-to-day direction and support for production team members, act as the initial point of contact for troubleshooting and procedural guidance, and help uphold the standards around safety, quality, and performance. Training new employees while ensuring adherence to standard operating procedures and safety protocols will be one of your essential responsibilities. You will promote professionalism, teamwork, and accountability on your shift, collaborating closely with supervisors and other departments.

Operationally, you will oversee production activities, aiming to meet established key performance indicators (KPIs) and quality benchmarks. Your role will involve hands-on operation of various equipment, including roasting, grinding, extraction, reverse osmosis (RO), blending, and filling machines. Timely identification and escalation of any performance or equipment issues form part of the operational vigilance expected in this role. Accurate and detailed documentation, including batch records, logs, and shift notes, must be maintained meticulously.

Safety and compliance are paramount in this role. You will model and enforce adherence to all safety policies, good manufacturing practices (GMPs), and quality procedures. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) usage and safe operation of equipment are mandatory. Additionally, you will support continuous improvement initiatives that emphasize safety and process reliability and participate in incident investigations and implementation of corrective actions when necessary.

Utilizing SAP systems for production entries, material movements, and inventory accuracy is an integral part of your duties, as is supporting shift handover communications to ensure smooth transitions. You will assist supervisors by collecting and reporting shift performance data, contributing valuable insights to operational efficiency.

Flexibility is crucial in this role, as you will provide coverage for the supervisor during meetings or absences and attend needed trainings or meetings outside core hours when required. You might also support other departments or production areas as business needs dictate, requiring adaptability and a team-oriented mindset.

Overall, this position offers a rewarding opportunity to lead within a specialized, food-grade manufacturing facility while contributing to the production of premium coffee products. You will work in an environment where safety, quality, and continuous improvement are key priorities. The role promises a steady schedule, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, retirement plans with company matching, employee share plans, and various insurance coverages. With a work environment that exposes you to coffee aromas and slight temperature variations, and mandates the use of protective equipment like gloves, safety glasses, steel-toe shoes, and hearing protection, the role ensures both engagement and safety. Joining Kerry means becoming part of a forward-thinking organization committed to sustainability, innovation, and employee growth.