Converting Team Leader - 5th Shift - Sartori Whey

SUMMARY

The Converting Team Leader provides daily leadership and guidance to members of the converting team, fostering a safe, engaged, and high-performing work environment. As the primary point of contact during the shift, the Team Leader sets clear expectations, promotes accountability, and models integrity in all actions and decisions. This role plays a critical part in driving team performance by ensuring operational excellence, supporting continuous improvement, and helping the team achieve safety, quality, and productivity goals. This position works Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 5:30 PM to 6:00 AM.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Leads, coaches, and develops team members by providing daily leadership, feedback, and support. Empowers the team to meet or exceed goals related to safety, food safety, quality, and production efficiency.

• Drives performance and accountability by addressing gaps in behavior or results through coaching, feedback, and the progressive discipline process as needed.

• Manages scheduling and attendance by creating and maintaining accurate daily staffing schedules, approving timecards, and coordinating leaves of absence to ensure consistent coverage and workflow.

• Supports continuous improvement by actively engaging in and promoting initiatives that enhance safety, quality, and productivity.

• Monitors and reports key performance metrics, identifying trends and partnering with leadership to implement corrective or improvement actions.

• Ensures compliance with safety, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and other regulatory standards, reinforcing a culture of safety, cleanliness, and product integrity.

• Communicates effectively with team members and cross-functional partners to share production updates, process changes, and operational challenges in a timely and transparent manner.

• Collaborates with process and planning teams to coordinate production priorities, support commercialization of new products, and ensure alignment with business and customer requirements.

• Supports audits and inspections by maintaining compliance with company, customer, and regulatory expectations.

SQF BACK UP PROVISION

In the absence of the Converting Team Leader, the Converting Supervisor will fulfill the food safety responsibilities of the Converting Team Leader.

DIRECT REPORTS

This position is responsible for leading a team of 20 to 35 direct reports.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma or equivalency is required (GED).

• Minimum of 2 years of related leadership experience.

• Minimum of 2 years of food manufacturing experience, ideally converting, is preferred.

OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Alignment with Company Values: Demonstrates behaviors and values that reflect the company’s culture. Sartori’s core values are family, commitment, authenticity, ingenuity, integrity, and humility.

• Adaptability: Responds positively to change and adjusts effectively to new information, evolving priorities, and shifting circumstances.

• Coaching and Development: Works to improve and reinforce the performance of others by providing clear, behaviorally specific feedback while building confidence and maintaining self-esteem.

• Critical Thinking and Decision Making: Identifies potential issues through logical reasoning and analytical thought; evaluates multiple options and determines the best course of action for success.

• Effective Communication: Clearly and respectfully conveys information and ideas in both verbal and written forms to diverse audiences; listens actively to gain understanding.

• Lean Manufacturing Knowledge: Demonstrates understanding of Lean principles such as 5S, Six Sigma, and Root Cause Analysis; applies these tools to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.

• Prioritization and Time Management: Organizes tasks and sets clear priorities to meet deadlines, balances multiple demands, and ensures efficient operations.

• Results Orientation: Demonstrates focus, accountability, and persistence in achieving individual, team, and organizational objectives.

• Teamwork and Collaboration: Builds strong partnerships and works collaboratively with others to achieve shared goals, fostering trust and mutual respect.

• Technical Proficiency: Demonstrates proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) and enterprise systems such as JD Edwards or other Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platforms to support daily work activities and data accuracy.

CERTIFICATIONS

• Internally trained and certified to operate material handling equipment as required.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

WORK LOCATION:

This is an onsite position located at our Sartori Whey Converting facility located in Plymouth, WI.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Occasional travel may be required to meet the needs of the business (less than 10%).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, and supporting other positions in the department, the Team Member is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The Team Member is required to stand, walk, and talk or hear. The Team Member is occasionally required to stop, or crouch. The Team Member must frequently lift and/or move blocks or wheels of cheese weighing 20 to 50 pounds and boxes of dried cheese weighing up to 50 pounds. Blocks or wheels of cheese are carried from pallets to a conveyor staging area about 30" high. The Team Member is occasionally required to lift forming tubes and film rolls weighing up to 100 lbs. The Team Member must frequently lift and/or move boxes of product from 20 to 50 pounds and stack onto pallets up to 60" above the floor and frequently place/carry bags of cheese weighing 5 to 25 pounds from a turntable to cheese boxes, both 30" above the floor. Pallets weighing up to 60 pounds must be stacked up to 5 feet high. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK SETTING / ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the Team Member will occasionally be exposed to extreme, non-weather-related cold as well as wet and/or humid conditions. On a typical workday,

the Team Member will work in refrigerated conditions with temperatures ranging from 35-60 degrees. The Team Member will work around safeguarded machinery with rotating, mechanical parts and conveyor belts. The Team Member will occasionally be exposed to caustic and/or toxic chemicals used for sanitation and cleaning. Due to the loud noise levels, ear protection is required.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by Team Members assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Sartori Company reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational and business needs as necessary.

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Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.