Production Team Lead

Title: Production Team Lead

Reports to: Production & Quality Control Manager

Position Type: Full-time, Non-exempt

Why you'll love it here:

At Los Poblanos, you will discover more than just a job. Join a team that values your contributions, fosters innovation and provides competitive salaries and benefits. Work in one of New Mexico's most inspiring natural and historic settings while taking your career to the next level. Rooted in our mission to preserve this extraordinary property, our core values embrace community, hospitality, empathy, excellence, respect and stewardship—driving an unforgettable guest and employee experience. There are many opportunities to learn, grow and lead with the dynamic teams at our award-winning restaurant, boutique inn, serene spa, stunning event spaces and organic farm. Dive into hand-made artisan products at our production facility and retail locations or go behind the bar at our vibrant tasting rooms in downtown Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

Job Summary:

The Production Lead is a hands-on manufacturing position responsible for supporting daily production, reinforcing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), performing designated quality activities, and providing technical leadership on the production floor.

Working closely with the Production & Quality Control Manager, the Production Lead helps ensure products are manufactured safely, consistently, and according to approved procedures and quality requirements. The role includes hands-on production, batch record review, product sampling, quality documentation, equipment operation, employee coaching, and continuous improvement.

The Production Lead may provide direction related to production procedures, GMP requirements, quality standards, documentation, equipment operation, and safe manufacturing practices. Final product disposition and release remains with the Production & Quality Control Manager. The Production Lead provides operational, technical, and GMP leadership but does not have formal personnel-management responsibilities.

The position does not have authority for employee discipline, performance evaluations, compensation decisions, hiring or termination, time-off approval, or final product disposition and release.

Essential Functions:

• Work hands-on with the production team to execute Manufacturing Orders and daily production goals.
• Actively reinforce GMPs and established manufacturing practices on the production floor, including SOP compliance, sanitation, hygiene/PPE, material controls, traceability, and good documentation practices.
• Provide floor-level guidance on approved production methods, product quality, and proper equipment operation.
• Support material staging, lot traceability, reconciliation, line clearance, and prevention of mix-ups or contamination.
• Review batch and production records for completeness, accuracy, required documentation, and traceability.
• Collect, label, log, store, and maintain in-process, finished-product, and retain samples according to established procedures.
• Perform designated in-process quality checks after training and qualification.
• Maintain production records, retain sample logs, Quality files, and other assigned documentation.
• Identify and escalate deviations, documentation errors, material discrepancies, equipment problems, and potential quality concerns.
• Pause production and initiate established hold or escalation procedures when quality, safety, or GMP compliance may be compromised.
• Set up, operate, clean, change over, and perform basic troubleshooting of manufacturing and packaging equipment.
• Train and coach employees on approved processes, GMPs, documentation, equipment operation, and standard work within areas of demonstrated competency.
• Maintain clean, organized, and production-ready work areas.

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

• Support cross-training and development of the production team.
• Identify opportunities to reduce waste, downtime, and inefficient workflow while maintaining quality and safety.
• Support audits, deviations, CAPAs, traceability activities, new equipment implementation, and other Production or Quality initiatives as assigned.
• Model accountability, teamwork, craftsmanship, continuous improvement, and the Los Poblanos Core Values.

Qualifications Required:

• Minimum 2 years of manufacturing, production, quality, or related experience.
• Hands-on experience working in a GMP-regulated manufacturing environment.
• Practical working knowledge of GMP requirements, including good documentation practices, sanitation and hygiene controls, material identification and status, lot traceability, contamination/mix-up prevention, and adherence to approved procedures.
• Experience with batch records, production records, or similar manufacturing documentation.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Mechanical aptitude and willingness to develop equipment setup and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to coach and provide constructive floor-level guidance to peers.

Preferred:

• Experience in FDA-regulated cosmetics, personal care, food, beverage, dietary supplement, pharmaceutical, or similar manufacturing.
• Experience with batch processing, compounding, filling, packaging, sampling, or in-process quality checks.
• Experience training manufacturing employees.
• Exposure to Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or automated production equipment.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit, stand, bend, squat, reach, and walk throughout the workday.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. in short intervals.
• Ability to safely operate production and material-handling equipment after appropriate training.

This job description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job functions that an employee in this position may be asked to perform from time to time.