Production Assistant

Position: Production Assistant

Reports to: Production Manager

Shift: 1st shift (Hours may vary)

General Summary:

The Production Assistant supports both manufacturing operations and workforce development initiatives by coordinating onboarding, training, and administrative activities within the facility. This role ensures all training programs are effectively scheduled, tracked, and maintained in compliance with company standards, while partnering with supervisors to address skill gaps and support cross-training efforts. In addition to driving training compliance and assisting with continuous improvement projects, the Production Assistant provides administrative and recruiting support, facilitates new hire onboarding, and serves as a key point of coordination for daily operations, communication, and front office activities. This position plays a critical role in promoting operational efficiency, workforce readiness, and a positive employee experience.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Coordinate and track onboarding and training for new production employees

• Maintain training records and ensure documentation is up to date and audit-ready

• Partner with supervisors to identify training needs and skill gaps

• Lead and support production-related projects to drive operational efficiency and performance improvements

• Support cross-training initiatives to improve workforce flexibility

• Monitor training compliance and follow up with employees who have outstanding training requirements to ensure timely completion.

• Conduct onboarding for new hires, including paperwork, orientations, and facility tours.

• Assist with recruiting tasks such as job postings, scheduling interviews, and screening applicants.

• Coordinate logistics for training sessions, including reserving training rooms, ordering training materials, and arranging equipment setup.

• Assist with the evaluation of training effectiveness through surveys, assessments, and feedback mechanisms, and compile data for analysis.

• Update and maintain employee boards and communication displays throughout the facility.

• Manage the front desk area and greet visitors and contractors upon arrival.

• Create and edit documents, presentations, and communications using Microsoft Office tools.

• Provide administrative support to the P&C Generalist and other department managers as needed.

• Complete all other duties as assigned.

Job Specifications (knowledge, skills, abilities, education, certification, and training normally required for competent performance in the job)

• Associate degree or equivalent experience in Education, Training & Development, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field is highly preferred.

• Years of relevant experience: 1 year of previous office administration experience in a manufacturing environment is highly preferred (Prior experience in food manufacturing/consumer product industry is preferred). 

• Candidate will possess effective verbal and written communication skills.  Candidate will have a good working knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices, SAP, Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook (WFM, Workday, and/or SharePoint is highly preferred).  Job requires weekend work and changes in working hours may occur. 

• Must be a team player, including sharing information from shift to shift within the work group, as well as bringing creative solutions and helpful feedback when working with other departments.

• Maintaining good attendance and work availability is critical.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to receive coaching and provide meaningful feedback to employees.

• Strong attention to detail.

• Excellent organizational and communication skills.

• Must be able to work 1st, 2nd, and 3rd shift hours.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee 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 employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts and is regularly exposed to vibration and powered industrial equipment. The employee may be exposed to fumes, airborne particles, hot/cold temperatures, high noise levels, and wet environments.  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is expected to comply with all safety regulations, support plant safety initiatives, proper operating procedures and utilize prescribed safety equipment such as safety eyeglasses, safety shields, gloves, earplugs, high visibility vest where required, and approved footwear.

Ability to deal with a changing work environment and high-pressure situations.  Must be able to work in a team environment.

This position may require overtime as deemed necessary to support the department.