Injection Molding Lead

Job Title: Group Leader – Injection Molding

Job Description

The Group Leader – Injection Molding leads the production team within the molding department, ensuring all injection molding machines run at optimal efficiency and consistently produce high-quality parts. This role oversees day-to-day operations, supports and develops technicians and material handlers, and maintains a strong focus on safety, quality, and productivity. The Group Leader drives continuous improvement, enforces compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements, and serves as a key liaison between production and quality assurance.

Responsibilities

• Provide a safe working environment for all team members and promptly complete any required accident or incident reports.
• Ensure all molding machines run to established standards, including efficiency and uptime, and that they consistently produce quality parts.
• Work closely with Quality Assurance to verify that all presses are running to quality specifications and that nonconformances are addressed quickly.
• Oversee all aspects of production in the molding department, including machine performance, downtime, quality, and overall department output.
• Direct, support, and train all technical team members and material handlers, ensuring they understand and follow standard work practices.
• Assign daily tasks and responsibilities to production team members and monitor their performance throughout the shift.
• Enter production data accurately into WEBEFF and maintain proper documentation for production, quality, and safety activities.
• Implement required disciplinary actions when necessary and complete all related documentation in accordance with company policies and applicable laws.
• Maintain and oversee housekeeping standards in the department to ensure a clean, organized, and safe work area.
• Determine when internal or external technical assistance is needed and coordinate support to resolve production or equipment issues.
• Follow and enforce all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) practices within the department.
• Ensure all SQF (Safe Quality Food) requirements are followed and integrated into daily operations where applicable.
• Understand the Quality Policy and apply it consistently to daily work practices and decision-making.
• Promote and support a team-oriented environment, assisting others as needed to meet production and quality goals.
• Take accountability for the safety of all employees under your supervision through active engagement in safety activities and clear communication of safe work expectations.
• Support and investigate situations where line or equipment stoppage occurs due to perceived or imminent safety risks, ensuring safe resolution before restarting operations.
• Complete all responsibilities in accordance with organizational policies and procedures and applicable laws and regulations.
• Actively lead risk assessment activities in your area of responsibility and drive prioritized corrective and preventive actions to eliminate or reduce environmental, health, and safety risks.
• Conduct incident investigations and root cause analyses, implementing corrective actions in a timely and thorough manner.
• Ensure proper training and ongoing development of all assigned employees, including cross-training and reinforcement of safety and quality standards.
• Set clear goals for the molding department or assigned organizational unit, communicate these goals to employees, and ensure alignment and progress toward achieving them.
• Motivate and coach employees through effective communication and frequent performance feedback, recognizing achievements and addressing performance gaps.
• Identify training needs and coordinate additional training opportunities to support employee growth, safety, and technical proficiency.
• Directly supervise daily activities of all production and technical hourly employees in the molding department, including planning, assigning, and directing work.
• Conduct performance appraisals, address complaints, resolve problems, and manage disciplinary actions in line with company policies.
• Champion a culture where safety is prioritized over productivity and ensure decisions reflect this commitment.
• Support change initiatives by listening to employees, seeking input, and promoting constructive problem-solving and conflict resolution.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by leadership.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience with injection molding processes and equipment, including plastics injection molding and molding machines.
• Hands-on experience in production supervision within a manufacturing or molding environment.
• Strong safety mindset, demonstrating commitment to creating and maintaining a safe workplace.
• Ability to lead, direct, and train technical team members and material handlers in a fast-paced production setting.
• Solid understanding of quality standards, including the ability to work closely with Quality Assurance to maintain product quality.
• Experience with safety training, risk assessment, and incident investigation, including root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Competency in documentation control, including accurate data entry into production systems such as WEBEFF.
• Strong accountability, consistently following through on commitments and prioritizing safety over productivity when necessary.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey safety expectations, goals, and company standards at all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to engage employees, communicate plant vision, and encourage active participation in safety-related activities.
• Proven team development skills, including identifying development needs and supporting continuous learning.
• High level of people agility, including self-awareness, approachability, consistency, and the ability to lead by example.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, including the ability to gather and analyze information, develop alternative solutions, and encourage constructive, solution-focused dialogue.
• Ability to carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable laws, including training, performance management, and disciplinary actions.
• Capability to perform all essential duties of the role satisfactorily in a demanding production environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working within environments that follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and HACCP principles.
• Familiarity with SQF requirements and their application in a production setting.
• Experience in leading risk assessment activities and driving corrective and preventive actions.
• Experience motivating and coaching teams through regular feedback and performance discussions.
• Comfort managing multiple priorities in a high-volume, time-sensitive production environment.
• Ability to support and promote change by listening to employees, seeking input, and building trust.
• Experience with structured performance appraisal processes and documentation.
• Strong organizational skills to manage housekeeping, documentation, and production planning effectively.

Why Work Here?

Employees in this role enjoy a comprehensive total rewards package and a supportive culture that prioritizes wellbeing, development, and work-life balance. The organization offers medical, dental, and vision plans, paid time off starting at 40 hours per year for full-time hourly employees (with amounts varying by location), and company-paid holidays starting at 8 days per year (also location-dependent). Team members have access to wellbeing programs and an Employee Assistance Program, as well as Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options. The company provides life insurance, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability coverage, and a range of voluntary benefits to support financial security. Paid parental leave and a retirement savings plan with company match help employees plan for their families and future. Tuition reimbursement, subject to approval, supports continued education and career growth, while a discretionary bonus program, based on eligibility and hire date, recognizes individual and organizational performance.

Work Environment

This position operates in a dynamic manufacturing environment within the molding department. Team members are regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, and extreme heat. On occasion, they may encounter wet or humid conditions, high or precarious places, toxic or caustic chemicals, outside weather conditions, extreme cold, risk of electrical shock, and vibration. The noise level is typically loud, and appropriate personal protective equipment is required. The role follows a 12-hour shift schedule with both day and night shifts available: day shift runs from 6:30 AM to 7:00 PM and night shift runs from 6:30 PM to 7:00 AM on a 2-2-3-2 style rotation. Night shift employees receive additional shift differential compensation. The environment is highly focused on safety, quality, and adherence to good manufacturing practices, with an expectation of maintaining orderly housekeeping and following established procedures at all times.

This is a Permanent position based out of Tolleson, AZ.

The pay range for this position is $49920.00 - $66560.00/yr.

Medical, dental and vision plans Paid time off, starting at 40 hours per year for full-time hourly employees, may vary by location Company-paid holidays starting at 8 days per year and may vary by location Wellbeing programs & Employee Assistance Program Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account Life insurance, AD&D, short-term & long-term disability, and voluntary benefits Paid Parental Leave Retirement Savings Plan with company match Tuition Reimbursement (dependent upon approval) Discretionary bonus program (initial eligibility dependent upon hire date)

This is a fully onsite position in Tolleson,AZ.

This position is anticipated to close on Apr 24, 2026.

About Aerotek:

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meets their goals, skills and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role solving for companies’ construction, manufacturing and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.