Production Lead

Salary Range: $22.00 per hour

Benefit Eligible: Yes

Location: Onsite in Mesa, AZ

Shift: 1st Shift (6:00 AM - 2:30 PM)

Classification: Non-exempt, full time

Reports to: Production Manager

About the Company

Paleovalley and Wild Pastures were born from a simple but radical idea: real food can heal — people, animals, and the planet. When Paleovalley co-founders Autumn and Chas Smith saw how industrialized food was affecting human health and the health of the land, they refused to play along. Autumn’s own journey of healing through nutrient-dense foods lit a fire that became Paleovalley. From there, the mission grew roots, sprouted wings, and eventually expanded into Wild Pastures to bring regeneratively raised meats directly to families nationwide.

Today, Paleovalley crafts deeply nourishing snacks and supplements made with organic ingredients and honorable sourcing. Wild Pastures connects small American farmers practicing regenerative agriculture with customers who believe better food is worth fighting for. Every product, every partnership, and every decision is guided by a commitment to real ingredients, regenerative practices, and the belief that health is built from the soil up.

We’re a team of grounded doers, curious thinkers, bold builders, and warm humans who like to laugh while doing meaningful work. We're growing quickly, fueled by purpose and a shared desire to repair the food system one thoughtful choice at a time.

If you feel energized by impact, drawn to mission, and ready to join a company rewriting the future of food, we’d love to meet you!

About the Opportunity

This role is essential to keeping our production floor running smoothly, safely, and with integrity. As a Production Lead, you’ll translate plans into action—guiding people, protecting quality, and ensuring the products we make live up to the trust our customers place in us. Your leadership directly impacts both daily output and the long-term strength of our operations.

What You’ll Do

• Lead daily production execution by assigning work, setting priorities, and keeping processing and packaging operations on schedule.
• Coordinate people, materials, and equipment to ensure each shift is properly staffed and prepared to meet production goals.
• Enforce GMPs, food safety standards, and SOPs to ensure all products are made safely, accurately, and in compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Monitor quality throughout production by verifying labels, code dates, weights, seals, and in-process checks, addressing issues in real time.
• Speak up and take action when safety, quality, or process issues arise, escalating concerns to QA, Maintenance, or Production Management as needed.
• Oversee changeovers and line setups to ensure equipment, labelers, and date coders are correctly configured for each run.
• Maintain accurate production documentation including batch records, LOT tracking, downtime logs, and other required paperwork.
• Support and guide a bilingual production team by providing clear direction, answering questions, and reinforcing expectations on the floor.
• Promote a safe, organized, and efficient work environment by enforcing PPE, sanitation standards, and housekeeping practices.
• Collaborate with Production, QA, and Maintenance to resolve issues, improve processes, and keep operations running smoothly.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• At least 1 year of hands-on leadership experience in a food or supplement manufacturing environment
• Working knowledge of GMPs and food safety standards , with experience enforcing them on the production floor
• Bilingual in English and Spanish , with the ability to give instructions, correct issues, and answer questions in real time
• Ability to lead on the floor , including delegating work, speaking up about issues, and holding others accountable
• Comfort with production documentation , including batch records, logs, and other required paperwork
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the role , including prolonged standing, lifting up to 50 lbs, and working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Flexibility to support business needs , including occasional overtime or weekend work
• Legally authorized to work in the United States

Bonus Points

• Experience in CPG, natural foods, supplements, or other regulated manufacturing environments
• Familiarity with startup or high-growth operations , where priorities can shift and teamwork matters
• Additional experience with production scheduling, inventory coordination, or traceability systems
• Comfort working around or troubleshooting manufacturing or packaging equipment
• A genuine interest in real food, wellness, sustainability, or regenerative agriculture

Our Commitment to You

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% employer-paid dental/vision and a small monthly medical premium for employees; dependents may be added at employee cost
• Generous Paid time off to support balance and rest
• Paid sick time for when you need it
• Six (6) paid holidays each year
• Paid parental leave for growing families
• 100% company-paid Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
• 401(k) with up to a 4% company match after one year of service
• Monthly product stipend or access to perfectly imperfect damaged product so you can enjoy the nutrient-dense foods you help bring to others

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This role takes place in a manufacturing/warehouse environment and may involve exposure to varying temperatures, noise, and airborne particles. Employees must follow all safety guidelines and use required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The position requires regular standing, walking, bending, reaching, and the ability to lift and move items up to 50 pounds. Work may involve operating or working near machinery and other equipment. These physical demands are representative of those necessary to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Compliance & Employment Practices

Paleovalley and Wild Pastures are proud to be equal opportunity employers. All employment decisions — including hiring, promotion, discipline, and termination — are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please reach out to [email protected] to let us know. Reasonable accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable laws.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States for any employer. At this time, Paleovalley and Wild Pastures are unable to sponsor or assume sponsorship of employment visas, including but not limited to H-1B, TN, or OPT.

This role is open until filled.

EEO Statement:

Paleovalley and Wild Pastures are equal opportunity employers. Employment and processes, including decisions to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, are based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

E-Verify:

Paleovalley and Wild Pastures participate in E-Verify, the federal program for electronic verification of employment eligibility.