Production Leader – Tank Farm (DAYS)

Job Description

Job Description:

The Production Leader – Tank Farm plays a critical role in supporting factory execution by leading the Tank Farm operation and ensuring safe, reliable, and compliant supply of mix and liquid ingredients to production. This role is accountable for delivering results across safety, quality, service, cost, and associate engagement while building capability and ownership within the Tank Farm team.

The Tank Farm is a high-skill, high-accountability area that requires strong process knowledge, disciplined execution, accurate communication, and effective coordination with multiple functions across the site. The Production Leader – Tank Farm is expected to lead day-to-day operations, support longer-term improvements, and create a stable operating rhythm for the team.

What Are We Looking For?

• Experience in manufacturing, food production, liquid processing, Tank Farm, batching, sanitation, logistics, or factory operations preferred.
• Previous leadership, team lead, or coordinator experience preferred.
• Strong safety, quality, and GMP mindset.
• Ability to lead people, set expectations, and hold teams accountable.
• Strong communication skills, including written shift notes, handoffs, escalations, and cross-functional updates.
• Ability to prioritize work and escalation within a fast-paced, 24/7 manufacturing environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and drive action closure.
• Comfortable using computer systems, production reporting tools, action trackers, and daily management systems.
• Mechanical or technical aptitude preferred, especially related to pumps, valves, tanks, transfer systems, cleaning circuits, and liquid handling equipment.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision while making sound decisions and escalating appropriately.

Key Measures of Success

• Safety performance and completion of safety routines.
• GMP, food safety, sanitation, and quality compliance.
• Tank Farm schedule adherence and production support.
• Reduction in mix waste, downtime, transfer issues, and recurring defects.
• Completion of DMS routines, shift notes, action items, and problem-solving cards.
• Associate training, capability, engagement, and accountability.
• Strong cross-functional communication and support of factory priorities.

What will be your key responsibilities?

Safety and Compliance

• Lead the Tank Farm team in maintaining a safe, clean, and compliant work environment.
• Ensure all associates follow site safety standards, GMPs, food safety requirements, sanitation expectations, and operating procedures.
• Identify, escalate, and help eliminate safety risks within the Tank Farm area.
• Support completion of safety walks, DSTS, SCW, near-miss reporting, corrective actions, and other site safety routines.
• Ensure compliance with PMO, allergen, sanitation, quality, and environmental requirements related to Tank Farm operations.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop Tank Farm associates across shifts.
• Set clear daily expectations for performance, communication, ownership, and follow-through.
• Support associate capability building through training, qualification, cross-training, and skill progression.
• Drive accountability for standard work, attendance, documentation, and completion of daily routines.
• Create an inclusive team environment where associates feel heard, supported, and engaged.

Daily Operations

• Oversee daily Tank Farm execution, including receiving, storage, staging, transfers, batching support, mix supply, cleaning, and changeover readiness.
• Ensure the team is aligned to the production schedule and understands priorities for the current and upcoming shifts.
• Partner with Production, Logistics, Planning, Quality, Sanitation, and Maintenance to ensure materials and systems are ready to support the schedule.
• Monitor Tank Farm performance and remove barriers that impact production flow, downtime, quality, or service.
• Ensure strong shift handoffs and accurate communication between Tank Farm, production lines, and support functions.

Quality and Food Safety

• Ensure accurate execution of quality checks, documentation, traceability, and release requirements.
• Support proper handling, storage, and transfer of mix and liquid ingredients to prevent contamination, quality defects, or product loss.
• Partner with Quality and Sanitation to investigate issues, close gaps, and sustain corrective actions.
• Support sanitation planning and execution for tanks, lines, hoses, pumps, and related equipment.
• Ensure holds, purges, rework, waste, and non-conforming materials are managed according to site procedures.

Reliability and Problem Solving

• Lead and support problem solving for Tank Farm losses, downtime, waste, schedule misses, quality issues, and recurring defects.
• Partner with Maintenance to escalate equipment issues, prioritize work, and support planned maintenance activities.
• Support root cause analysis, action closure, and sustainability of countermeasures.
• Drive continuous improvement in areas such as mix waste, transfer reliability, cleaning effectiveness, schedule adherence, and communication flow.
• Use data and daily management systems to identify trends, prioritize work, and improve performance.

DMS and Performance Management

• Own and support Tank Farm daily management routines, including shift notes, action tracking, escalation, and follow-up.
• Ensure accurate reporting of Tank Farm performance, issues, losses, and priorities.
• Support CP meetings and provide clear updates on current performance, risks, and required actions.
• Drive closure of action items, problem-solving cards, and improvement initiatives within expected timeframes.
• Maintain visual management, standard work, and communication tools that help the team execute effectively.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Serve as the key point of contact for Tank Farm coordination across Production, Planning, Logistics, Quality, Sanitation, Maintenance, and CI.
• Support schedule planning by communicating Tank Farm constraints, opportunities, and readiness concerns.
• Help develop and sustain operating strategies that reduce firefighting and improve flow across the factory.
• Partner with site leaders to improve long-term Tank Farm capability, staffing, training, and process stability.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.

The pay range listed is applicable to IL:USD 82,757.00 - USD 113,791.00