Production Lead & Batch Mixer - 2nd Shift

About Us

At Piedmont Candy Company, we’ve been crafting nostalgic sweets for over 130 years, best known for our iconic Red Bird peppermint puffs. Today, we’re combining that legacy with modern automation and innovation, creating a cleaner, more efficient, and technology-driven production environment.

We’re launching a brand-new 2nd shift and are looking for a Kitchen Lead to help build and lead this team from the ground up.

Why This Role is Exciting

• Be part of launching a new shift and shaping the culture from day one
• Work in a modernized kitchen with automated mixing and reduced manual labor
• Play a key role in continuous improvement and process optimization
• Join a company that values grit, integrity, flexibility, and speed

What You’ll Do

As the 2nd Shift Kitchen Lead and Mixer, you’ll lead production operations in our kitchen, ensuring we hit targets safely, efficiently, and with high quality.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of kitchen operators and candy techs
• Set clear expectations and drive accountability for performance and attendance
• Foster a positive, team-oriented, and safety-first culture

Production & Operations

• Oversee batching, mixing, and ingredient flow to support production lines
• Ensure the right materials are in the right place at the right time
• Monitor automated systems and equipment performance
• Troubleshoot production issues and partner with maintenance when needed

Automation & Problem Solving

• Operate within a highly automated kitchen environment (less manual lifting, more system oversight)
• Identify and resolve process disruptions, equipment issues, or inconsistencies
• Apply basic food science and process understanding (especially sugar/cooking behavior) to maintain product quality

Food Safety & Quality

• Enforce GMPs, PPE, and food safety standards
• Ensure batch consistency, temperatures, and quality checks meet specifications
• Support audit readiness and accurate documentation

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and streamline processes
• Partner cross-functionally with Quality, Maintenance, and Operations leadership

What We’re Looking For

We understand most candidates won’t have candy-making experience—and that’s okay. We’re looking for strong leaders with manufacturing experience and a mechanical/problem-solving mindset.

Preferred Backgrounds:

• Food manufacturing (bakery, beverage, dairy, protein, etc.)
• Chemical or batch processing environments
• Industrial manufacturing with automated systems
• Experience overseeing mixing, batching, or cooking processes

Qualifications

• 2+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing preferred
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
• Ability to understand and adapt to automated systems and processes
• Basic understanding of production flow, batching, or processing (food science mindset is a plus)
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is strongly preferred

What We Offer

• Competitive pay (based on experience)
• Stable schedule: 4-day workweek (Monday–Thursday, 10 hrs)
• Opportunity to grow with a company investing in modernization
• Supportive, team-oriented culture

Piedmont Candy is an Equal Opportunity Employer