Position Summary

The Production Analyst Team Lead executes production reporting, inventory reconciliation, and physical count activities while leading the daily work and performance of two Production Analysts. As the link between the production floor and the office, this role owns the processes that produce accurate, timely production and inventory information, accounting for every pound received at the facility through production, storage, and shipment. The team lead coordinates priorities, reviews work, develops analyst capabilities, and partners with plant leadership and finance to resolve discrepancies and improve production support.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Daily Performance

• Lead the day-to-day work of two Production Analysts while completing assigned reporting, reconciliation, and production support activities.
• Assign work, establish daily priorities and deadlines, and balance workloads to meet production reporting and inventory requirements.
• Set clear expectations for accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and follow-through; review analyst work and address errors or missed deadlines promptly.
• Train, coach, and provide regular feedback; monitor individual performance, identify development needs, and escalate recurring concerns to the reporting manager.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and performance reviews by providing input on analyst capabilities, work quality, and results.
• Cross-train analysts and coordinate coverage during absences, physical counts, and peak production periods.

Process Ownership and Improvement

• Maintain standard procedures, reporting calendars, checklists, and review controls for production reporting, inventory reconciliation, and physical counts.
• Ensure analysts follow consistent data entry, validation, and reconciliation practices; retain supporting records and document corrections.
• Identify recurring errors, process gaps, and delays; coordinate corrective actions and recommend improvements to workflows, reports, and tools.

Production Reporting and Analysis

• Prepare and review daily and weekly production reports, including pounds produced by line, product, and shift, and ensure reports reach plant leadership and finance on time.
• Track and report marination pounds and reconcile them to production totals.
• Validate production data against source records, investigate variances, and correct or escalate discrepancies before reports are released.
• Analyze production trends and unusual variances; summarize findings and partner with production leaders to identify causes and follow-up actions.

Inventory Management and Physical Counts

• Maintain accurate inventory records for all products, accounting for receipts, production usage, storage, and shipments.
• Reconcile receipts, production usage, and shipments to on-hand balances; investigate discrepancies, document findings, and coordinate corrections.
• Own and execute the physical count process, including scheduling counts, establishing procedures, assigning count teams, reviewing results, and reconciling counts to inventory records.
• Coordinate with production, freezer, and shipping and receiving teams to keep inventory information accurate and current and resolve missing or inconsistent records.

Cross Functional Support

• Serve as the primary resource for production, accounting, and shipping and receiving questions related to production and inventory data.
• Communicate issues, deadlines, and follow-up actions clearly; perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• At least three years of experience in production reporting, inventory control, or a similar role, preferably in food manufacturing or another plant setting.
• Experience leading or supervising others, assigning work, training employees, and reviewing work quality.
• Intermediate Excel skills, including formulas, lookups, sorting and filtering, and pivot tables.
• Strong numerical accuracy, analytical and problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage recurring deadlines with limited supervision and communicate clearly across production and office teams.

Preferred

Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, operations, accounting, or a related field; experience in poultry or protein further processing; familiarity with inventory reconciliation, cycle count programs, and ERP or inventory management systems.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

Work is performed in both office and production environments, including refrigerated and freezer areas. Exposure to cold, wet, and noisy conditions requires adherence to food safety, good manufacturing practices, and personal protective equipment requirements. The role requires standing and walking for extended periods during floor checks and count reviews. This job description outlines the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties may change as business needs evolve.