Job Advert
**Life Unlimited. **At Smith+Nephew we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living.
The Lead Operator is a hands-on production lead who safely operates and supports manufacturing/assembly processes while coordinating day-to-day workflow for operators. This role prioritizes patient safety and product quality, ensures compliance with applicable quality system requirements (e.g., GMP/cGMP, SOPs, work instructions), and helps the team meet schedule, quality, and productivity targets through strong communication, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.
This position is not offering any type of visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future
What will you be doing?
Key Responsibilities
- Safety & compliance: Promote a safe, clean, and compliant work environment; follow EHS requirements and escalate hazards, incidents, and near-misses.
- Quality first: Execute work per SOPs/routers/work instructions; perform in-process and final inspections; identify, segregate, and communicate nonconforming material.
- Lead daily execution: Help set shift priorities; coordinate staffing and job assignments; remove blockers to maintain flow and meet schedule.
- Hands-on production: Perform assembly/build/packaging operations high attention to detail and documentation accuracy.
- Material flow & schedule adherence: Prioritize and manage work orders on the floor to improve lead time and mix attainment; coordinate materials, tools, gauges, and line clearances/closures as required.
- Equipment set-up & troubleshooting: Set up, operate, and monitor equipment/fixtures; respond to faults and perform basic troubleshooting; escalate issues to Engineering/Maintenance/Quality.
- Shift communication: Provide clear status updates and shift-to-shift handoff communication on safety, quality, output, and open issues.
- Training & coaching: Serve as a resource to operators; help onboard/train/cross-train team members; identify training gaps and support qualification activities.
- Continuous improvement: Identify and implement opportunities to prevent issues, improve yields, reduce waste, and improve process capability (Lean/5S, standard work, fast changeover).
- Audits & documentation: Complete production records, batch/device history documentation, and manufacturing reports; support process audits and investigations as assigned.
- Cross-functional coordination: Collaborate with Production, Quality, Engineering, Planning, and Supply Chain to troubleshoot issues and maintain production flow.
- Housekeeping: Maintain 5S and cleanroom/controlled-area requirements (where applicable), including cleaning and organization of work areas.
Other duties: Perform administrative tasks and special projects as assigned; support policy/procedure compliance and maintain positive working relationships.
What will you need to be successful?
Minimum Qualifications
Education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Experience:
- 2+ years of manufacturing, assembly, or production experience (regulated manufacturing such as medical device preferred). Food or other regulated.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate work, communicate clearly, and make day-to-day safety/quality/production decisions.
Knowledge:
- Ability to read and follow work instructions, strong attention to detail and documentation accuracy.
- Comfortable using basic computer systems (e.g., Microsoft Office; ERP such as SAP is a plus).
Competences:
- Ability to work flexible hours/days, overtime, and shift rotation as business needs require.
- Overtime may be expected.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience:
- Prior experience leading or training others (lead operator, team lead, trainer, etc.).
- Medical device experience; familiarity with FDA QSR/ISO 13485 and GMP/cGMP expectations.
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, 5S, standard work, and continuous improvement tools.
Knowledge:
- Ability to interpret basic prints/specifications and use common measurement tools as needed.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
- Work is performed onsite in a manufacturing environment; including cleanroom and required gowning/PPE.
- May be required to sit or stand for extended periods; frequent walking, bending, and use of hand tools/small components.
- Must be able to lift/carry up to 50 lbs (or per site requirement); push/pull carts or materials as needed.
- Good manual dexterity and vision required for inspection of components/finished product.