Production Leader

Hello. We’re Polaroid. An iconic brand, built by passionate people Polaroid was founded in 1937 by one of the 20th century’s most influential innovators, Edwin Land, whose philosophy was: “Don’t undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible.” In 2008, Polaroid produced its last pack of instant film. But a group of passionate fans refused to let instant photography disappear. What started as The Impossible Project grew into a mission to preserve and reinvent analogue photography for a new generation. More than a decade later, that same startup acquired the Polaroid brand and continues to shape its future today. At Polaroid, we create products and experiences that spark emotion, fuel creativity, and bring people closer together. At the intersection of art and technology, we believe in the power of analogue moments and genuine human connection in an increasingly digital world. The Role We are looking for an experienced and hands-on Production Team Leader who will be responsible for leading and developing a team of production operators while ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing operations. The successful candidate will combine strong people management skills with a continuous improvement mindset and will actively drive productivity, process optimization, quality, and operational excellence on the production floor. Key Responsibilities People Leadership - Lead, motivate and develop a team of production operators. - Build a positive, accountable and performance-oriented culture. - Conduct onboarding and training of new employees. - Monitor employee performance and support skill development. - Manage daily staffing and resource allocation according to production needs. - Ensure compliance with company policies, safety procedures and work instructions. Production Management - Coordinate daily production activities to achieve production plans and delivery targets. - Monitor production performance, efficiency and output. - Ensure production orders are completed on time and according to quality standards. - React quickly to production issues and coordinate corrective actions. - Maintain smooth communication between Production, Quality, Engineering, Planning and Warehouse teams. Continuous Improvement - Identify opportunities for process improvements and waste reduction. - Drive Lean Manufacturing initiatives and continuous improvement projects. - Analyze production data and KPIs to improve productivity and efficiency. - Participate in process optimization, balancing and standardization activities. - Support implementation of best manufacturing practices. Quality & Safety - Ensure adherence to quality requirements and standard operating procedures. - Support root cause analysis and corrective action activities. - Promote a strong health, safety and environmental culture. - Ensure workplace organization according to 5S principles. Performance Management - Track and report key operational KPIs, including: - Productivity - OEE - Scrap / Defect Rate - Labour Efficiency - Downtime - Output vs Plan - Initiate improvement actions when results are below target. Required Qualifications - Minimum 3 years of supervisory or leadership experience in a manufacturing environment. - Proven experience managing production operators or assembly teams. - Good understanding of manufacturing processes and production flow. - Experience with Lean Manufacturing tools and continuous improvement methodologies. - Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills. - Ability to work in a dynamic and growing manufacturing environment. - Good organizational and communication skills. - Computer literacy (Microsoft Office, ERP/MES systems preferred). - Communicative English. - Create a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and teamwork. - Ensure safe and organized production operations. AI in our hiring process Our recruitment team reviews every application, including your CV. We may use AI-assisted technology to support the initial review process and help our recruiters work more efficiently. Your application is always reviewed by a recruiter and all our hiring decisions are made by people. Learn more in our Privacy Policy: https://www.polaroid.com/en_nl/legal/careers-job-applicant-privacy-policy   Our Approach to AI At Polaroid we believe two things can be true at once: technology can help us move forward, while human creativity, craft, judgement and real-world connection matter more than ever. Since our beginning, we've embraced technology to create meaningful human experiences. Today that means exploring new tools, including AI, with curiosity and care, using them where they help us work better and build a stronger business, while staying true to what defines our brand.