Team Leader Pilot Plant

Title: Team Leader Pilot Plant

Location: Richland, WA

About Lamb Weston

You’ve probably enjoyed our fries without even knowing it! As a leading manufacturer in our industry, and public Fortune 500 company, we inspire and bring people together with foods they love and trust. Our customer base includes international food service providers, restaurants, and households in over 100 countries around the world.

A highly innovative global corporation with a start-up mindset, we empower every individual to make a genuine difference. You’ll gain access to hands-on training to fuel your growth and success, explore opportunities for new solutions, and you’ll join a winning team of 10,000+ people all dedicated to raising the bar – together.

If you have a strong drive for results, a desire to help us bring the world together through our fries, and are ready for a fresh challenge, we want to hear from you.

Job Description Summary

The Pilot Plant Team Leader will be responsible for conducting tests in the laboratory and pilot plant typical of Process Technicians in addition to various tracking, ordering and organizational responsibilities as outlined below. The Pilot Plant Team Leader will conduct safety training for employees as well as temporary employees. Pilot Plant Team Leader directs technicians and ensures adherence to food safety programs. Team Leaders may also be responsible for warehouse and ingredient management.

Job Description

• Accountable for providing effective direction and coordination of all activities in the pilot plant, including daily processing, packaging, clean up, and large-scale productions.

• Interfaces directly with product development scientists.

• Construct weekly schedule and assign work as needed to the technicians in the absence of the manager.

• Ensures on-time delivery of work, equipment ready when needed

• Attend Equipment acceptance tests and develop documentation as needed

• Maintain a safe and orderly work environment

• Maintain the pilot plant in a condition that meets GMP regulations and provides a sanitary environment for producing food products

• Construct processes in food preparation and processing, assuming lead on projects as needed

• Aid in training all incoming personnel, focusing on safety aspects

• Assist the Quality Specialist with the food safety programs, focusing on ingredients and allergens but other programs as necessary.

• Order parts and ingredients as needed including all cutting equipment parts.

• Track incoming ingredients, packages and products

• Metrics measurement and tracking

• Coordinate cuttings for internal and external customers as needed

• Assist in equipment modification and acquisitions

• Preparation and calibration of laboratory equipment. Lab waste handling. Point of contact for micro sampling and micro results tracking.

• Pre-op inspections and other inspections as required to keep the pilot plant in good working order.

• Verification of work completed, tracking of ingredients and finished goods as well as other food safety duties as required.

• May be asked to inventory finished goods and track.

• Assist in Safety programs as needed, including writing JHAs or other related documentation.

• Communicate problems and any pertinent information to the pilot plant manager

• Lead the way in mentoring and training other departments to improve company training overall

Basic & Preferred Qualifications

Education/ Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

• Process Quality Certification, required.

Skills and Experience:

• 5+ years of potato processing experiencing required.

• Must have a good understanding of our current plant processing capabilities

• Clear ability to relate to and motivate people

• Can effectively train personnel

• Demonstrated sense of urgency and bias for action

• Problem solving ability

• Requires effective oral and written communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills.

• Adhere to Lamb Weston core values and beliefs and act in accordance

• Proactive, self-starter; willing to accept responsibility for business tasks

• Ability to plan, prioritize and execute tasks effectively and efficiently

• Clear concise written and verbal communication skills

• Capable of independent development work design and execution

• Demonstrated basic knowledge of food process technologies

Functional Capabilities:

• Financial & Business Acumen - Ability to understand and leverage business opportunities, company strategies and key metrics in making decisions that deliver expectations.Foundation - Understands basic company financial concepts used to produce desired results.

• Innovative and Strategic Thinking - Proactively frames & evaluates ideas, concepts and opportunities in creative ways (even with imperfect information) to deliver enterprise level thinking, vision & direction.Advanced - Easily produces innovative ideas or links a group of ideas together.

• Product & Manufacturing Knowledge - Leverages knowledge of product, packaging, supply chain, market and customer to influence decisions and drive a competitive advantage.Advanced - Applies knowledge of portfolio to develop new products and innovate processes.

• Concept Creation & Development - Translates diverse insights to build and scale innovative packages and products to meet the needs of consumers and customers. Foundation - Builds ideas.

• Project Planning and Execution - Develops, implements, facilitates and manages comprehensive cross-functional project plans that deliver objectives. Advanced - Develops and implements plans to deliver project objectives using standard project management methodologies.

• Value Chain Optimization - Understands and considers the entire value chain (product, packaging and process), key strategies and potential risks to optimize Lamb Weston returns. Foundation - Applies knowledge of adjacent functional areas to successfully collaborate.

• Work Process Discipline and Execution - Develops, documents, implements and maintains standardized processes, procedures and programs. Advanced - Integrates and optimizes work processes to drive compliance and efficiencies

• Food Science - Knowledge of food science principles (including chemistry, engineering, microbiology & sensory) to design, develop and enhance products from ideation to commercialization. Foundation - Understands and applies food science

• Packaging Engineering - Understands and uses knowledge of material sciences, manufacturing and equipment capabilities to design, develop and enhance packaging from ideation to commercialization of LW products. Foundation - Applies knowledge of packaging material and technology.

• Commercialization - Translates formulations and specifications from batch to full scale production including the hand off to Supply Chain utilizing food safety standards. Foundation- Executes and understands the manufacturing of food products

Physical Environment/Demands:

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and to stand, walk, bend, stoop, twist and turn frequently.

• Exposed to a noisy environment that varies from hot to cold in temperature

• Exposure to manufacturing environments for up to 8 hours per work day to include:  loud noise, excessive heat, cold, wet, slippery conditions, dirt, fumes, smoke, smells and allergies 

• Ability to do repetitious arm, wrist and hand movements required for job actions and procedures.

• Must be able to work with hands and arms overhead, and to work in or under the equipment.

• Requires manual dexterity, overall coordination and good balance to work both at ground level and in high places to perform job duties. Ability to operate work related equipment

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

• Valid Driver’s License and driving record that meets Lamb Weston Driving Standards

• Exposed to temperatures ranging from -20 degrees below zero to 35 degrees Fahrenheit in Freezer Operation and 37 degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit in Plant Operation

• May have to sample food while evaluating Lamb Weston products

• Climbing to various heights via stairs or ladders on a regular basis

Industry-Competitive Benefits

Coupled with our compensation and bonus incentive programs, our benefits deliver rewards that are market competitive.  Some of the most attractive elements of our benefit programs include:

• Health Insurance Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision

• Flexible Spending Accounts for Health and Dependent Care, and Health Reimbursement Accounts

• Well-being programs including companywide events and a wellness incentive program

• Paid Time Off

• Financial Wellness – Industry leading 401(k) plan with generous company contributions, Financial Planning Services, Employee Stock purchase program, and Health Savings Accounts, Life and Accident insurance

• Family-Friendly Employee events

• Employee Assistance Program services – mental health and other concierge type services

Benefits may vary based on location, job role/level, job status, and/or the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Job Requisition ID: Req-258566

Time Type: Full time

The anticipated close date is a good faith estimate for when this job will be closed. Some jobs may be unposted or filled earlier or later than the Anticipated Close Date depending on interview processes and business needs. Anticipated Close Date: 11/07/2025

In compliance with applicable state and local laws, Lamb Weston has opted to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. This compensation is specific to this position and takes into account a number of variables. Actual compensation may be higher or lower in the range posted based on various factors, including, but not limited to, job duties, experience and expertise. A candidate’s work location could also impact the actual compensation being outside of the range to reflect local cost of labor. A reasonable annual estimate of the range for this role based on the variables previously mentioned is: $57,430.00 - $86,140.00

Lamb Weston is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law