How to hire a plant operator/shift supervisor

How to hire a plant operator/shift supervisor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step plant operator/shift supervisor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a plant operator/shift supervisor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new plant operator/shift supervisor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a plant operator/shift supervisor job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a plant operator/shift supervisor, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A plant operator/shift supervisor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, plant operators/shift supervisor from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of plant operators/shift supervisor and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Plant Operator/Shift Supervisor	Description	Hourly rate
   Plant Operator/Shift Supervisor		$18-37
   Lead Operator	Lead operators are responsible for the direction and supervision of the day-to-day activities in facilities. As machine operators, they control machines and take charge of industrial operations... Show more	$25-68
   Assembly Supervisor	Assembly Supervisors oversee and coordinate employees' work on assembly-lines. The supervisors assign personnel to stations or tasks and prepare their work schedules... Show more	$19-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Plant Operations
   • Safety Regulations
   • Control Systems
   • Plant Equipment
   • Safety Training
   • Production Lines

   Responsibilities:

   • Need method to proactively manage the business improving cross-functional collaboration & KPI visibility.
   • Lead compression shift of twenty-one operators and supporting staff in daily operations of manufacturing generic prescription medications in a GMP setting.
   • Supervise HAZ-MAT response decontamination line during emergencies.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your plant operator/shift supervisor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A plant operator/shift supervisor can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, plant operators/shift supervisor' average salary in north carolina is 43% less than in wyoming.
   • Seniority. Entry-level plant operators/shift supervisor 50% less than senior-level plant operators/shift supervisor.
   • Certifications. A plant operator/shift supervisor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a plant operator/shift supervisor's salary.

   Average plant operator/shift supervisor salary

   $55,520yearly

   $26.69 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level plant operator/shift supervisor salary

   $39,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 24, 2025

4. Writing a plant operator/shift supervisor job description

   A plant operator/shift supervisor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a plant operator/shift supervisor job description:

   Plant operator/shift supervisor job description example

   Job Responsibilities and Requirements:
   This is a second shift position with a work schedule of Tuesday- Saturday
   Safety, demonstrated behaviors in support of company safety procedures with focus on zero injuries.Quality, demonstrates behaviors in support of quality work processes to include Statistical Process Control-SPC, Document & track production variables, downtime, product samples and make adjustments to ensure proper packaging and casing of product to meet quality standards.Continuous Improvement Actively support the ConAgra Performance System-CPS. Experience in a High Performance Work Systems; 5's, working in teams, problem solving, six sigma, TPM, training, continuous skills development-CSD, auditing, planned and/or autonomous maintenance-AM.Own a minimum of one area within a plant and drive 5S for that area.Participate in a minimum of 1 kaizen event a month.Follow and comply with all Safe Quality Food (SQF) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP's).Be a pillar owner / support for one of the pillars.Conduct a minimum of one area audit per week.Develop One Point Lessons-OPL's, Training materials, and Standard Process Instructions-SPI's to include, but not limited to creating power point presentations, training and presenting to Team Members across the organization.Ability to maintain mastery on all skill sets that the associate has been certified on through ongoing skills audits and rotation.Perform sanitation and sterilization procedures on milk and product flow systems between production cycles.Use hand tools to change process flow piping and prepare sanitation cycle.Manually control valves and piping to prepare CIP cycle.Record in writing sanitation activities, including temperatures and concentrations.Operate MMI to perform sanitation sequence.Use mathematical operations of addition and subtraction to track and understand chemical concentrations.Use mathematical operation of multiplication and division to understand, track and evaluate chemical concentrations.Wear protective clothing/gear when required for safety.Troubleshoot, adjust, calibrate, monitor and inspect CIP equipment for issues and generate work orders when necessary to correct.Coordinate work activities with work associates who work on same or different shift.Exchange information with work associates for improving efficiency, safety, quality, and operational procedures.Obtain and replace sanitation chemicals as needed.Use pressured water hoses to clean production equipment and areas.Use caustic and acid chemicals to clean production equipment.Acknowledge and respond to CIP alarms.Operate power floor scrubbers.Inspect and clean processing, packaging, and casing equipment and machinery between production cycles.Inspect and clean general production floor and surface areas between production cycles.Perform chemical tests to ensure quality and FDA standards.Accurately document sanitation events and activities.Perform duties with speed and precision in actions to maintain necessary sanitation schedules and safety.Marginal tasks The ability to meet attendance requirements.The ability to interact effectively and professionally with coworkers.Work overtime as required to achieve production and maintenance schedules.Perform other duties that the Team Leader or Production or Sanitation Manager might require.Be able to perform all skills as outlined on the Skills Element Tree.
   
   Our Benefits:
   
   We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role:
   Health: Medical, dental and vision insurance, company-paid life, accident and disability insurance Wealth: great pay, incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan Growth: online courses, virtual and classroom development experiences Balance: paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role)
   
   Our Company:
   
   Conagra Brands is one of North America's leading branded food companies. We have a rich heritage of making great food, and a team that's passionate about innovation and growth. Conagra offers choices for every occasion through iconic brands, such as Birds Eye , Marie Callender's , Banquet , Healthy Choice , Slim Jim , Reddi-wip , and Vlasic , and emerging brands, including Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP , Duke's , Earth Balance , Gardein , and Frontera .
   We pride ourselves on having the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in the food industry. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.
   
   Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find plant operators/shift supervisor for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your plant operator/shift supervisor job on Zippia to find and recruit plant operator/shift supervisor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting plant operators/shift supervisor requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new plant operator/shift supervisor

   Once you've found the plant operator/shift supervisor candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new plant operator/shift supervisor. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a plant operator/shift supervisor?