Area Leader (176780)

Requisition ID 176780 - Posted 10/23/2026 - Supply Chain/Manufacturing - United States - South Carolina - Hodges - Colgate-Palmolive - Travel - up to 10% of time - On-site Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country Job Number #176780 - Hodges, South Carolina, United States Who We Are Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name! Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all. Area Leader Are you ready to shape operational excellence and lead high-performing teams in a state-of-the-art manufacturing environment? As an Area Leader in Operations, you will champion end-to-end production performance, driving safety, quality, and operational efficiency across critical manufacturing areas. You will cultivate an inclusive, high-accountability culture by coaching frontline supervisors and technicians while partnering cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain. In this role, you will own continuous improvement initiatives and technological advancements that bring essential personal care products to millions of homes daily. Responsibilities Lead and Develop High-Performing Teams: Direct daily operations through frontline team leaders and technicians, coaching talent, setting clear accountability, and fostering an inclusive, high-trust team environment. Drive Operational Excellence: Lead continuous improvement and reliability programs across production areas to optimize asset utilization, boost overall equipment effectiveness, and eliminate waste. Champion Safety & Environmental Standards: Ensure strict compliance with environmental, health, and occupational safety regulations, actively eliminating workplace hazards and promoting a zero-incident safety culture. Ensure Product Quality & Regulatory Compliance: Oversee production adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and regulatory standards, directing root-cause investigations and corrective action plans for any non-conformances. Manage Operational Budgets & Cost Optimization: Maintain operational ownership of area budgets, labor efficiency, and material utilization, delivering continuous cost-savings and productivity goals. Deliver Technology Transfers & Product Launches: Collaborate with cross-functional partners in Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to seamlessly commission new equipment, packaging designs, and product formulations. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field with a minimum of 7 years of manufacturing experience, OR a Master’s degree with a minimum of 5 years of manufacturing experience. Supervisory experience managing teams in an industrial or manufacturing environment. Hands-on technical knowledge of of mechanical, electrical and chemical fields as well as plant equipment required. Demonstrated experience utilizing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (such as SAP) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). Proficiency in digital productivity suites (Google Workspace or Microsoft Office). Preferred Qualifications Experience leading operations within high-speed, highly automated Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), personal care, food, or pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. Demonstrated success applying Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Autonomous Maintenance methodologies to deliver measurable operational gains. Strong cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management skills across Quality, Engineering, and Human Resources. Data-dri…

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