Retail Production Team Lead

Job Location
Shelbyville
Job Summary:
This role exists to lead and manage backroom operations in support of the store leadership team by ensuring production goals and quotas are consistently met while maintaining cleanliness, safety, quality, and processing standards. The Retail Production Team Lead provides hands on leadership to all backroom staff, overseeing donation intake, processing, sorting, pricing, and material handling activities. This role ensures donations are safeguarded, donor experience expectations are upheld, and backroom operations run efficiently and compliantly, directly supporting store readiness, sales performance, and mission impact.
Guided by our Mission of Changing Lives through Education, Training and Employment, this role helps ensure every interaction contributes to the impact we make in the community. This position promotes a work environment grounded in our TRUE Core Values of Teamwork, Respect, Uprightness, and Empowerment.
Job Description
Essential Functions
Backroom & Production Operations
Lead daily backroom production operations, including donation intake, sorting, processing, pricing, and material handling.
Provide hands‑on leadership to all backroom staff to ensure production goals, quotas, and processing expectations are consistently met.
Monitor daily workflow and productivity to support efficient movement of donated goods from intake through production.
Ensure quality control standards are followed, including accurate sorting, proper pricing, and compliance with processing guidelines and CPSC requirements.
Safeguard all donated goods to prevent loss, damage, or misuse throughout the production process.
Reinforce donor experience expectations by ensuring respectful, timely, and professional handling of all donations.
Train, onboard, coach, and develop backroom team members on production processes, quality standards, safety requirements, and daily operational expectations.
Operational, Safety, and Compliance Support
Support assigned opening and closing activities specific to backroom operations, ensuring production readiness and operational continuity.
Coordinate the timely movement of processed goods from the backroom to the sales floor in alignment with store priorities and operational plans.
Maintain backroom safety and cleanliness by enforcing safety protocols, monitoring workspaces, and proactively addressing hazards to support efficient operations.
Identify and communicate maintenance needs, equipment issues, or operational barriers that could impact production flow, safety, or efficiency.
Support operational excellence by ensuring consistent execution of organizational policies, loss prevention practices, and public protection requirements related to backroom operations.
Follow all Goodwill operational guidelines and CPSC requirements applicable to donation processing and material handling.
Perform other duties as assigned to support overall store operations, operational effectiveness, and leadership priorities.
Minimum Qualifications
Required Skills
Education
High School Diploma or equivalent required.
Associate’s degree in business, Logistics, Supply Chain, Management, Retail Operations, or a related field preferred.
Experience
One to two years of previous experience in production, warehouse, retail, or logistics environments required.
Knowledge and Skills
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain accuracy in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to learn and apply new processes, systems, equipment, and operational procedures.
Ability to lead and motivate a diverse team while promoting a positive, inclusive work culture grounded in our Mission and TRUE Core Values.
Ability to provide strong donor service, ensuring safe, friendly, and efficient interactions at the Donor Door.
Ability to interpret and meet production metrics, KPIs, and performance goals.
Ability to identify quality standards, classify goods accurately, and ensure compliance with CPSC and public protection requirements.
Working knowledge of basic computer applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and online product research.
Ability to train, coach, and develop team members in operational procedures and production standards.
Ability to stand, walk, and move throughout the store during assigned shifts.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays.
Ability to operate a forklift (Must obtain forklift certification. Training and certification are provided by the organization.)
Preferred Education / Experience / Knowledge & Skills / Certifications & License
Associate’s degree or completion of related retail management coursework.
Experience in fast-paced, high-volume operations.
Prior retail, nonprofit, or mission-based organization experience preferred.
Experience supporting or working alongside eCommerce operations is a plus.
Previous experience supervising, training, coaching, or developing staff strongly preferred.
Bilingual language skills.
This role requires flexibility to support both morning and evening shifts, including weekend coverage, to meet store operating needs.