Shift Manager

Job Overview

The Shift Manager will report directly to the Production Manager and collaborate closely with the site management team to meet and surpass production targets while ensuring customer satisfaction. This role requires managing all shift activities to achieve goals related to production output, quality, environmental compliance, maintenance, personnel, health and safety, and cost control.

Primary Responsibilities

• Foster a safety-first culture by ensuring compliance with Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) policies and procedures.
• Lead and coordinate a large operator team to meet production goals, facilitate effective workgroup meetings, and oversee maintenance team activities outside regular hours.
• Track shift performance and motivate teams to meet key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Collaborate with Planning to guarantee plan execution, optimize throughput, efficiency, quality, cost management, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Manage team performance, implement development programs, support communication strategies, and maintain up-to-date training records demonstrating skills and competence.
• Ensure product quality aligns with standards such as Right First Time (RFT), hygiene, incident reporting, change control, and technical requirements.
• Support audits and customer visits, promptly addressing findings and recommendations.
• Complete all Oracle system tasks to maintain precise financial records.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives by applying established tools to identify root causes, implement solutions, and ensure follow-through.
• Control payroll, product yield, and ingredient usage, taking corrective actions to handle variances.
• Maintain audit readiness throughout areas under management, fully implementing audit recommendations and solutions to customer complaints within set deadlines.
• Report and investigate incidents such as COD and hydraulic loading events.

Key Competencies

• Advanced technical expertise with a strong ability to comprehend complex manufacturing processes and promptly resolve defects or stoppages with accurate, first-time solutions.
• Results-driven mindset with strong prioritization and organizational skills enabling successful fulfillment of production and financial targets.
• Confidence in independently managing workload and making intricate decisions.
• Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills combined with a proactive sense of responsibility and ability to foster strong working relationships.
• Proficient use of core continuous improvement (CI) techniques and tools, demonstrating a CI-oriented approach to elevating standards and production performance.
• Exceptional people management capabilities centered on inspiring and developing teams to achieve production and cost objectives through teamwork and engagement.
• Adaptable and flexible, demonstrating effectiveness in responding positively to shifts in work demands.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Food Science, Technology, Engineering, or a related field.
• Prior experience in a comparable managerial role within production.
• Strong demonstrated skills aligned with the key competencies outlined above.
• A thorough understanding of all operational processes within the scope of responsibility.
• Business acumen with a focus on customer needs and commercial awareness.
• Proven commitment to maintaining safe working environments.
• Passion for applying continuous improvement principles effectively in a fast-paced production context.
• A performance-oriented outlook with a history of sound judgment and integrity in decision-making.