Back End Specialist Launch Team

Ball Corporation; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pension plan

Disability insurance

Holidays and special days

Employee association

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Ball Corporation in Milton Keynes is seeking a Start-Up Process Specialist to lead New Build, New Line and Line Conversion start-ups in the can making area, serving as the on-site SME to drive efficiency and minimize spoilage with strict safety and quality focus.

You will deliver up to 80% on-the-job training and 20% classroom instruction, collaborating with Engineering, Production and Quality teams to transition lines to steady-state performance after target achievement.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Can manufacturing experience.
• Ability to transfer process knowledge to others.
• Strong troubleshooting and equipment setup skills.
• Willingness to lead start-up and line performance improvements.
• Experience with safety, quality, and lean concepts.
• Proven training delivery (OJT and classroom).

Responsibilities

• Lead start-up, ramp-up, and commissioning support.
• Provide on-site SME guidance for process areas.
• Deliver structured on-the-job and classroom training.
• Troubleshoot during start-up to stabilise production.
• Support root cause analysis and continuous improvement.
• Validate SOPs and work instructions.
• Promote safety and housekeeping.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Production and Quality.
• Capture and share lessons learned.

Skills

Can making process

Equipment setup

Troubleshooting

Data analysis

English communication

Mentoring

Lean basics

Line launches experience

Education

Mechanical or electrical qualification

Train The Trainer qualification

Job description

Further your career at Ball, a world leader in manufacturing sustainable aluminium packaging. Achieve extraordinary things when you join our team, and make a difference in your professional development, the community, and around the globe!

Ball is thrilled to receive Newsweek's 2023 Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplace award! As a sustainable product leader, we have over 16,000 global team members. From endlessly recyclable aluminium cans, and cups, to aerosol bottles, our goal is to contribute to a better community, society, and world.

Primary Purpose Of The Position

Working as part of a team of Process experts, the role will have responsibility predominantly for New Build, New Line and Line Conversion start- up performance in spray and necker areas. He/she will has their own process area of responsibility based on their prior experience and role within the team. Responsibility will predominantly be driven by achieving Efficiency and Spoilage, respecting safety requirements in the first instance, with secondary responsibility for other KPIs such as Material usages, Production Supplies , respecting also Environment prescriptions as appropriate to the area of expertise.

Essential Responsible Areas

• Champion a “safety-first” culture, demonstrating safe work practices, ensuring equipment meets all compliance requirements, and coaching new team members to consistently follow safety expectations.
• Lead equipment start-up and ramp-up, providing hands-on technical support during installation, setup, commissioning, and early production to ensure equipment meets design and performance specifications.
• Serve as the on-site operational Subject Matter Expert (SME) for assigned process areas, applying advanced technical knowledge to guide the line toward stable, reliable, and high-performance operation.
• Deliver structured training to plant teams, providing approximately 80% on-the-job (OJT) instruction and 20% classroom-based learning to develop operator and mechanic capability in operation, troubleshooting, maintenance, and quality practices.
• Provide real-time troubleshooting and problem resolution throughout start-up, diagnosing mechanical, chemical, and process issues to stabilise production quickly and develop line awareness within the plant team.
• Support and participate in root cause analysis, applying structured problem-solving techniques to eliminate recurring issues and strengthen long-term reliability.
• Validate SOPs, work instructions, and training materials, ensuring they accurately reflect new equipment requirements, start-up conditions, and best operating practices.
• Promote food safety, sanitation, and housekeeping discipline, ensuring all startup activities and equipment meet regulatory and internal compliance standards.
• Assist with parts, tooling, and material readiness, verifying availability of critical start-up resources and identifying ongoing operational needs early.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Production, and Quality teams to transition the line from start-up to steady-state operations once defined performance targets are achieved.
• Capture, document, and communicate lessons learned to contribute best practices for future builds and continuous improvement across the network.
• Achieve Efficiency and Spoilage targets for all New Builds, New Lines, and Line Conversions in alignment with approved start-up curves.
• Operate as part of a unified Start-Up Team, taking shared responsibility for overall start-up success while leading the assigned process area.
• Train and develop site personnel at recruitment and during start-up to build sustainable process understanding, performance capability, and autonomous operation.
• Provide emergency breakdown support to reduce downtime and restore operations quickly during the critical start-up phase.
• Support size conversions, ensuring local teams are capable of executing safe, efficient, and repeatable changeovers.
• Identify, share, and implement best practices to enhance future start-ups and optimise long-term operational performance. Supports implementation of BOE standards to a level 3, associated with the assignment scope for all safety, quality, business management, and maintenance pillar elements

Position Requirement & Competencies

• Mechanical or electrical qualification
• Training/ teaching qualification to minimum Train The Trainer
• Strong knowledge of the full Can making process and subject expert in at least one specific area.
• Ability to transfer Can making process knowledge to others
• Strong capability in equipment setup, troubleshooting, optimisation, and supporting line performance
• Competent computer skills for data analysis and report writing
• English communication skills (minimum communicative level)
• Preferred: Experience with line launches or rebuild projects
• Ownership mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and waste reduction
• Ability to mentor and develop less experienced team members
• Strong knowledge of the full Can making process and subject expert in at least one specific area.
• Ability to transfer Can making process knowledge to others
• Strong capability in equipment setup, troubleshooting, optimisation, and supporting line performance
• Competent computer skills for data analysis and report writing
• English communication skills (minimum communicative level)
• Preferred: Experience with line launches or rebuild projects
• Ownership mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and waste reduction
• Ability to mentor and develop less experienced team members
• Strong attention to detail and adherence to specifications
• Effective communication across all departments and levels
• Strong teamwork and collaboration mindset
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience of operating in Can manufacturing
• Has used basic Problem Solving techniques and the basics of Lean
• Line launch or line project (e.g. equipment rebuild) experience preferred

Work Environment:

This role supports central functions and offers flexible work arrangements including hybrid or fully remote options, subject to role requirements and manager approval.

Hiring Range:

502,500 – 723,600 DKK gross per year. The final salary will be determined based on the candidate’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and market benchmarks. Depending on these factors, the actual offer may fall above or below the posted range. Please note that the salary range is related to Denmark as base location, however relevant local range applies to candidates based in other locations.

Incentive Plan:

This position is eligible to participate in Ball's annual incentive compensation program.

Comprehensive Benefits Package:

Health insurance, pension plan, disability, holidays and special days, employee's association, employee assistance program.

If you have a disability and/or long-term health condition that impacts on your ability to access any of the information outlined in the job application process, please do not hesitate in letting us know, so that we can endeavour to provide it you in the most accessible format. please email [e-mail] with your access request and somebody will respond to you within 3 business days.

Ball Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We actively encourage applications from everybody, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, faith, ability, or orientation. When you join Ball you belong to a team of over 16,000 members worldwide. Our products range from infinitely recyclable aluminium cans, cups to aerosol bottles that enable our customers to contribute to a better world. Each of us has a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion which is the foundation of our culture of belonging. Everyone at Ball is making a difference by doing what we love. Because what we create may change, but what we will always make is a difference.

Please note the advertised job title might vary from the job title on the contract due to local job title structure and global HR systems.