First Line Manager

PX Group; Wyke; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Boosted pension scheme 1.25% match (up

Simply Health Cash Plan

Staff Meals

Onsite parking

Job summary

PX Group is seeking a First Line Manager at the Wyke site to lead shift operations and ensure safe, reliable production. You will manage day-to-day manufacturing activities, schedule workloads, and drive a small team of operators to meet short-term production plans while upholding quality, safety and environmental standards.

You will receive on-the-job coaching and regular performance reviews to enhance competence and contribution within a high-hazard manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Requires technical qualification or equivalent experience in chemical manufacturing.
• Level 4 Process Leader Apprenticeship completed or in progress.
• IOSH Managing Safety certification.
• Highfield Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Workplace.
• Highfield Level 3 Award in Delivering Training.

Responsibilities

• Sustain high SHE awareness among plant operation teams and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
• Produce products to plan with quality while optimising resource use.
• Lead a group of Operators including recruitment, training, development and motivation.
• Ensure operations follow standard operating procedures.
• Assist in incident response as directed by leadership.
• Act within company procedures and risk controls during emergencies.
• Participate in safety audits, HAZOPs, COSHH and risk assessments.
• Liaise with maintenance to prioritise repairs and planned maintenance to minimise downtime.
• Prepare plant and permits prior to any planned engineering work.
• Maintain accurate inventory in ERP system with timely data input.
• Coordinate with supply chain to ensure raw material availability.
• Collaborate with Plant Manager, Process Improvement Group and QC on quality issues.

Skills

People management

Shift leadership

Safety focus

Education

HND/ONC in Chemical/Process

Level 4 Process Leader Apprenticeship

IOSH Managing Safety

Highfield Award: Assessing Competence

Highfield Award: Delivering Training

Job description

First Line Manager

Application Deadline: 19 October 2026

Department: Operations

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Wyke

Reporting To: Operations Leader

Description

Our Business px PEOPLE, their commitment to excellence, innovation and teamwork, are the reason for px Group’s continuing growth and success story. We aim to be the elite provider of operations management, engineering services and energy management solutions in high hazard, highly regulated industries nationally and as we grow, across Europe and globally. For more information visit www.pxlimited.com

Located in Bradford, West Yorkshire, the Wyke Agrichemicals Manufacturing Plant is operated by px Group in partnership with Nufarm. The site is one of the UK's leading crop protection manufacturing facilities, manufacturing crop protection products for Nufarm that support farmers and growers around the world.

Wyke is a Top Tier COMAH site, operating a complex chemical manufacturing environment where safety, reliability and operational excellence are fundamental to everything we do. With a skilled workforce across manufacturing, engineering, laboratory, supply chain and support functions, the site offers the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals in a highly technical environment

The Opportunity We are now recruiting for a First Line Manager. As a First Line Manager, you will play a critical role in delivering safe and reliable production by leading shift operations within your production area. You will manage day-to-day manufacturing activities, make operational decisions within your remit, and lead a team of operators to deliver the short-term production plan while meeting quality, safety and environmental standards

You’ll be supported with personalised on the job training, coaching, mentoring and twice-yearly development and performance reviews to help maintain & develop your contributions and competence.

Key Responsibilities

• Sustain high level of personal SHE awareness in the Plant operating teams to ensure compliance with safety, health and environmental regulations at all times; complies with all Process Safety Management related procedures and established work methods, reporting all process safety incidents or hazards and contributing to incident investigations.
• Ensure that all products required are produced to manufacturing plan to the required quality and that the best use is made of all resources in achieving the plan.
• Responsible for the people management and leadership of a group of Operators, including recruitment, training (including validation of competence), development and motivation with the aim of continuously improving performance with regards to productivity and safety, health and environment issues.
• Ensure that all operations are carried out according to standard operating procedures.
• In the event of a site incident, undertake duties required as directed by the Works Incident Controller, as part of the Emergency Response Team.
• Emergency situations will require an element of ‘freedom to act’ within the role to bring a situation under control, however in all circumstances the individual will not divert from company procedures and key risk control systems.
• Participate in safety audits, HAZOP's, COSHH and risk assessments. Participate in safety investigations and reporting processes as required.
• Liaise with maintenance dept.to organise and prioritise plant repairs and planned maintenance, and ensure that they are carried out effectively to minimise production downtime, within area of responsibility; participate in the instigation of plant mods and process mods.
• Preparation of plant and permitry prior to any planned engineering work, hot work or vessel entry.
• Maintenance of accurate plant raw material and product inventory by means of timely data input into ERP system.
• Liaise with supply chain to ensure sufficient raw materials are available to maintain production. Liaise, where required, with external suppliers out of normal hours.
• Work in conjunction with Plant Manager, Process Improvement Group and QC to identify and resolve plant quality problems, and to assist in the commissioning and introduction of new processes.
• Implement Company policies and disciplinary procedures and general terms and conditions of employment.
• Maintain a high standard of housekeeping in all relevant areas. Manage and maintain 5S area of responsibility.
• Ensure all process waste streams are minimised and disposed of in accordance with current Company procedures.

Minimum Requirements

• A technical qualification (HND/ONC) or equivalent work experience within Chemical Manufacturing
• Level 4 Process Leader Apprenticeship
• IOSH Managing Safety Programme
• Highfield Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Workplace
• Highfield Level 3 Award in Delivering Training

This role is a shift role working 2-day shifts (12 hours) 2 nights shifts (12 hours) then 4 off. This repeats 7 times then there is an 18-day break. Holidays are included in the shift pattern.

What you will receive from us

• A boosted pension scheme – we’ll match 1.25% to every 1% you pay (up to 8%)
• Simply Health Cash Plan
• Staff Meals
• Onsite parking

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

Please note this role may close early or be extended depending on the volume of applications.