Night Shift Production Team Leader

Nichols PLC; Ross-on-Wye; Remote; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday (with option to buy)

Annual Bonus

Save as you Earn Share Scheme

Private medical cover

Enhanced Primary Carers leave and sick

Job summary

Nichols PLC is seeking a Production Team Leader for the Ross-on-Wye site. You will lead 12-hour night shifts (6pm–6am, average 38 hours/year) and report to the Production Manager, driving KPI performance and staff development in a fast-paced beverage manufacturing environment.

You will manage daily production targets, ensure SOPs/recipes are followed, and coordinate with stakeholders to maintain quality and on-time delivery while fostering a positive team culture.

Qualifications

• Experience leading shift manufacturing teams.
• Knowledge of HACCP & QSHE standards and systems.
• Strong communication and people development skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead shift manufacturing teams to complete daily workload on time and to standard.
• Coach, motivate and appraise team members; support engagement activities.
• Ensure resources align with production needs; monitor performance and resolve issues.
• Enforce SOPs and approved recipes; communicate production requirements and safety messages.
• Cover Production Manager duties as needed; drive RCA and continuous improvement.

Skills

People management

Leadership

HACCP & QSHE knowledge

Communication

Adaptability

Job description

We're Nichols - the home of Vimto, and there is no other business quite like ours!

We have been making life taste better since 1908. Every day here is bursting with flavour – from the loved brands we’re proud to share with the world, to the energy, ambition and innovative ideas that fizz through our teams.

As well as our refreshingly different Vimto taste, our varied brand portfolio spans the still, carbonated, post-mix and frozen drinks categories – so you will find us in your local supermarket, pub and leisure outlet. We also work with the UK’s leading food manufacturers to provide a truly unique range of products that everyone loves.

At the heart of everything is our rich family heritage, an unrelenting ambition to keep innovating, and a true pride in who we are. This is a place where you can be yourself, speak up, and get stuck in. We celebrate the wins, cheer each other on and keep things fizzing with positivity. From leaders who listen to teammates who’ve always got your back, its work that feels as good as it tastes!

Our Ross-on-Wye site is the heart of production, the home of our post-mix, juices and slushes for Out of Home customers. Our factory is a key ingredient in the Nichols recipe for success — helping us stay innovative, adaptable, and ready to serve up what our customers crave.

Nichols is where serious fun meets real opportunities – and where work tastes better.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY:

The successful candidate will work predominantly 12 hour nights starting at 6pm Monday and finishing at 6am Thursday. (Our annualised hours contract means the average working week is 38 hours over the calendar year, and therefore occasional Thursday nights are also required).

Reporting to the Production Manager, the Production Team Leader will play a pivotal role in overseeing day-to-day manufacturing operations, ensuring production targets and schedules are met while maintaining a strong focus on customer requirements. Working closely with key stakeholders across the business, you will drive performance against production KPIs, while leading, motivating and developing your team to achieve operational excellence.

THE ROLE WILL INCLUDE:

• Leading the shift manufacturing teams in ensuring required daily workload is completed on time, in full and to the approved standards.
• Managing, coaching, motivating and engaging your team, conducting 121’s and appraisals, whilst supporting engagement activities with ideas and participation.
• Ensuring adequate resources are in place and aligned to production needs, monitoring performance and managing any issues in line with company policies and procedures.
• Ensuring team members are following SOP’s and approved recipes to ensure we have the best soft drinks and mixers available.
• Ensuring daily communication is in place with teams – Communicating production requirements, safety messages, ‘care points’ for the day and any opportunities to build engagement and fun.
• Covering where needed for the Production Manager in their absence. i.e. Meetings, reports and audits.
• Rectifying any reported issues on equipment or product with the correct individuals to minimise downtime, quality issues and performance losses – giving prioritisation to team members for corrective and preventative maintenance tasks.
• Understanding, reporting and actioning production performance losses.
• Understanding and carrying out root cause analysis (RCA) sessions following issues, to eliminate repetition and demonstrate continuous improvement. Leading improvement activity for your team.
• Fulfilling all attendance procedures for your teams, completing return to work meetings with any absentee immediately upon return and liaising with People Business Partner for any areas of concern.

ABOUT YOU

As this role involves leading a shift, we’re looking for a strategic thinker who has previous people manager experience.

Also somebody who

• Can be flexible, shift patterns and business needs can change, therefore our manufacturing teams must have an adaptable mindset and be open to working alternative shift patterns on occasion as required
• Is committed to doing a great job every day
• Has an understanding of HACCP & QSHE Standards & Systems
• Is able to communicate positively with others – operating as a role model for our company behaviours
• Can lead with confidence, engaging with others easily
• Has proven experience within a similar role

BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH US:

No matter where you work in our business you will be entitled to a range of amazing benefits, here is a snapshot of what we can offer you:

• 25 days holiday (with opportunity to buy extra every year)
• Annual Bonus
• Save as you Earn Share Scheme
• Option to join our private medical cover scheme
• Enhanced Primary Carers leave and sick pay

AND LET’S NOT FORGET THE PERKS

We are also proud to offer:

• Holiday home stay
• Your birthday off work
• Free on site parking
• 1 day a year off work to volunteer in the community (you choose when and where)
• Help yourself to our drinks when at one of our sites
• Staff shop with discounts on our products

We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe diverse teams perform at their best, and we welcome people with different backgrounds, life experiences, perspectives and ways of thinking.

Our standard recruitment process for short-listed candidates typically includes an initial call with our Talent Advisor, followed by a face to face interview with the hiring manger. If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process please feel free to contact us.

We understand that many candidates use AI tools to help prepare applications. You're welcome to use these tools to improve spelling, grammar or structure, but your application must accurately reflect your own skills, experience and achievements.

Any job offer is subject to an individual’s Right to Work in the UK.

Unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor visas.