Production Shift Manager

Huntsman Corporation; Stapleford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading chemical manufacturing firm located in Duxford is seeking a Production Shift Manager to oversee a team of operators in a fast-paced environment. You will play a crucial role in ensuring safety and efficient production operations, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and developing your team. The ideal candidate will have a relevant degree and proven experience in a manufacturing setting, with strong leadership and problem-solving skills.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a process or chemical manufacturing environment.
• Previous supervisory or team leadership experience required.
• Strong understanding of LEAN tools necessary.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of operators to meet production targets.
• Manage day-to-day operations ensuring adherence to quality standards.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and training.

Skills

Leadership

Safety Management

Continuous Improvement

Lean Tools (VSM, SMED, Kaizen)

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry or Engineering

Tools

SAP

MS Office

Job description

Based at our Duxford site, one of the key locations within our Advanced Materials division, this role plays a vital part in ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality production operations. We are hiring for this position to strengthen our shift leadership team and continue driving operational excellence and continuous improvement within our batch manufacturing facility. We are looking for someone who is a strong leader, passionate about safety, and experienced in managing production teams in a fast-paced, process-driven environment. In this role, you will be reporting to the Production Manager.

Role Responsibilities: As a Production Shift Manager, you will be responsible for:

• Leading a team of 12+ operators to meet production targets safely and efficiently
• Driving a Zero Harm safety culture and acting as a role model in behavioural safety
• Managing day-to-day shift operations, ensuring adherence to production schedules and quality standards
• Monitoring and improving key performance indicators such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), First Time Pass Rate (FTPR), and Standard vs Actual
• Coordinating with engineering to minimise downtime and optimise maintenance planning
• Leading continuous improvement initiatives, from work method enhancements to CAPEX projects
• Managing training and development to build a multi-skilled, flexible workforce
• Acting as Site Incident Controller
• Supporting cost-saving initiatives and contributing to site-wide improvement programs

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry, Engineering, or equivalent experience
• Proven experience in a process or chemical manufacturing environment
• Previous supervisory or team leadership experience
• Strong understanding of LEAN tools (e.g., VSM, SMED, Kaizen)
• High attention to data, metrics, and continuous improvement
• Excellent communication and team-building skills
• Ability to lead in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Strong coaching and leadership capabilities
• Adaptability and effective problem-solving skills
• Computer literacy and high proficiency in major IT tools (SAP, MS Office etc)

Working Hours: Monday - Friday, 8-hour shifts. 6am-2pm, 2pm - 10pm, 10- 6am rotating weekly, for which you will receive a shift premium.

At Huntsman, we pride ourselves on being a people-oriented organisation. Our family-like atmosphere is cultivated by our diverse groups of team members around the world. We welcome the talent, experience and fresh ideas that employees at all stages of their careers, from interns to seasoned professionals, bring to Huntsman. In return, we offer you the opportunity to become an integral part of a dynamic, industry-leading company, where safety and ethics always come first.