Shift Leader

South57 Recruitment; Dunstable; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

South57 Recruitment is supporting a food production client in Dunstable to hire a Support Shift Leader. You will oversee production shifts, ensure health and safety standards, and drive quality improvements to meet targets.

The role requires flexibility for 12-hour shifts, coaching the team, managing SAP process orders, and coordinating with engineers to minimize downtime. Experience in food manufacturing, HACCP/IOSH training, and proficiency with SAP/OFS/ProLeiT are preferred.

Qualifications

• Must have a relevant food manufacturing qualification.
• Ability to work under own initiative in a high-speed environment.
• Experience with continuous improvement techniques.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office packages.
• Demonstrated performance management experience.
• Technical processing plant/machine knowledge.
• Training experience across teams.
• Familiar with SAP, OFS & ProLeiT systems.
• Food safety training – level 4.
• Health & Safety training (IOSH).
• HACCP training – level 3.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate shift activities to meet production plans and targets.
• Coach and mentor staff; conduct appraisals where required.
• Lead investigations and root-cause analysis of issues.
• Ensure SAP process orders are completed for traceability.
• Manage daily/weekly meetings with focus on data/KPIs.
• Oversee sanitation schedules and weekly deep cleaning.
• Manage staff allocation according to production plans.
• Support quality and safety compliance across the shift.
• Coordinate with engineers on downtime reduction.

Skills

Food manufacturing qualification

Initiative driving

Continuous improvement

Microsoft Office

Performance management

Processing plant knowledge

Training

SAP

OFS

ProLeiT

Food safety training (level 4)

IOSH Health & Safety

HACCP level 3

Education

Relevant food manufacturing qualification

Tools

SAP

OFS

ProLeiT

Job description

Job Description:

We are recruiting for a Support Shift Leader for our food production client based in Dunstable.

The working hours will be Monday-Friday 09:00-17:30 HOWEVER as a shift support you will need to be flexible to cover team absence as and when required which will involve working 12 hour shifts, days/nights and possibly weekends.

The role includes but is not limited to:

• Ensure that all health & safety requirements are met by everyone within the team and working within the Production areas
• Support the site Health and Safety monthly meetings by playing an active role in any actions and projects
• Proactively manage any workplace accidents ensuring full investigations are undertaken within 1 hour of the incident taking place
• Possess a high understanding of the quality systems and ensure that they adhered through regular audits and checks
• Manage Production to meet targets for Quality & Customer Complaints and actively implement corrective actions to reduce issues.
• Approve any process changes or machinery set points if required
• Any changes made of recipe outside of the permitted parameters e.g. increasing water in the mix, changing packaging, ingredient content and levels must be approved by a Quality Manager
• Report and explain production results using standard systems and data
• Effectively conduct meetings to discuss production plans and any other relevant information, based on data and KPI's
• Manage daily cleaning and weekly shutdown deep clean, ensuring sanitation schedule is followed and all areas check and signed off.
• Act as a coach and mentor to all staff, promoting good teamwork and conducting appraisals, as required.
• Complete Shift report correctly at the end of each shift, detailing all events including all details of any downtime and waste that is not meeting our targets
• Ensure to coordinate staff according to production plans and requirements.
• Problem identification and rectification/escalation. Use root cause analysis to find corrective actions and to solve problems
• Ensure daily meetings are effective and focused on root cause analysis.
• Actively manage production and the team to deliver manufacturing standards against customer audit standards, group standards & conformance to BRC Grade AA
• Ensure total production compliance with all company policies and procedures, ensuring correct training are given, to include constructive staff briefings.
• Effective management of team to include PDP's
• Set out detailed training plans for the team to ensure full skills coverage and succession planning.
• Proactive management of sickness absence and all performance and disciplinary issues
• Responsible to manage SAP system and ensure daily correct Process Orders confirmation completion carried out to enable traceability of each production run.
• Have effective handovers between Shift Leaders, Engineer and Area leaders to reduce downtime, waste and improve efficiency during each shift
• Raise any unresolved engineering issues on works order system

Essential Experience, Skills & Qualifications

• Relevant food manufacturing qualification
• Ability to work under own initiative in a high speed environment
• Continuous improvement techniques
• Use of Microsoft Office packages
• Performance management
• Technical processing plant/machine knowledge
• Training
• SAP, OFS & ProLeiT
• Food safety training - level 4
• Health & Safety training (IOSH)
• HACCP training - level 3