Shift Manager

Diageo; Belfast; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading beverage company is seeking a Shift Leader at their Belfast packaging site. The ideal candidate will lead a high-performing team, ensuring excellence in safety, quality, service, and cost. Responsibilities include managing KPIs, driving continuous improvement through methodologies like Lean and Six Sigma, and mentoring staff. Candidates should have experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with strong leadership skills. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the legacy of Guinness and make impactful decisions in a dynamic setting.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Contributory pension up to 14%

Cycle-to-work scheme

Annual bonus around 10%

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• Proven record in FMCG or manufacturing
• Experience leading teams in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication skills

Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-disciplinary team of 10-20 people
• Ensure delivery of KPIs across safety, quality, service, and cost
• Drive continuous improvement using structured problem-solving tools

Skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Continuous improvement

Collaboration

Team management

Education

NEBOSH, IOSH, or IBD qualifications

Tools

Lean methodologies

Six Sigma

TPM

Job description

Job Description

Shift Leader

Location: Belfast Guinness Packaging site, N.Ireland

Contract Type: 12-Month FTC with the potential to get permanent

Shift pattern: Continental shift pattern - 12 hours shifts, offering a flexible rotation of days, nights and rest days to provide work-life balance and structured time off.

End date to Apply: 15th Jan 2026

Raise the Bar with Guinness. Lead a Team that Delivers Excellence Every Shift.

Few brands are as legendary as Guinness — a name that stands for craftsmanship, innovation, and pride. As Shift Manager, you’ll play a key role in protecting that legacy while driving our Belfast brewery toward an even more exceptional future.

About the Role

As a Shift Manager, you’ll lead and inspire a high-performing team to deliver world-class results in safety, quality, service, and cost within our Guinness packaging operations.

You’ll be responsible for maintaining compliance with health, safety, environmental, quality, and reliability standards — while driving continuous improvement through lean manufacturing and problem-solving techniques.

In this fast-paced, high-demand environment, you’ll make real-time decisions to ensure production targets are met safely, efficiently, and to the highest quality standards. You’ll also mentor and develop the production team in the use of Manufacturing Management Systems (MMS), embedding best practices and high performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop across our multi-disciplinary teams of 10-20 people, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Ensure delivery of key performance indicators (KPIs) across safety, quality, service, and cost.
• Drive continuous improvement using structured problem-solving tools such as Lean, Six Sigma, and TPM.
• Actively manage production planning and performance on the shop floor.
• Lead the Asset Care agenda and resolve operational issues in real time.
• Promote compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards including ISO and HACCP.

We would love to hear from you, if you

• Have a proven record in a fast-paced FMCG or manufacturing environment and a passion for leadership and continuous improvement.
• Are proactive, collaborative, and motivated to lead a team to success.
• Have demonstrable experience leading teams in an FMCG or manufacturing setting.
• Possess strong leadership and mentor skills with a focus on performance development.
• Have experience applying Lean, Six Sigma, or TPM methodologies to drive improvement.
• Have a good understanding of manufacturing financials and budgeting processes.
• Demonstrate excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
• Hold NEBOSH, IOSH, or IBD qualifications (beneficial but not essential).

About the Site

Commissioned in 1986 and spanning approximately 12 acres, the site operates 24/7 except on public holidays. It features two canning lines, a tank farm for bulk receipt and dilution, as well as warehousing and distribution systems. Producing around 130 SKUs—60% for domestic and 40% for export markets—the facility handles pack sizes ranging from 250ml to 568ml. As part of Guinness’s packaging operations alongside the Marshalls Road (Belfast) and Runcorn (Northwest England) sites, it manufactures canned, bottled, and kegged products for Ireland, the UK, and export markets. The site shares a management team with Runcorn and is currently benefiting from significant ongoing investment at both locations.

Working with Us

Join us and you can expect a highly driven and flexible rewards and benefits package, including contemporary work-life balance policies and wellbeing activities, private medical insurance, a product allowance, and access to discounts at thousands of retailers. We offer a contributory pension of up to 14% by Diageo, company freeshares upon joining, and the opportunity to participate in sharesave, sharepurchase, and sharematch schemes. Additional benefits include a cycle-to-work scheme, an annual bonus of around 10% of your base salary (dependent on performance), 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, upto 6 months of paid parental leave for all employees. Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and listened to, is a crucial part of this.

You’ll be part of an organisation that embraces diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you’ll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you.

At Belfast Packaging we are part of an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more. You'll help us champion inclusion and diversity across our entire business: with our employees, our suppliers, across our brands, and within the communities in which we operate.

Feel encouraged? Then this may be the opportunity for you.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you capture this information when you submit your application.

Be part of something special. Be part of Guinness.

Worker Type: Regular

Primary Location: Marshalls Road