Shift Manager

Paradigm Employment Services Ltd.; Newmarket; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Career development

Holiday entitlement

Job summary

Paradigm Employment Services Ltd. seeks a Shift Manager to lead daily factory operations in a fast-paced FMCG environment. You will drive KPI delivery, coordinate teams, and partner with Engineering to optimise performance while ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards.

You will develop leaders within the production team, manage labour planning, and foster cross-functional collaboration to meet production targets and customer requirements.

Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and strategic thinking.
• Inspirational leadership and people management experience.
• Proven FMCG food manufacturing background with improvement focus.
• Experience driving Lean and Six Sigma initiatives (Six Sigma desirable).
• Level 3 Food Hygiene and HACCP qualifications; additional health & safety qualification desirable.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily factory operations, ensuring shift KPIs are achieved.
• Drive performance improvements using data to reduce losses.
• Lead, motivate and develop production staff for safety and efficiency.
• Coach Senior/Team Leaders with development and succession planning.
• Ensure clear communication and handovers across shifts and absences.
• Maintain compliance with food safety, health & safety and environmental standards.
• Collaborate with Engineering to resolve machinery issues and optimise lines.
• Manage weekly labour planning, rotas, holidays and staffing needs.
• Forecast labour with temporary providers to meet production demand.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration with NPD, Planning, HR and others.
• Improve service levels and production attainment with Turners on defrosting needs.
• Analyze production data, lead meetings, and enhance employee engagement.

Skills

Excellent communication

Strategic thinking

Leadership and coaching

FMCG experience

Lean Six Sigma knowledge

Education

Level 3 Food Hygiene and HACCP qualifications

Health and Safety qualification desirable

Management qualification desirable

Job description

Shift Manager

We have exciting opportunity for a Shift Manager to join a leading global producer within the FMCG sector. This role provides the chance to work alongside a dynamic team in a fast-paced environment, with a strong focus on quality, sustainability, and continuous innovation.

We are looking to speak with applicant who can demonstrate commitment to excellence, a willingness to contribute meaningfully to this outstanding business and a dedication to help others achieve shared goals!

Main responsibilities for the Factory Shift Manager

• Lead Factory Operations: Oversee daily factory operations, ensuring shift KPIs are achieved, actions are completed, and team members take ownership of their responsibilities and performance.
• Drive Operational Performance: Monitor and improve shift performance against key KPIs covering health and safety, food safety, quality, labour, output, efficiency and cost, using data analysis to identify losses and implement continuous improvements.
• Lead and Develop Teams: Lead, engage, motivate and develop production staff to work safely, efficiently and consistently, ensuring daily production targets and customer requirements are achieved.
• Strengthen Leadership and Succession Planning: Develop Senior Team Leaders and Team Leaders to effectively coach and manage their teams, supported by individual development plans, skills development and succession planning to future-proof the workforce.
• Ensure Effective Communication and Handover: Maintain clear and effective communication between shifts, ensuring thorough handovers and appropriate cover arrangements during rest days, annual leave and other absences.
• Maintain Compliance and Standards: Ensure factory operations comply with all relevant food safety, health and safety, environmental and legislative requirements, consistently meeting and exceeding required standards.
• Optimise Production and Equipment Performance: Work closely with Engineering to resolve machinery issues with minimal disruption, and coordinate Technical Operators to prioritise line set-ups, improve performance and maximise operational efficiency.
• Manage Workforce Planning and Employee Relations: Oversee weekly labour planning in line with the master production schedule, manage rotas, holidays, absence and staffing requirements, and work with HR to address conduct, disciplinary and performance issues.
• Manage Temporary Labour and Resources: Provide annual, six-monthly and weekly labour forecasts to temporary labour providers, ensuring appropriate staffing levels and effective resource allocation to meet production demand.
• Drive Cross-Functional Collaboration: Build strong working relationships with Technical, NPD, Planning, Engineering, HR and other departments to minimise losses, support business growth, and ensure new and existing products are manufactured on time and to specification.
• Deliver Service Levels and Production Attainment: Maintain and improve service level agreements, internal service levels and production plan attainment, working closely with Turners to coordinate and manage defrosting requirements and associated service agreements.
• Improve Employee Engagement and Business Performance: Analyse daily and weekly production data, lead meetings, reviews and briefings, communicate performance issues across the wider business, and work with HR to improve employee engagement, retention, accountability and alignment with business values.

Main Requirements for the Factory Shift Manager

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with strong strategic thinking and decision-making abilities.
• Inspirational leadership and people management skills, driving team engagement, accountability and development.
• Proven experience in FMCG food manufacturing, ideally across both low-care and high-care production environments.
• Demonstrable success in improving factory performance, operational efficiency and production output.
• Experience in driving continuous improvement initiatives, with knowledge of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies (Six Sigma desirable).
• Minimum Level 3 Food Hygiene and HACCP qualifications; a recognised Health and Safety qualification is desirable.
• A recognised management qualification is desirable, with proven experience in leading teams and delivering business objectives.

What we offer in return to the successful Factory Shift Manager

• Monday to Friday- Site base (6am - 2pm Shift
• Salary £47,000 per annum
• UK's leading wealth management pension scheme
• Training and career development prospects
• Holiday entitlement + Bank Holidays

If you are passionate about making a significant impact and want to be part of a dynamic team and unique organisation, this role is for you!