Shift Team Leader

Ardagh Group; Irvine; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension (10% match)

Private healthcare

Wellbeing initiatives

Family-friendly policies

Sick pay

Job summary

Ardagh Group in Irvine is seeking an Inspection Shift Team Leader to direct a crew and optimise long and short-term shift performance at the cold end, focusing on efficiency, quality, and safety. The role offers leadership development through internal and external programmes to support performance and career progression.

You will supervise a crew, ensure adherence to procedures, drive continuous improvement, and coordinate with plant management to maximise run efficiency.

Qualifications

• Proven people-management experience.
• Knowledge of glass inspection and packing processes.
• Familiarity with glass terminology and fault awareness.
• Experience with Lean Six Sigma tools and strong communication.
• Good general computer skills.

Responsibilities

• Supervises a crew of people and deploys resources to maximise pack efficiency on shift.
• Ensures that people comply with procedures to maintain quality standards on shift.
• Spots opportunities and makes recommendations to develop procedures to bring about continuous improvement.
• Maintains clear communications with plant management and other shifts to optimise run efficiency.
• Acts as the principal decision maker on site during shift to ensure problems are solved or referred appropriately.
• Ensures assets are adequately protected when in charge of site (shifts other than week days).
• Responsible for all out of hours emergency procedures to maintain health and safety on site.

Skills

People management

Inspection processes

Glass terminology

Lean Six Sigma

Computer skills

Job description

Inspection Shift Team Leader

Irvine Plant

Role description

To control and direct people and resources to optimise long and short-term shift performances at the cold end; especially efficiency and quality.

This role has the opportunity for leadership development, including internal training and externally accredited programmes to support your performance and career progression.

Responsibilities

• Supervises a crew of people and deploys resources to maximise pack efficiency on shift.
• Ensures that people comply with procedures to maintain quality standards on shift.
• Spots opportunities and makes recommendations to develop procedures to bring about continuous improvement.
• Maintains clear communications with plant management and other shifts to optimise run efficiency.
• Acts as the principle decision maker on site during shift in order to ensure problems are solved or referred as appropriate.
• Ensures assets are adequately protected when in charge of site. (Shifts other than week days).
• Responsible for all out of hours emergency procedures to maintain health and safety on site.

Required Skills / Qualifications

• Good People management skills
• Understanding of the whole glass container inspection and packing processes
• Understanding of glass container terminology and fault awareness
• A good understanding of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Tools and excellent communication and problem-solving skills
• General computer skills

What We Offer

• Competitive Salary
• Salary sacrifice pension scheme with up to 10% matched contributions
• Normal shift pattern is determined by the 5-crew shift rota, however, typically consists of a two 12-hour day shifts followed by two 12-hour night shifts and then a six-day rest period, which includes 21 shifts holiday which are built into the shift 5 crew rota.
• An environment where we support the development and progression of our employees, tailored to the individual’s aspirations and business opportunities
• Private Healthcare provided by AXA.
• Health and wellbeing initiatives, such as Occupational Health and cycle to work scheme
• Family friendly policies and Company Sick Pay, after qualifying period

Role Profile available on request.

This role is open to internal and external applicants.

Closing Date: Tuesday, 8 September 2026.

About Ardagh Group

Ardagh Group is a global leader in metal and glass packaging solutions, producing packaging for the world’s leading brands. We trace our roots all the way back to the Irish Glass Bottle Company, founded in 1932. Since then we have grown rapidly to a team of more than 20,000 people with revenues of almost $10 billion. Today we have a presence across Europe, Africa and the Americas.

• Did you know that Ardagh produce many of the beverage cans and bottles you drink your favourite beverages from?
• Did you know we produce metal and glass packaging which are permanent materials, meaning they can be infinitely recycled without any loss of quality?
• Did you know we produce more than 160 million containers per day?

Ardagh is passionate about sustainability and have a reputation for innovation. We push the boundaries of what’s possible, pioneering new production methods, new design techniques and new ways to recycle and save energy. Our aim is to reduce any negative environmental impact whilst remaining economically sustainable and socially responsible.

We believe that the success of our business depends on the success of our people. We strive to create working environments where our employees feel valued, can work to their full potential, and where their achievements are celebrated.

Here at Ardagh, we offer exciting and rewarding opportunities for talented and creative people. If you have ambition and want to make an impact with your career, come and join our team, you’ll enjoy the journey!