Shift Team Leader

Synlait; Dunsandel; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance cover & discounts

Parental leave policy

B Corp certified

Social Club membership

Inclusive workplace culture

Job summary

Synlait is seeking a hands-on Shift Team Leader for our Dryer 3 plant in Canterbury. You will lead and develop the shift team to deliver the production plan and ensure our business objectives are achieved.

The role operates on a 4 on 4 off shift pattern, coordinating safety, quality, GMP, and maintenance activities while building strong cross-functional relationships across quality, maintenance and operations teams.

Qualifications

• Proven dryer experience within dairy or food manufacturing.
• Strong packing and processing knowledge with problem-solving ability.
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience.
• Experience working under a risk management programme or relevant food safety/regulatory frameworks.
• Strong relationship-building skills across operations, quality, and maintenance teams.
• High level of accountability, initiative and sound judgement.

Responsibilities

• Leading day-to-day plant operations to ensure production plans are delivered.
• Managing manufacturing orders and log sheets with accuracy.
• Supervising and supporting team members, including direct reports.
• Overall responsibility for shift performance across safety, quality, GMP, process reliability, engagement, and cost.
• Supporting the Production Manager to achieve plant targets across safety, quality, yield, reliability and people.
• Managing plant activities including turnarounds, washes, breakdowns and maintenance turnarounds.
• Using SAP, EAM, and Humanforce for reporting and workforce management.
• Acting as a key communication link between teams and shifts.
• Building strong cross-functional relationships with quality, maintenance and operations teams.
• Supporting and developing team capability across the shift.
• Applying strong critical thinking and decision-making in a high-responsibility environment.

Skills

Dryer experience

Packaging knowledge

Leadership experience

Food safety/regulatory knowledge

Cross-functional relationship building

Accountability and judgement

Tools

SAP

EAM

Humanforce

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 16th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Shift Team Leader to join our busy team in our Dryer 3 plant. This is a hands‑on leadership role where you will lead and develop your shift team to deliver the production plan and ensure our business objectives are achieved.

You will have overall responsibility for the key results and systems of the shift team, while managing the day‑to‑day running of the plant and supporting operational performance. This role operates on a 4 on 4 off shift pattern.

The main responsibilities of this role include:

Leading day-to-day plant operations to ensure production plans are delivered

Ensuring timely and accurate management of manufacturing orders and log sheets

Supervising and supporting team members, including direct reports (SPT and PT)

Overall responsibility for shift performance across safety, quality, GMP, process reliability, engagement, team development, IWS, cost, and loss reduction

Supporting the Production Manager to achieve plant targets across safety, quality, yield, reliability and people

Managing plant activities including turnarounds, washes, breakdowns and Maintenance Turnarounds.

Using systems such as SAP, EAM, and Humanforce for reporting and workforce management

Acting as a key communication link between teams and shifts

Building strong cross‑functional relationships with quality, maintenance, and operations teams

Supporting and developing team capability across the shift

Applying strong critical thinking and decision‑making in a high‑responsibility environment

Skills and Experience

The ideal candidate will have the following skills and attributes:

Proven dryer experience within dairy or food manufacturing

Strong packing and processing knowledge, with the ability to problem‑solve effectively

Previous experience in a leadership or supervisory role

Experience working under a risk management programme or relevant food safety/regulatory frameworks

Strong relationship‑building skills across operations, quality, and maintenance teams

High level of accountability, initiative and sound judgement

About us – The Synlait Spirit

Synlait is more than a global leader in milk nutrition – we're a purpose‑led team that’s Doing Milk Differently For A Healthier World.Our Synlait Spirit guides everything we do, from how we show up each day to the impact we create together. You’ll be joining an authentic, down‑to‑earth team that lives the three values that underpin the Synlait Spirit.

Be The Difference means we understand before we act – that means asking why, supporting each other to think differently, stay curious, and continuously look for smarter ways to deliver value. Whether it’s in the paddock, the plant or the boardroom, we’re driven by impact and inspired to make a meaningful difference every day.

We Move as One by working together with respect, trust and a shared commitment to doing what’s right. We collaborate across teams to deliver innovative solutions and create opportunity for those around us.

We feed the world’s most vulnerable, including newborn babies, so we have to be Right on the Mark. That means we take accountability seriously, act with courage and focus our energy on what matters most. We combine expert farming and state of the art processing to deliver high quality nutritional products to all over the world.

At Synlait you’ll be challenged and supported to grow. We know everyone brings something unique to the table so we’re an inclusive workplace, where diverse perspectives fuel innovation and success.

What we offer:

Health insurance cover & partnered with top brands for great benefits and discounts

Excellent parental leave with our Matua policy

B CorpTM certified

Social Club membership opportunities

Together we will continue to create a workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute their best.

Applicants outside of New Zealand will only be considered if you have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.