Shift Team Leader

Synlait Milk Limited (NS); Dunsandel; On-site; NZD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Excellent parental leave

B Corp certification

Social Club

Job summary

Synlait Milk Limited in Canterbury invites applications for a Shift Team Leader in our Dryer 3 plant. This hands-on leadership role will guide and develop the shift team to meet the production plan and drive business objectives while maintaining safety and quality.

You will manage day-to-day plant operations, oversee manufacturing orders and log sheets, and support the Production Manager to achieve targets.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• 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

Dryer experience

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Relationship building

Accountability

Problem solving

Tools

SAP

EAM

Humanforce

Job description

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.

Main responsibilities

• 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 andMaintenance 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

• 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

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