Shift Manager - #2083492

• Job title: Shift Manager
• Location: Edinburgh
• Contract: Perm
• Working Hours: 07:00-19:30 day shift/19:00-07:30 nights – 4 on 4 off – 2 days 2 nights followed by 4 rest days.
• Salary: 51-53K (DOE) + overtime and shift allowance

Job overview

To lead and manage all aspects of shift operations, ensuring the safe, efficient, and compliant manufacture of products in accordance with cGMP and EHS standards. The role is accountable for achieving production targets, optimizing resources, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

The Shift Manager provides leadership, coaching, and development to the shift team, fostering a culture of safety, quality, and operational excellence while ensuring adherence to company policies and regulatory requirements.

Principal accountabilities

Operational duties

• Ensure production schedule targets and plans are met.
• Communicate key details to the Associate Director, Production, including deviations from the manufacturing schedule, quality, EHS, and resource issues.
• Work with all manufacturing areas to ensure standardisation of processes.
• Manage resources to optimise utilisation and achieve operational targets.
• Maintain control and ensure effectiveness in:
• EHS, cGMP, and company policies and procedures
• Plant and process performance
• Site security
• Training and development
• Resource availability (annual leave, absence, overtime)
• Act as the incident officer or main control in the event of an incident.
• Maintain effective control of product mix, including raw materials, intermediate stocks, and product recovery streams.
• Provide effective communication up and down the management line and across departments.
• Carry out specific tasks and duties as allocated by Operations Management.
• Participate and/or lead improvement projects as required.

Safety, Quality and Compliance

• Ensure strict compliance with all EHS standards and actively promote a safety-first culture.
• Ensure all work is carried out in accordance with cGMP, security, and EHS policies and procedures.
• Lead by example in all aspects of safety, quality, and operational behaviour.
• Investigate incidents and accidents.
• Issue and close out Permits to Work.
• Ensure comprehensive and effective shift handovers.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Manage staff, including absence, discipline, grievance management, and recruitment.
• Ensure all staff are trained effectively and sufficient cover is maintained.
• Identify areas for process and operator improvement and implement actions to achieve efficiency.
• Provide appropriate cover for shift supervisory staff when required.
• Ensure resources and materials are available and resolve issues.
• Allocate work responsibilities within the shift team.
• Provide incident support until the Duty Emergency Manager arrives.
• Any other duties as reasonably requested.

Person specification

Qualifications/ knowledge/ experience

(Technical/ professional knowledge and skills competency)

• Experience in the active pharmaceutical ingredient or fine chemicals industry working in a cGMP production, scale-up or pilot plant facility, including team management in such an environment Essential
• BSc or equivalent in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Process Engineering or equivalent experience Desirable

Personal skills and key competencies

• Strong leadership skills with ability to motivate Essential
• Ability to deliver to deadlines Essential
• Excellent organisation and time management skills Essential
• Flexible approach to meet business needs Essential