Location: Rotherham
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Up to £40,000 per annum (DOE)
Hours: Monday to Friday – Rotating shifts 06:00–14:00 / 14:00–22:00 / 22:00–06:00
We are recruiting an experienced Shift Leader to join our client’s production facility based in in Rotherham.
This is a key leadership role with full responsibility for managing people, performance, safety, and output across a multi-machine production environment.
The successful candidate will lead teams on shift to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production while meeting operational targets and customer requirements.
Key Responsibilities:
* Lead, manage, and motivate production teams to deliver shift objectives safely and efficiently
* Ensure all machinery is operated in accordance with SSOWs and health & safety regulations
* Oversee machine set-up, fault-finding, and troubleshooting, delegating tasks effectively
* Drive production output while maintaining strict quality standards and minimising waste
* Reduce rejects through optimal machine set-up, process optimisation, and adherence to approved procedures
* Work closely with the Operations Manager to prioritise orders, allocate resources, and meet delivery deadlines
* Act as the primary point of contact for shift communication across all machines and departments
* Closely monitor first-time orders for new customers to ensure specifications are met
* Ensure machine set-ups, customer specifications, and documentation are accurate, visible, and fully recorded
* Manage stock replenishment, including collection, labelling, and control of samples and trials
* Ensure environmental compliance, including waste segregation and use of compactors and shredders in line with SSOWs
* Oversee storage and stacking of finished goods to maximise warehouse space utilisation
* Complete detailed production reports with accurate commentary throughout the shift
* Maintain high levels of data integrity through precise input into SAP systems
* Carry out quality checks and authorise rejection of non-conforming products
* Escalate staffing shortages, material issues, or production risks promptly to minimise downtime
* Promote and enforce statutory, operational, and health & safety regulations
* Ensure all faults, incidents, accidents, and improvement suggestions are reported and recorded
* Manage effective cleaning and maintenance activities in line with work instructions
* Develop team capability by identifying training needs, maintaining competence records, and supporting development plans
* Monitor and review team performance, participating in continuous improvement initiatives
* Plan shift staffing and resource requirements
* Support production on Coex machines when required, in compliance with SSOWs
* Undertake additional duties as required to support business needs
Experience & Skills Required:
* Minimum 2+ years’ experience in a Production, Manufacturing, Team Leader, Supervisor, or Shift Manager role
* Strong decision-making skills with the confidence to make business-critical choices
* Experience working across multiple production processes and machinery
* Proven people-management and performance-monitoring capability
* Engineering or Manufacturing qualification advantageous but not essential
* Must have own transport and be able to commute reliably
To apply please either:
* Call Dana on 0333 99 66 988 between the hours of 8am – 5pm Mon-Fri
* Email your CV to apply@essentialrecruitment.co.uk
This vacancy is being advertised by Essential Recruitment (an employment agency).