Overview
Here at DS Smith Birmingham, we have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Shift Manager to join our manufacturing team at the Smethwick site. Reporting to the General Manager, you will work closely with site leadership to ensure productivity plans are delivered, departmental targets are achieved, and continuous improvement remains a core focus. This is a visible leadership role where strong communication, people management, and operational skills are essential.
Responsibilities
* Ensure a safe working environment is maintained at all times and team compliance with all company safety procedures and legislation
* Review & update Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of Work
* Analyse contractor Risk Assessment Method Statements (RAMS) and review contractor insurances, skills, competence and documentation
* Collaborate with key stakeholders to promote continuous improvement and drive the overall success of the site
* Work with maintenance teams to ensure all preventative maintenance schedules are effectively planned and actioned to monitor effectiveness and reduce downtime
* Build strong relationships with key stakeholders on site and throughout the business
* Drive performance, productivity and cost saving initiatives
About You
We’re looking for a proactive, resilient leader with proven experience managing teams in a manufacturing environment — packaging, print, or FMCG experience is a plus. You’ll be a visible, hands-on leader who builds trust, drives engagement, and holds people accountable. Strong communication, coaching, and problem-solving skills are essential, along with a solid understanding of health & safety, quality standards, and continuous improvement practices. You’ll be confident making decisions under pressure, adaptable to change, and able to use data to inform strategies and optimize performance.
Minimum Requirements
* Previous experience of leading a team
* Manufacturing/Engineering background would be advantageous
* Excellent communication and influencing skills
* The ability to set targets and manage performance to achieve these results
* A sense of accountability, delivering what you say you will
* A professional attitude based around development and improvement
* Strong administration skills and IT literate
Benefits
* 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
* Pension scheme
* Life assurance
* Income protection
* Employee assistance program
* Cycle to work scheme
* Shopping discounts
* On-site parking
Location
On site - Birmingham - Smethwick
Working Pattern
The working hours for this role rotate weekly and are as follows:
* Week 1: Monday to Thursday 06:00 – 14:00; Friday 06:00 – 13:00
* Week 2: Monday to Thursday 14:00 – 22:00; Friday 13:00 – 20:00
About Us
We’re DS Smith, the company who are redefining packaging for a changing world. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. Today, we operate in more than 30 different countries, supporting customers across sectors like FMCG, industrial, and e-commerce. We deliver on quality, service, innovation, and added value to deliver market-leading sustainable packaging solutions our customers need. Our industry needs to transform, and we’re building the team to drive change across Europe and North America. To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.
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