Your new company This well-established and forward-thinking food manufacturing business operates at the forefront of their sector, supplying a wide range of consumer and ingredient products across the UK and internationally. With a strong reputation for quality and innovation, the company continues to invest in its people, processes, and facilities. The site near Ballymena is a key part of its operations, offering a dynamic and fast-paced environment where continuous improvement and operational excellence are central to its success. Your new role As Production Shift Manager, you will take on a vital leadership role within the site's management team, overseeing all aspects of production. You will be responsible for ensuring that operations run efficiently, safely, and to the highest quality standards throughout your shift. You will lead and develop a team, foster a positive working culture, and ensure that all equipment is operated, maintained, and cleaned to minimise downtime. You will be expected to drive a safety-first approach, implement continuous improvement initiatives, and ensure adherence to production schedules to maximise customer fulfilment. The role also involves managing packaging usage, reducing waste, and maintaining a clean and organised working environment. You will be responsible for all aspects of people management, including performance monitoring, attendance, training, and development. Effective communication with senior management and across departments will be key, as will your ability to identify and resolve production bottlenecks and inefficiencies. What you'll need to succeed To be successful in this role, you will need a third-level qualification in a relevant field and at least two years' experience in a similar role, or alternatively, three years' experience within a related industry such as FMCG or pharmaceutical. You should have a proven ability to lead, train, and motivate a team to achieve high performance. Strong technical knowledge of food manufacturing processes and compliance standards is essential, along with experience in developing a lean culture and delivering process improvements. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are required, as well as the ability to coordinate effectively between departments and senior management. You should be confident in problem-solving and decision-making, particularly when handling production or equipment issues. A track record of driving performance through KPIs and inspiring your team to succeed will be highly valued. What you'll get in return This position operates on a 4 on / 4 off shift pattern across 7 days, offering a competitive salary along with a comprehensive benefits package. Benefits include 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, a 6% pension contribution, life assurance cover at four times your salary, enhanced maternity and paternity leave, paid marriage leave, a cycle to work scheme, a recruitment referral bonus, a free will writing service, access to an affinity car scheme, and full wellbeing support through an employee assistance programme. What you need to do now If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career. Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be Skills: Production Manager Operations Manager Production Supervisor FMCG Benefits: competitive