Shift Manager
Location - Edinburgh
Type - Permanent
Shift - 07:00-19:30 day shift/19:00-07:30 nights – 4 on 4 off – 2 days 2 nights followed by 4 rest days
Annual Basic Salary - £51-£53k. Allowances: contractual overtime ~£7k + annual shift allowance of £10,536 (on top of the basic salary)
SRG are recruiting for a Shift Manager to join a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing organisation based in Edinburgh. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced production leader to manage shift operations within a highly regulated cGMP manufacturing environment, ensuring the safe, efficient, and compliant delivery of production targets.
The Role
As Shift Manager, you will lead and develop a team of production personnel, ensuring operational excellence, compliance with cGMP and EHS standards, and achievement of manufacturing schedules. You will play a key role in driving continuous improvement, resource optimisation, and maintaining a strong culture of safety and quality.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead all shift manufacturing activities to ensure production targets and schedules are achieved.
* Manage resources effectively, including staffing, absence management, overtime, and annual leave planning.
* Ensure compliance with cGMP, EHS, security, and company procedures.
* Monitor plant and process performance, identifying opportunities for improvement.
* Investigate incidents, accidents, and deviations, ensuring corrective actions are implemented.
* Issue and manage Permits to Work.
* Ensure effective communication and shift handovers across teams and departments.
* Support and lead continuous improvement initiatives and operational projects.
* Provide leadership, coaching, and development to shift teams.
* Manage employee performance, training, recruitment, disciplinary, and grievance processes.
* Act as Incident Officer during site emergencies until escalation support arrives.
* Work collaboratively with manufacturing and support functions to standardise processes and improve operational performance.
Requirements
Essential
* Experience working within the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API), pharmaceutical, fine chemicals, pilot plant, or scale-up manufacturing environment.
* Previous experience leading and managing teams within a cGMP-regulated production environment.
* Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, safety, quality, and compliance requirements.
* Excellent leadership, communication, and people management skills.
* Ability to prioritise workload and deliver results in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Desirable
* BSc degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or a related discipline.
* Experience leading continuous improvement or operational excellence initiatives.
Skills & Competencies
* Strong leadership and team development skills.
* Excellent organisational and time management abilities.
* Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
* Strong problem-solving and decision-making capability.
* Flexible and adaptable approach to meet business needs.
* Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence.
What's on Offer?
* Opportunity to join a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing organisation.
* Leadership role with significant operational responsibility.
* Ongoing training and career development opportunities.
* Collaborative and supportive working environment.
* Exposure to complex manufacturing operations within a highly regulated industry.
If you have experience leading teams within pharmaceutical, API, or chemical manufacturing and are looking for your next leadership opportunity, we would love to hear from you.
SRG is the UK’s leading recruitment company specialising in the scientific, engineering, clinical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, FMCG, and medical device sectors.