Shift Manager

Job Purpose/Overview

Operating within an agile, high-growth packaging facility, the Shift Leader manages shift-level packaging operations to safely produce Royal Canin products to the highest standards of safety, quality, and cost efficiency.

This role is the critical, hands-on driver of Mars Supply Excellence (MSE) on the shopfloor. By integrating core MSE pillars (Safety, FMOS, AM, FI, and E&T) directly into daily single-line operations, the Shift Leader builds operator capability, drives asset ownership, and ensures the plant scales efficiently to support India's long-term business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Daily Operations & FMOS Pillar

• Shift Delivery: Lead the single packaging line to execute the production plan on time and in full, optimizing line speed and aiming to maintain an Overall Equipment Effectiveness. Deliver all Safety, Quality and Cost parameters as per the plans.
• FMOS Governance: Serve as the primary floor leader for daily meetings (CP1 and CP2). Own shift handovers, maintain physical/digital visual boards, and track hourly performance metrics.
• Deviation Management: Rapidly flag operational or performance deviations, implement immediate line adjustments, and escalate systemic technical blocks to the Maintenance Manager and Plant Manager.
• Daily Management System: Lead DMS for the plant.
• B. Safety (MSE Safety Pillar)
• Zero-Incident Culture: Drive a rigorous safety-first environment on the floor. Personally execute Daily Safety Confirmations (DSC), lead Safety Conversation Walks (SCW), and enforce Stop-Assess-Control (SAC) protocols.
• Q&FS Compliance: Enforce strict hygiene, GMP-GHP, and HACCP rules. Immediately isolate and block non-conforming packaging batches to ensure zero defective products reach the market.
• Audit Readiness: Maintain the packaging floor in a constant "audit-ready" state for external and internal reviews (ISO, FSSC, QiD).

Quality ( Quality pillar)

• Q&FS Compliance: Enforce strict hygiene, GMP-GHP, and HACCP rules. Immediately isolate and block non-conforming packaging batches to ensure zero defective products reach the market.
• Ensure execution of quality control & Standard Runing condition compliance by operators to deliver Finish Good products Right first time
• In case of deviation: pb solving/root cause analysis
• Apply Quality std in case of blocked products
• Hygiene measures to be implemented.

Line Ownership & Autonomous Maintenance (AM)

• Equipment Ownership: Coach shift operators to treat the single packaging line as their own asset, fostering high levels of pride and care on the floor.
• CIL Standards & Centerlines: Supervise and verify the execution of daily Clean-Inspect-Lubricate (CIL) schedules and strictly monitor equipment Centerlines.
• Abnormality Handling: Establish rapid Abnormality Handling (AH) routines to detect, tag, and resolve minor technical or material defects before they cause critical line breakdowns.

Problem Solving & Focused Improvement (FI) (15%)

• Loss Analysis: Track and analyze packaging floor losses (unplanned downtime, minor stops, material scrap) to prioritize improvement opportunities.
• Operator Troubleshooting: Train and lead shift operators in using basic problem-solving methodologies (5-Whys, PDCA, Fishbone) to eliminate chronic line bottlenecks.
• CI Collaboration: Work closely with the Site Maintenance team to implement localized engineering, efficiency-boosting, and 5S improvement projects.
• Waste control & optimization Ensure the waste % are as per targets.

People Management, Education & Training (E&T)

• Shift Leadership: Directly lead, roster, and manage a team of 10 to 12 operators and technicians, managing working hours, overtime, and absenteeism.
• Capability Development: Actively build operator capability using Step-up-Cards to develop a multi-skilled shift workforce. Actively check individual performance to adapt training plan
• Knowledge Capture: Document and transfer on-the-floor technical skills through the creation and use of One-Point Lessons (OPLs) and SOP
• Performance Culture: Conduct honest Performance Development Reviews (PDPs) and drive daily performance accountability using Individual Business Objective (IBO) cards.

Job Specifications/Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Production) or a related technical/supply chain field.
• 5 to 8 years of manufacturing experience (Food or Pharma)
• Minimum of 3 years of direct people management or shift leadership experience.
• Highly Preferred: Practical experience implementing or sustaining Lean, TPM, or MSE frameworks on the shopfloor.
• Preferred: Good working knowledge of food safety standards (ISO 22000, HACCP, GMP).
• Excellent verbal and written communication in English and local languages. Proficient in MS Excel and operational data entry.