Shift Manager in Elland

Location: Elland, Halifax, HX5 9JP

Working Pattern: Permanent · Continental shift pattern – 4 days on, 4 days off

Are you a confident operational leader who thrives at pace, takes real ownership of your shift, and gets the best out of a team through strong, hands-on leadership? As a Shift Manager at A-SAFE, you’ll take full ownership of your shift and the people, performance and equipment on it. Reporting to the Production Manager, you’ll lead your supervisors and a shift team on continental shift patterns – making sure targets and KPIs are met, products are made and dispatched to the highest quality standard, and your people are safe, supported and developing every day.

This is a fast-paced, no-two-days-the-same role in a hi-tech manufacturing operation that’s growing quickly. You’ll be the person who keeps the shift running - and who continually finds ways to make it run better - leading root cause analysis, driving process improvement, and embedding the lean and standard ways of working that keep us efficient and consistent. As the business and your team grow over the next 12 months, so will your scope.

We manufacture and supply our global blue-chip customers from our hi-tech operations facility in Elland, which is being expanded to create greater capacity for growing demand. You’ll join at a genuine point of growth, with a full induction, a structured period working alongside an experienced manager, and the training and support to lead with confidence.

How you will make an impact:

• You’ll take ownership of the shift day to day – the operation, performance and equipment – making sure targets and KPIs are consistently delivered.
• You’ll lead, coach and develop your supervisors and wider shift team, bringing them onside and building a high-performing, engaged group.
• You’ll put health and safety first, taking responsibility for the safety of yourself and your team and ensuring everyone works to company H&S policy.
• You’ll make sure all goods are manufactured to the required quality standards – correctly packaged, identified, labelled and stored to preserve quality and integrity.
• You’ll drive root cause analysis and continuous improvement, using lean tools to remove waste and raise standards.
• You’ll ensure accurate, timely transactions through our WMS / NetSuite (MRP) systems and maintain tight inventory control, including regular stock checks.
• You’ll analyse customer returns and concerns, putting effective containment and corrective actions in place.
• You’ll own SOPs, training records and cross-functional cover, making sure your team is trained on new and existing products.
• You’ll maintain the highest 5S and housekeeping standards, with the shift handed over clean and ready for the team that follows.
• You’ll work closely with Engineering, Quality, Health & Safety and the People team to keep the shift running smoothly and resolve issues at pace.

What we are looking for:

• Proven leadership experience in a fast-paced manufacturing or operations environment, managing sizeable teams.
• A confident communicator and decisive leader – someone who can make a call, back themselves when challenged, and keep their team onside.
• Strong lean manufacturing / continuous improvement experience, with the ability to talk through where and how you’ve applied tools such as Six Sigma, 5S, value stream mapping, 5 Whys and fishbone analysis.
• A real strength in process discipline – ours are black and white, and you’ll understand why that matters.
• Sound problem-solving and the ability to think on your feet when the day changes.
• Strong emotional awareness – able to manage difficult situations with care while always acting in the best interests of the team and the business.
• Experience of people management and HR / people processes, with resilience and a genuine commitment to your team.
• A solid health & safety mindset – formal lean qualifications (Six Sigma Green / Black Belt, 5S) and an IOSH (or equivalent) qualification are highly advantageous.

You’ll also bring:

• Resilience and composure when the pressure is on – this is a fast-moving environment and you’ll set the tone for your shift.
• An openness to learn every day, and the humility to keep developing as a leader.
• The drive to improve – always asking how the shift, the process or the team could be better.
• The character to make tough decisions, and the care to bring people with you.

Why you’ll love working with us:

We have a great track record of developing talent, and this role is built on growth – for you and your team. You’ll be placed with an experienced manager for a structured handover, given a full induction, and trained in our systems, processes and people policies so you can lead with confidence. As the business grows, there’s real scope to grow your team – and your career – with it.

At A-SAFE we invest in our people, offering training, professional study support and long-term career opportunities. You’ll have real ownership of your shift from the outset, the autonomy to drive improvement, and the backing to make it happen.

Why A-SAFE?

Since 1984, A-SAFE has been a pioneer in industrial safety, inventing the world’s first industrial-strength polymer safety barrier. Today, we continue to lead the industry with cutting-edge solutions like our award-winning IoT system, RackEye™️. With 17 international subsidiaries, we partner with global giants such as Amazon, Coca-Cola, and BMW to enhance workplace safety.

At A-SAFE we put our values at the heart of the business.

• We Are Pioneers
• We Are in it Together
• We Do the Right Thing

Our Commitment to Diversity

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong. At A-SAFE, we believe our differences fuel innovation and enrich our work environment. Ready to help us set new standards in workplace safety? Apply today and start your journey with A-SAFE Group.

A-SAFE is a global business with a presence across the USA, Japan, Australia, Europe and the UAE, working with blue-chip names from Coca-Cola and BMW to Amazon and Heathrow. If you’re a resilient, people-first operational leader who thrives at pace and wants to build something as you run it, this is the role for you.