Shift Manager

Location: Edinburgh

Contract: Perm

Working Hours: 07:00-19:30 day shift / 19:00-07:30 night shift – 4 on 4 off – 2 days 2 nights followed by 4 rest days.

Salary: 51–53k (DOE) + overtime and shift allowance

Job Overview

To lead and manage all aspects of shift operations, ensuring the safe, efficient, and compliant manufacture of products in accordance with cGMP and EHS standards. The role is accountable for achieving production targets, optimizing resources, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. The Shift Manager provides leadership, coaching, and development to the shift team, fostering a culture of safety, quality, and operational excellence while ensuring adherence to company policies and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Ensure production schedule targets and plans are met.
• Communicate key details to the Associate Director, Production, including deviations from the manufacturing schedule, quality, EHS, and resource issues.
• Work with all manufacturing areas to ensure standardisation of processes.
• Manage resources to optimise utilisation and achieve operational targets.
• Maintain control and ensure effectiveness in EHS, cGMP, and company policies and procedures.
• Oversee plant and process performance.
• Maintain site security.
• Provide training and development for staff.
• Manage resource availability (annual leave, absence, overtime).
• Act as incident officer or main control in the event of an incident and provide incident support until the Duty Emergency Manager arrives.
• Control product mix, including raw materials, intermediate stocks, and product recovery streams.
• Ensure effective communication up and down the management line and across departments.
• Carry out specific tasks and duties as allocated by Operations Management.
• Participate and/or lead improvement projects as required.
• Ensure strict compliance with all EHS standards and promote a safety‑first culture.
• Ensure all work is carried out in accordance with cGMP, security, and EHS policies and procedures.
• Investigate incidents and accidents.
• Issue and close out Permits to Work.
• Ensure comprehensive and effective shift handovers.
• Manage staff including absence, discipline, grievance management, and recruitment.
• Ensure all staff are trained effectively and sufficient cover is maintained.
• Identify areas for process and operator improvement and implement actions to achieve efficiency.
• Provide appropriate cover for shift supervisory staff when required.
• Ensure resources and materials are available and resolve issues.
• Allocate work responsibilities within the shift team.
• Any other duties as reasonably requested.

Qualifications

• Experience in the active pharmaceutical ingredient or fine chemicals industry, working in a cGMP production, scale‑up or pilot plant facility, including team management – essential.
• BSc or equivalent in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or equivalent experience – desirable.
• Strong leadership skills with ability to motivate – essential.
• Ability to deliver to deadlines – essential.
• Excellent organisation and time‑management skills – essential.
• Flexible approach to meet business needs – essential.