Manufacturing Operational Readiness & Start-Up Lead in Slough

Location: Slough, full time on-site (5/2)

Salary: £44,000 - £55,000 (depending on the experience), annual bonus, benefits

The Manufacturing Operational Readiness & Start-Up Lead plays a key role in delivering successful integration of asset, recipe & pack change initiatives to the value stream by formalizing the transition of ownership for the new assets from Engineering to Operations. Driving a vertical startup mindset, they will participate in multiple change projects ensuring effective plan creation and deployment to achieve project(s) KPIs in compliance with project governance and change processes.

They will plan pre-submission and manage the operations resources & activities during commissioning, validation and start-up phases in collaboration with the project team. Facilitates problem-solving analysis and resolution & data tracking to achieve project KPIs with established methods and tools. Plays an important role in the collaboration and communication between the project team and shopfloor operations where training of key personnel, following up on planned downtime, and achieving KPIs during the learning curve is of high importance. Responsible for facilitating the project team. Supports the Project Manager to capture learnings from the project into the Learning from past experience process.

What are we looking for?

• Minimum 5 years TPM or manufacturing experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment (FMCG, Food and Beverage or consumer goods preferred).
• Preferred experience leading teams or small projects in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of TPM principles, especially Early management & Vertical Start-up.
• Knowledge of planning tools e.g. Microsoft project, budget management, POKA (or equivalent).
• Knowledge of operational KPI planning & tracking (& digital tools to manage).
• A good understanding of food manufacturing hygiene and safety standards.
• 3-5 years in manufacturing, operations, maintenance, CI, engineering or project lead roles.
• Proven experience leading projects or significant workstreams within a large project & working with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to design, develop and deliver effective training programmes.
• Advanced problem-solving skills and analytical approaches.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Lead Start-Up Planning & Roadmap: Design, track, and execute the Commissioning, Validation, and Start-Up (CVS) roadmap to ensure all systems, equipment, and teams are ready to achieve project KPIs.
• Accelerate Performance Ramp-Up: Manage risks and verification planning to reach 'vertical start-up' (full design speed/capacity) as quickly as possible, minimizing waste and operational downtime.
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Leverage your technical expertise to coordinate the creation and modification of SOPs, ensuring they are published and trained before start-up milestones.
• Training & Capability Building: Manage the deployment of comprehensive training programs to upskill operators and maintenance teams ahead of equipment commissioning.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the central point of contact bringing together Engineering, R&D, Operations, Quality, and Continuous Improvement to align on schedules, project budgets, and resources.
• Support Equipment Testing: Actively support and organize operational resources for Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), traveling occasionally if required.
• Daily Management Integration: Ensure all new equipment and process changes are smoothly integrated into our Daily Management Systems and Continuous Improvement frameworks.
• Post-Project Learning: Lead the project 'snag list' resolution and facilitate post-launch reviews to capture lessons learned and continuously improve our capital execution processes.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose-driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including a company bonus.
• Mars is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or who are neurodiverse during the application and recruitment process.