Planet Pharma | Production Manager

Role: Production Manager

Company: Global Pharmaceutical Company

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

Location: Fully on Site in St Albans

Purpose Of The Role:

To oversee the production operations on one of two shifts, ensuring the reliable, efficient, and compliant manufacturing of pharmaceutical products in alignment with the production plan.

Key responsibilities include managing Oral Solid Dose (OSD) manufacturing and packaging operations, with additional dotted-line responsibility for other shift activities (e.g., Warehouse & Engineering).

Contribute to the operational and strategic management of production, including the development and monitoring of key performance indicators. Implement corrective, preventive, or continuous improvement actions to address any negative trends.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage production operators during your shift, providing direction (dotted line) to shift engineers and warehouse operators.
• Organize regular meetings, provide coaching, and review the development opportunities for all direct reports.
• Set individual objectives and conduct regular reviews/assessments of the objectives for all direct reports.
• Ensure that required initial and ongoing training for departmental personnel is completed and adapted to meet business needs.
• Contribute to the development of the departmental budget.
• Collaborate with the production administrator to purchase consumables and production equipment.
• Maintain key metrics to monitor adherence to production schedules, equipment utilization & efficiency, compliance with SOPs, and training schedules.
• Coordinate and participate in the installation, qualification, and validation of new equipment.
• Investigate and respond to EMS alarms, conducting necessary testing.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety procedures in areas of responsibility, as well as completion of production risk assessments and safety inspections.
• Oversee compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices in relevant areas.
• Ensure that investigations into deviations or customer complaints are conducted properly within the department and ensure timely completion of CAPAs.
• Ensure that products are produced and stored in accordance with the required documentation to achieve the necessary quality.
• Identify, facilitate, and implement continuous improvement initiatives to achieve cost savings and enhance efficiency and compliance.
• Ensure the implementation of approved production facility documentation (including SOPs, MBRs, production forms, log books, balance verifications, and purified water cleaning records).
• Conduct production reviews of completed batch records and prepare/issue batch records for the production floor.
• Ensure the implementation of approved production standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Provide support and cover for other production leaders/managers and deputize for the production manager when necessary.
• Represent production in internal, customer, and regulatory audits, as well as various EML meetings and projects.
• Conduct production tours for internal and external visitors.
• Act as the primary point of contact for production SAP issues, investigating and resolving them as needed.
• Minimize production downtime to maximize productivity by managing priorities and effectively coordinating resources (including staff and overtime requirements).
• Collaborate with planning and engineering to ensure timely completion of machine maintenance.

Required Skills, Experience, and Competencies:

• Demonstrated leadership and people management abilities.
• Proven experience in a pharmaceutical packaging/manufacturing environment.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships and communication links across departments (Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Warehouse, and Technical).
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to adapt to schedule changes and unforeseen demands.
• Capability to identify opportunities for process and operational improvements and implement necessary project changes to deliver benefits.
• Professional behaviour with self-awareness and diplomacy.
• Ability to motivate and develop high-performance teams.
• Strong self-awareness and ability to influence others.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.