Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operational excellence initiatives and drive improvements across multiple manufacturing sites.
- Company: Join a global leader in packaging coatings with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on manufacturing processes and shape the future of operations.
- Qualifications: Chemical engineering background with 5+ years in leadership roles in manufacturing.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for global engagement and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
This role is ideally based near one of the following packaging coatings sites in France, Germany, or the UK (Tournus, Nantes, Norderstedt and Deeside). This newly created role will put you at the forefront of high-impact operational excellence initiatives across our packaging coatings sites. You will bring strong technical expertise to manufacturing operations, drive major improvements in plant performance, and contribute to initiatives that span from mid-scale challenges to large, cross-site projects. As a Process Development Leader, you will play a key role in shaping complex, multi-site operations and delivering meaningful, measurable results.
Responsibilities
- Lead large-scale operational excellence and manufacturing strategies across multiple plants, driving improvements in production, maintenance, warehousing, safety, quality, and other critical operational programs.
- Analyze and optimize performance to enhance cost efficiency, safety, quality, throughput, and cycle times.
- Collaborate globally with Technical, Sales, and Operations to define product and equipment requirements for new product launches.
- Champion global standardization by identifying best practices and ensuring their implementation across sites.
- Conduct complex analyses to uncover process improvement opportunities and prioritize high-impact initiatives.
- Develop strategic project plans—including process design, engineering scope, and execution frameworks—and serve as a global liaison to executive leadership on manufacturing and operational strategies.
- Play a key role in new product introductions (NFI), Gatekeeper reviews, and MOC processes involving formula, process, and equipment changes.
- Partner with Supply Chain on raw material changes, manufacturing optimization, and issue resolution.
- Provide PSM and EHS guidance to ensure compliance with reactive chemistry standards and the safe introduction of new products.
- Support sites directly in the implementation of major projects.
Qualifications
- Chemical engineering background or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of progressive experience in a key leadership or management role within a manufacturing facility.
- Knowledge of reactive chemistry and paint or chemical processing.
- Strong understanding of P&L, strong PC skills.
- Previous experience implementing and using continuous improvement/lean tools such as Six Sigma, 5S, Lean Manufacturing, Transactional Lean, etc., to drive improvement.
- Demonstrated strong leadership, team-building, and advanced coaching skills.
- Ability to work across sites and functions to support standardization.
- PSM and EHS experience.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills across all organizational levels.
- Strong adaptability and flexibility.
- Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
- Fluent English; any additional language is a strong asset.
Process Development Leader in Manchester employer: The Sherwin-Williams Company
Contact Detail:
The Sherwin-Williams Company Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Process Development Leader in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at local events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in operational excellence and process improvements.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online resources to refine your responses. Focus on showcasing your leadership skills and technical expertise in manufacturing.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Process Development Leader in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Process Development Leader role. Highlight your experience in operational excellence and any relevant projects you've led. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your skills can drive improvements across our packaging coatings sites. Keep it engaging and personal.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your impact in previous roles. Use metrics where possible to quantify your success—numbers speak volumes!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Sherwin-Williams Company
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your chemical engineering knowledge and any relevant experience in manufacturing. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've implemented continuous improvement tools like Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the concepts, but that you can apply them effectively.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Process Development Leader, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership and team-building abilities. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams through complex projects or operational changes. Highlight your coaching skills and how you've developed others in your previous roles.
✨Understand the Company’s Operations
Research the company’s packaging coatings sites and their operational challenges. Familiarise yourself with their products and any recent news or initiatives. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their operational excellence.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving and analytical skills. Think about past experiences where you had to analyse performance data or optimise processes. Be ready to explain your thought process and the impact of your decisions on production efficiency and safety.
