Production Team Manager in Bristol

Company Overview

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging solutions. We are materials scientists, packaging designers, mechanical engineers and manufacturing experts with a shared purpose: Innovate Boldly. Package Sustainably. Guided by our values of integrity, respect, accountability and excellence, we use leading science and technology to move fiber‑based packaging forward.

Job Purpose

Responsible for the management and leadership of production teams. Create product in line with the company’s environment, health and safety standards while complying with all external regulations.

Job Responsibilities and Key Accountabilities

• All aspects of manning in your department, including holidays, sickness, and shift dynamics.
• Technical support and run machines if needed.
• Daily capacity control throughout the process.
• Daily performance data collection and analysis.
• Ensure quality standards are reached and maintained.
• Monitor production daily.
• Monitor product standards and implement quality control programs.
• Liaise among different departments.
• Work with senior management to implement the company’s policies and goals.
• Participate and drive new business initiatives.
• Ensure that health and safety guidelines are followed and promote a positive culture.
• Supervise and motivate the department employees, including training and succession planning.
• Review worker performances.
• Identify training needs and plan and execute improvement strategies.
• Capacity planning to meet business needs.
• Produce daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly production performance figures.
• Control budgetary spend in your department, including overtime.

In addition, you will work with the Operations Manager to help plan and deliver the short, medium, and long‑term strategies. You will be expected to actively challenge preconceptions and assumptions while always recognising that the operations strategy must be aligned with the overall business strategy and the goals of the Business.

Staff / Human Resources

• Management and ownership of attendance management, inclusive of RTW, welfare meetings and tracker updates.
• Management and ownership of holiday allowance and availability, inclusive of holiday card updates, availability checker and TMS completion.
• Conduct and support regular 1‑2‑l’s.
• Promote and maintain effective working relationships with the team leaders.
• Proactive approach to developing yourself and your team.
• Coaching the team leaders and team members to improve performance levels and skillsets.
• Commitment to driving and delivering the people A3 – focusing on engagement, culture and “being great at the basics”.
• Be an ambassador for the site engagement committee.

Health & Safety

• Ensuring all relevant processes, activities and working practices are risk assessed.
• Writing work instructions and procedures.
• Supervision of staff for H&S compliance.
• Incident investigation and operational learning.
• Management and maintenance of H&S documentation in the department.
• Ensure adequate cover of specially trained staff, including FLT, first aid, fire marshal etc.
• Completion of actions arising from safety concerns, incidents etc.

Quality

• Monitor Q Pulse for task allocation completion to set targets (e.g., customer & internal complaints, audit non‑conformance, document reviews).
• Raise & complete internal issues affecting the manufacturing process through Q Pulse.
• Maintain an accurate training matrix, training records & sign off against written work instructions.
• Investigate & develop robust countermeasures for customer complaints.
• Maintain compliance to the documented Westrock & local SOPs, only use Q Pulse as the source for all documents & SOPs.
• Attend internal & third‑party audits when required.
• Ensure traceability systems/rules are followed (e.g., FSC, PEFC).
• Ensure accurate quality check information is recorded onto the relevant systems (e.g., Infinity).

Planning

• Liaise with Planning regarding any shortages/overs in production.
• Keep Planning up to date with weekly maintenances.
• Have a daily scrum with Planning to align for the next 24 hours.
• In the case of a breakdown, keep Planning fully informed of the status and ETA for fix.

Projects

You will play a key role in producing and delivering on the Company Wide A3.

Communication

• Lead or play a part in regular structured briefings to staff where business plans/performance/challenges are explained.
• Ensure GEMBA meetings take place every day to review current performance and ensure effective communication.
• Monitor and support the correct use of face‑to‑face, electronic, written and telephone conversations throughout the business.

Training

• Enrolment into the ‘Future Leaders’ Training Academy.
• Take the lead in creating your own personal development plan.
• Ownership of regular 1‑2‑l's with your team members.

IT Systems

Take responsibility of raising the correct Service Now tickets for HR operations, payroll and IT.

Holiday Cover and Deputising

You may be required to deputise for the Operations Manager in their absence.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.