Shift Leader

Shift Leader

This is an exciting opportunity for a technically minded professional to join as Shift Leader at [Employer hidden — view at passion-project.co.uk]’s Liverpool manufacturing site, where we produce Icodextrin using advanced ultrafiltration and spray drying technology. The Shift Leader will play a key role in optimising process performance and reliability, Leading all aspects of day-to-day operations within our RCB Building and driving continuous improvement in yield, efficiency, and product quality.

Working closely with Operations, Quality, and Maintenance, the Shift Leader will ensure that the site’s key manufacturing systems are running at their best and that operators are engaged in sustaining and improving process performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Champion safe systems of work and equipment operation in accordance with site standards and statutory regulations (e.g. LOTO, PTW, PUWER).
• Lead and support safety investigations, ensuring robust root cause analysis and preventive actions.
• Collaborate with EHS to drive a culture of “Zero Harm” and continuous improvement in process safety.
• Participate in safety walkabouts and contribute to risk assessments for process equipment.

Process Performance & Improvement

• Monitor and analyse process parameters across ultrafiltration and spray drying operations to ensure optimum yield, quality, and throughput.
• Lead problem-solving and root cause analysis (e.g. DMAIC, 5-Why, A3) to resolve process issues and reduce variability.
• Identify and deliver opportunities for efficiency gains, cost reduction, and waste minimization.
• Partner with maintenance and reliability teams to improve equipment uptime and reliability.
• Own and maintain key process documentation such as process maps, control plans, and operating standards.

Quality

• Support investigations of process deviations and non-conformances; define and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Contribute to process validation, change control, and continuous quality improvement.
• Ensure all process operations comply with GMP, GHP, and GDP standards.
• Work with Quality to maintain audit readiness and support internal and external audits.

People & Collaboration

• Provide technical guidance and coaching to operators, ensuring strong understanding of process fundamentals and control parameters.
• Act as the technical link between Operations, Engineering, and Quality to ensure alignment on priorities and issues.
• Support training and competency development for operations personnel related to process performance and improvement.
• Encourage a culture of ownership and continuous improvement within the operations team.

Data & Systems

• Analyse process and production data to identify trends, variances, and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and report KPIs for process reliability, yield, and energy efficiency.
• Lead trials, experiments, and process optimization initiatives using structured methodologies.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience in statistical process control or data analysis.
• Demonstrated experience in process operations, ideally in pharmaceuticals, food, or specialty chemicals.
• Proven ability to drive process improvements using structured methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, TPM).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence across functions and levels.

Desirable

• Experience with ultrafiltration, drying, or similar continuous process technologies.
• Familiarity with GMP environments.
• Practical knowledge of reliability engineering and OEE improvement.