Shift Manager Cheese, Kilkenny

Shift Manager– Ballyragget Cheese Plant Location: Ballyragget, Tirlán. Reporting to the Cheese Plant Manager.

Role Profile This role supports the delivery of the production process in the Cheese plant while ensuring safety and quality standards are adhered to at all times. It plays a pivotal role in maximizing optimization in the plant.

Responsibilities

Manage the day‑to‑day operations and production process of the cheese plant.

Schedule plant activities to maximize throughput in accordance with the overall production plan and to meet customer requirements.

Minimize turnaround time to achieve maximum milk throughput while maintaining quality.

Ensure quality standards are adhered to and achieved to meet internal standards and external customer requirements.

Manage Health and Safety and log all incidents to comply with Glanbia Risk Management Standard requirements.

Work closely with the cheese management team to identify and implement process improvements to maximize levels of efficiency through Lean and operations excellence principles.

Maintain the highest hygiene standards in accordance with company policy in both personal and plant areas. Inspect, clean and relay issues and problem areas to shift team.

Meet quality standards and specifications on all product lines from the plant, inspecting all cheese, whey, sweet cream and whey cream line compositions and bacteria results.

Work closely with the maintenance department, communicating all plant issues, scheduling repair windows, recording all interventions in shift notes and recording jobs on SAP.

Maximize performance through the use of MES/IQS and Sat‑line systems.

Proactively communicate and work with operators through the 3M platform, informal discussions and team briefs to ensure a two‑way flow of relevant, timely information.

Manage the staff roster and holiday book to ensure adequate resourcing of the plant.

Manage SAP payroll system, allocating holiday hours, credit time etc., recording all sick leave and doctor certificates with return‑to‑work forms.

Implement and coordinate staff training using the LMS platform, recording all training records and CCP training.

Liaise with staff regarding any problems and deal with or elevate as appropriate.

Give feedback on KPI performance through regular communication at 3M meetings to ensure operators are informed of performance and areas for improvement.

Use the SRC, OPL, fishbone and charted project process LEAN tools to increase efficiency, training and problem‑solving within the plant.

Facilitate all internal and external customer audits. Provide plant inspection tours and any required information.

Undertake all duties as required by business to meet production and customer requirements.

Requirements

Third‑level qualification in Food Science/Engineering/Food Technology or a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a dairy processing environment.

Experience in change management and/or project management (distinct advantage).

Proven track record of delivery of projects within tight time frames.

Experience working with cross‑functional teams and in a union environment.

Experience in dealing with cultural change at all levels.

Previous experience of training/facilitating groups (distinct advantage).

Self‑confident with the ability to promote a new way of thinking.

Excellent leadership and people‑management skills.

Highly motivated and self‑driven.

Excellent influencing skills.

Continuous improvement mindset.

Benefits

Free parking.

Work/life balance and collaborative work culture.

Career progression opportunities.

Commitment to Diversity&Inclusion We welcome people from all walks of life without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, or disability status.

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