Shift Manager

About the Role

Kinisla seeks a Shift Production Manager for its Charleville production site, specializing in skimmed milk powder for infant nutrition, functional dairy ingredients for confectionery, and cheese powders for savory snacks. The facility also creates custom cheese solutions for European clients. This position involves managing operations during rotating 12-hour day and night shifts in a dynamic, fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a team, fostering a cooperative and positive workplace culture.
• Champion a 'Safety First, Quality Always' ethos while cultivating a high-performance and continuous improvement mindset.
• Oversee personnel management tasks including one-on-one meetings, appraisals, coaching, attendance monitoring, and addressing underperformance or non-compliance.
• Constantly monitor and meet safety, quality, and audit performance metrics.
• Implement cost control strategies focusing on production output, quality, yield, labor efficiency, and waste reduction.
• Collaborate effectively with other departments to resolve production planning and operational issues ensuring timely, quality, and cost-effective customer order fulfillment.
• Apply lean manufacturing principles to consistently exceed targets for productivity, efficiency, and quality.
• Coordinate with maintenance teams on machinery or plant breakdowns.
• Ensure adherence to internal delivery protocols to support dispatch schedules.
• Lead customer complaint follow-ups, analyzing root causes and sustaining corrective actions to prevent recurrences.

Candidate Profile

• Demonstrated success leading sizable teams with clear goal-setting and responsibility delegation.
• Enthusiastic about performance management, leadership development, and empowering team members.
• Extensive experience in high-volume, fast-paced GMP manufacturing, preferably in the food sector.
• A degree in Food Science or related field is advantageous but not mandatory.
• Proficient in IT systems and methodologies including SAP, Microsoft Office, Lean processes, and continuous improvement.
• Highly organized, analytical, and pragmatic problem solver.
• Knowledgeable about health and safety legislation and ideally food safety standards.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

About Kinisla

Kinisla is a vertically integrated farm-to-fork company delivering quality dairy solutions with a commitment to sustainability and innovation. With over five decades in dairy processing and nutrition technology, its product portfolio includes renowned brands like Cheestrings, Charleville, Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow, and SMUG range. The company works closely with Irish family farms known for their low carbon footprint and operates multiple manufacturing sites across Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the UK. Kinisla employs over 1,600 people globally and reported a turnover of €1.3 billion in 2024.

Benefits

• 25 days of annual leave (excluding bank holidays).
• Health care coverage.
• Matched pension scheme.
• Access to a benefits platform offering discounts and cashback at major retailers.

Diversity and Recruitment Policy

Kinisla values diversity and inclusion, conducting all recruitment based solely on merit without discrimination. Candidates are cautioned against scams or fraudulent solicitations. Recruitment agencies must have signed terms of business for candidate submissions to be considered.