Team Leader – Nights
Salary: £35,000 – £45,000 (Depending On Experience)
Hours: 9:30pm – 6:00am (Nights) – Final shift of the week is Thursday night
Breaks: All breaks fully paid
A leading plastics manufacturing business is seeking a hands-on Team Leader to oversee a night-shift production cell of 7 staff, including a Setter, Warehouse Operatives and Packers. This role ensures consistent production flow, high-quality output, safe working practices and strong team performance.
We’re looking for someone who leads from the front confident, organised, and capable of driving standards in a fast-paced, process-led environment. Your leadership will directly influence operational performance and be rewarded through a quarterly bonus linked to productivity, attendance and cell efficiency.
Main Purpose of the Role
To lead and manage a production cell during the night shift, ensuring safe, efficient and high-quality output. Responsible for team performance, OTIF delivery, scrap reduction, process adherence, training, return-to-work management, disciplinary conversations, and maintaining compliance with SOPs and Health & Safety requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, supervise and motivate a team of 7 to achieve shift production targets.
- Conduct performance reviews, 1-to-1s and training needs assessments.
- Manage return-to-work interviews and disciplinary processes when required.
- Maintain clear communication across shifts and with management teams.
- Set expectations, uphold standards and ensure team accountability.
Operational Performance
- Drive OTIF results through effective planning, coordination and shift control.
- Monitor and reduce scrap, ensuring root cause analysis and corrective actions.
- Track cell KPIs and escalate issues promptly.
- Work closely with the Setter on changeovers, start-ups and minimising downtime.
- Complete all shift reports, production logs and associated documentation.
Process Control & Compliance
- Ensure full compliance with SOPs, work instructions and quality protocols.
- Conduct in-shift audits to maintain standards and identify improvement opportunities.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives within the cell.
Health & Safety
- Maintain a safe working environment, enforcing company H&S procedures.
- Lead safety checks, incident reporting and follow-up actions.
- Ensure all staff are trained, competent and working safely.
Training & Development
- Provide on-the-job training, refresher coaching and skills development.
- Keep training records accurate and up to date.
Bonus Scheme
- A quarterly bonus scheme is available, assessed against:
- Productivity
- OTIF
- Scrap reduction performance
- Attendance
- Overall cell efficiency
Required Skills & Experience
- Previous leadership experience within plastics, manufacturing or similar.
- Confident people manager, capable of leading a mixed-skill team.
- Strong understanding of OTIF, scrap management, SOPs and production KPIs.
- Excellent communication, organisation and problem-solving skills.
- Strong knowledge of safe working practices and quality standards.
- Able to work night shifts reliably.
Ideal Candidate
Firm, fair and focused. Someone who runs a shift with confidence, keeps standards high, and raises team performance through consistent leadership and a practical understanding of manufacturing.
If you are interested in this role my client is happy to consider canididates who are available for a January start, however they will also consider candidates who are able for February starts and beyond, contact 5S Recruitment ASAP!