Making & Sulphonation Technical Manager

Are you technically astute with a passion for being part of a team that produces top quality branded products?  Are you an individual with a keen eye for maintaining safety and quality standards, whilst ensuring right first-time customer service and environmental standards are upheld?  Are you excited about the opportunity to play an integral role as the critical interface between the Make and Packing operations in one of Unilever’s iconic Manufacturing sites?

The role of the Making & Sulphonation Technical Manager is to:

• Own and improve OEE, Batch Cycle time and unplanned downtime of the Liquids Making and Sulphonation operation.

• Lead Innovation and change delivery for the operation.

• Lead and develop the Engineering and Launch team for the operation.

• Own the Sustainability, Energy savings and Waste reduction program for the Site.

• Own and improve the Site Engineering Stores performance.

• Taking an active role within the Site PM Pillar.

Liquids & Sulphonation OEE Owner

• Lead the Engineering team to improve and execute maintenance strategy to ensure legal compliance, optimise planned and unplanned downtime of the operation and M&R cost.

• Lead problem solving for sporadic and chronic losses.

• Deliver R&M budget forecasting and compliance.

• Deliver R&M budget optimization.

• Drive to develop a new PM strategy within the Making & Sulphonation plants.

• Lead and manage small to medium Capex projects to support delivery of goals.

Liquids & Sulphonation Innovation and Change Delivery Owner

• Own and deliver the innovation masterplan and launch deliverables for the operation to deliver change, right first time.

• Lead the manufacturing input to design and scope.

• Lead the OQ, PQ and validation process for all change.

Liquids Making and Sulphonation Engineering & Launch Team Leader

• Lead and develop the team of shift and day-based Engineers to maintain the operation and deliver innovation and continuous improvement.

• Conduct PDP, 121 and performance conversations with team.

• Lead the training and skills development of team.

• Own and improve employee engagement plan for team.

Site Sustainability, Energy Efficiency and Waste Leader

• Develop and execute the Site decarbonisation plan.

• Identify and lead capex projects to reduce energy consumption and deliver 10% savings year on year.

• Own water consumption and recycle plans and capex projects to reduce water use and treatment cost.

• Own site waste analysis and waste reduction projects by reducing generation and increasing consumption.

• Lead and optimise the Site Waste Team contract with Mitie.

• Ensure safety and workplace standards and maintained in waste management areas.

• Own Water/waste treatment long term strategy and execution.

Site Engineering Stores Leader

• Manage current 3rd Party (Rubix) to deliver and improve stores KPIs.

• Benchmark, develop and deliver long term strategy for stores digitisation and improvement with PM pillar.

Leadership role for Site PM Pillar

• Active member and leadership role in Site PM Pillar team driving capability and systems.

Safety

• Ensure company safety policy, rules, and procedures are understood and followed at all times, encouraging everyone to behave safely and challenging unsafe behaviour.

• Actively contribute to a safe working environment and culture by identifying and reporting health or safety hazards and dangerous situations involving Unilever personnel, site contractors, third parties, and visitors.

• Participate in regular inspections/audits for good housekeeping and area safety, ensuring agreed actions are completed.

• Execute tasks in line with Risk Assessments (RAs). Support in reviewing existing and new RAs. Support in creating RAs where none exist.

Quality

• Manage materials according to quality procedures and standards to achieve required product quality targets with minimal waste.

• Take immediate actions to rectify quality issues and follow the ‘Quarantine Recall’ processes as required.

• Co-ordinate and execute quality procedures, tasks and documentation, including rework activities and quality investigations.

Customer Service

The impact of the Making & Sulphonation Manager’s decisions will be felt quickly; therefore, an immediate response is required to address any issues which may arise.

The Making & Sulphonation Manager will need to:

• Anticipate and react quickly to problems in order to avoid impact to customer service.

• Escalate issues in a timely manner, where needed.

Cost

Identify improvements in order to reduce Cost, Waste and Energy.

Run To Standard

• Define, follow, maintain and improve 5S standards and workplace organisation.

• Understand and participate in the Run to Standard master plan.

• Follow, document, and carry out Run to Standard tasks in line with role requirements. Tasks include:

  • CILR activities such as Cleaning, Inspection, Lubrication and Retightening tasks

  • Centrelines against standards.

• Support the Leader in optimising maintenance schedules and reviewing team activities.

• Restore work area to original condition after maintenance.

• Report equipment issues using proper procedures such as the tag database.

• Monitor equipment condition to prevent breakdowns, monitoring loss patterns using Focused Improvement (FI) tools.

• Provide breakdown information and support Engineers in analysis and counter measures as required.

• Record and classify losses accurately; manage loss data effectively.

• Assist leaders in embedding a “Fix forever” mentality with appropriate countermeasures.

• Create and review SOPs, standards, and OPLs as required.

Problem Solving

A proactive response to problem solving is essential to avoid losses and ensure general smooth running within the Make and Sulphonation Plants.

The Make & Sulphonation Manager is required to:

• Identify, diagnose and resolve common challenges with Machinery faults, System errors, Manual Handling Equipment issues and miscellaneous problems.

• Use Run to Standard concepts to trouble shoot more complex problems, understanding why the faults have occurred and identifying solutions to prevent future reoccurrence.

• Be a point of escalation and information on more complex faults to the Engineers or Leadership.

A working knowledge of the machines/systems and processes will be needed to effectively participate in these problem-solving tasks.

Training and Development

• Ensure all relevant skills are displayed on team skills matrix.

• Take ownership to close skills gaps identified by the skills matrix by arranging and completing training activities.

• Seek feedback from others to further development of own skills and raise standards.

• Embrace training and development of the full team, supporting other team members where appropriate.

• When appropriate and relevant to your skillset, assist in training of new team members.

Change

In this role the Make & Sulphonation Manager will need a proactive and collaborative attitude to change, including short notice planning changes to meet customer requests.

The Make & sulphonation Manager will:

• Identify improvement opportunities, for example using the Kaizen database to review ideas that benefit the business and reduce costs.

• Drive best practices in safety and quality assurance by implementing efficient processes and collaborating with colleagues.

• Participate in change initiatives, such as new installations and trials. Track successes and failures where needed to provide feedback on successes and challenges. Support team members to ensuring smooth ramp-up and procedural changes for all.

professional skills

Essential: 

• Strong technical experience, understanding of 5S, lean manufacturing, continuous improvement plans and tools

• A passion for and experience of process equipment and automation

• FMCG background

• A high standard of written and verbal communication

• Experience of leading and transforming teams and culture

• Experience of Leading Projects from design to vertical start up

• Demonstrated experience of problem solving, implementing, and improving systems

• Demonstrated experience of implemented maintenance systems to deliver improved efficiency and cost.

Desirable:

Multi skilled background (mechanical, electrical and software

Has an engineering degree 

About Unilever

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, Tresemme, Lynx, Lifebuoy, Shea Moisture, Persil, Domestos, Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Marmite, The Vegetarian Butcher, Graze and Pot Noodle.

Faced with the challenge of climate change and the need for human development, we want to move towards a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘to make sustainable living commonplace’.

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all. 

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities, and growing together for better business performance. We want to push boundaries, and have the flexibility needed to keep adapting in an ever-changing, more dynamic world. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. 

As part of your hiring journey, we are happy to support requests for reasonable adjustments, to improve your recruitment experience.

To find out more, including more information about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here.

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