Production Manager

About Unilever

We are a global business that makes a real impact on the world. Our purpose is to make sustainable living commonplace, and we believe that doing business the right way drives superior performance.

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don't believe in the 'one size fits all' approach and instead, we equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

Job Purpose:

We are seeking a dedicated Shift Engineer for our food production facility located in Tuzla, Istanbul. The factory operates six days a week with three shifts, and the Shift Engineer will rotate shifts on a weekly basis.

Main Responsibilities:

• Supervise and lead blue-collar staff during the assigned shift.
• Ensure production runs according to the planned schedule and quality standards.
• Prepare shift reports for management and communicate any operational issues.
• Effectively hand over responsibilities to the next shift, ensuring smooth continuity of operations.
• Maintain a safe and efficient working environment, adhering to factory standards and regulations.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

Shift Management:

• Prior experience in managing or supervising shift workers, especially in manufacturing or production settings, ensuring smooth operations and adherence to production schedules.
• Ability to handle shift transitions, ensuring continuity of work, and managing handovers effectively.

Production Experience:

• Background in overseeing production processes, ensuring that operations are efficient and that output meets quality standards.
• Familiarity with production planning, troubleshooting production issues, and ensuring production targets are met.

Team Leadership:

• Experience in leading blue-collar staff, managing their daily tasks, and ensuring that they adhere to safety, quality, and performance standards.

Problem Solving:

• Proven ability to troubleshoot operational issues during shifts and come up with quick, effective solutions.

Reporting and Documentation:

• Experience in preparing reports related to shift performance, production outcomes, and employee performance, and communicating this information to upper management.

Educational Background:

• A bachelor's degree or vocational school diploma in engineering, industrial management, or a related field.
• Alternatively, relevant technical qualifications or certifications in manufacturing, production management, or engineering may also be considered.

Technical Skills:

• Familiarity with production systems, machinery, and factory operations.
• Basic understanding of process optimization, quality control, and safety standards in production.

Soft Skills:

• Strong communication skills, especially in supervising and directing a team.
• Leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate and support a team.
• Time management skills to manage shifts and ensure production runs smoothly.
• Ability to work under pressure and remain agile in fast-paced environments.

Language Skills:

• Proficiency in Turkish is likely required due to the nature of the workplace. English proficiency may be an advantage, particularly if interacting with international management or teams.

Preferred Additional Qualifications:

• Experience in Food Manufacturing
• Knowledge of Safety and Quality Standards
• Familiarity with food safety regulations (e.g., HACCP, ISO certifications) and the ability to enforce quality control protocols on the floor.

Skill Requirements:

• Supervision: Ability to manage and direct blue-collar staff, ensuring they meet production targets, adhere to safety regulations, and maintain quality standards.
• Motivation and Mentoring: Motivating team members, providing guidance, and addressing issues effectively to ensure high team performance.
• Conflict Resolution: Skills in handling conflicts or challenges within the team, ensuring smooth interactions, especially in a unionized workplace.
• Clear and Effective Communication: Ability to clearly communicate with both blue-collar workers and management, ensuring expectations and issues are understood.
• Reporting: Strong written communication skills to prepare detailed shift reports, production updates, and any issues for management.
• Active Listening: Listening to team concerns and feedback, ensuring any challenges are addressed quickly.
• Quick Decision Making: Ability to make informed, efficient decisions during the shift, especially when unexpected problems or delays arise.
• Troubleshooting: Quickly identifying and resolving production issues or equipment malfunctions to minimize downtime and maintain production flow.
• Shift Planning and Organization: Efficiently managing your time during the shift to ensure all tasks are completed according to the production schedule.
• Prioritization: Being able to prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance, especially in a fast-paced environment.
• Production Process Understanding: Knowledge of production systems, machinery, and processes to monitor and optimize production.
• Quality Control: Ability to implement and oversee quality control processes, ensuring that production meets set standards and regulatory requirements.
• Safety Awareness: Ensuring adherence to health, safety, and environmental regulations within the factory.
• Mechanical and Technical Troubleshooting: Understanding of machinery and production lines to quickly identify issues and work toward solutions, ensuring minimal downtime.
• Familiarity with Production Software: Knowledge of production tracking or scheduling software (if used in the factory) to monitor progress and update reports in real-time.
• Union Interaction: Understanding of how to work in a unionized environment, dealing with potential conflicts, and ensuring compliance with labor agreements.
• Negotiation: Ability to communicate effectively with union representatives and resolve issues professionally.
• Flexible and Agile: Ability to quickly adapt to changing production needs, shift patterns, and unforeseen challenges.
• Stress Management: Ability to handle pressure, manage stress, and make clear decisions in high-pressure situations.
• Documentation and Reporting: Ability to maintain accurate and organized shift records, production reports, and personnel documentation.
• Shift Handover: Ensuring smooth transitions between shifts by maintaining clear records and instructions for the next shift engineer.
• Interpersonal Skills: Building strong relationships with workers, colleagues, and supervisors to create a positive working environment.

Leadership Behaviors:

• You are energized by delivering fantastic results. You are an example to others – both your results and your resilience. You are constantly on the lookout for better ways to do things, engaging and collaborating with others along the way.
• As an individual, you are the one responsible for your own wellbeing and delivering high standards of work. You must also focus on the Consumer and what they need. You are humble and have your head up, looking around to interpret evidence and data smartly, spot issues and opportunities to make things better.

Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors:

• PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results. Has an owner's mindset, using data and insight to make decisions.
• PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Actively builds own wellbeing and resilience.
• CONSUMER LOVE: Whatever their role, always looks for better ways to serve consumers. Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers.
• PURPOSE & SERVICE: Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever.
• AGILITY: Explores the world around them, continually learning and developing their skills.