Night Shift Production Team Leader

Position Title

Night Shift Production Team Leader

Location

Wellington

Permanent / Temporary

Permanent

Reporting To

Supply Chain Manager

Direct Reports

Approximately 4 Production Operators

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Purpose of the Role

The Night Shift Team Leader is responsible for leading the night shift manufacturing team to safely deliver production targets while maintaining product quality, plant performance, and compliance with company policies and procedures.

The role provides day-to-day leadership, coaching, and support to the production team, ensuring production schedules are achieved and issues are communicated effectively through detailed shift reporting and team engagement.

The Night Shift Team Leader is expected to be hands-on in the production environment, capable of operating all production lines, supporting operators with technical issues, and undertaking basic mechanical troubleshooting and maintenance activities to minimise downtime and maximise productivity.

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Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership & Communication

• Lead, motivate, coach and support the night shift team to achieve production, quality and safety objectives.
• Establish and maintain a positive team culture focused on accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Conduct shift handovers, toolbox meetings and team briefings.
• Ensure effective communication of production priorities, safety requirements and operational updates.
• Prepare and submit detailed shift reports covering production output, quality, downtime, safety incidents, staffing and plant performance.
• Assist the Supply Chain Manager with performance management, probation reviews, training plans and employee development.
• Maintain training records and training matrices for shift personnel.
• Support the onboarding and competency assessment of new team members.

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2. Production Operations & Performance

• Lead and coordinate night shift production activities to achieve production schedules and delivery requirements.
• Set up, start up, operate and monitor all production lines as required.
• Provide hands-on support to operators during production activities.
• Ensure products are manufactured in accordance with specifications, procedures and quality requirements.
• Monitor plant performance and production efficiency throughout the shift.
• Ensure adequate staffing and task allocation to meet operational requirements.
• Liaise with warehouse personnel to ensure the timely availability of raw materials and production consumables.
• Conduct fibre blow testing and quality verification activities as required.
• Ensure accurate completion of production documentation and records.

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3. Equipment Reliability & Technical Support

• Perform basic mechanical troubleshooting and fault diagnosis on production equipment and processes.
• Identify and resolve low-level production and equipment issues where safe and appropriate to do so.
• Carry out routine maintenance, adjustments and minor repairs within the limits of competency and training.
• Coordinate maintenance activities with the production team to minimise disruption and downtime.
• Escalate significant equipment faults and technical issues to the appropriate personnel.
• Work closely with engineering personnel to support equipment reliability and plant improvements.
• Assist with identifying root causes of recurring equipment and process issues.

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4. Health, Safety & Continuous Improvement

• Promote and maintain a strong health and safety culture.
• Ensure compliance with all company health and safety policies, procedures and legislative requirements.
• Conduct and participate in toolbox meetings, safety observations and workplace inspections.
• Maintain high housekeeping standards throughout the production area.
• Support quality systems and ensure compliance with manufacturing procedures and work instructions.
• Contribute ideas and initiatives to improve safety, productivity, quality, waste reduction and equipment performance.
• Support continuous improvement projects and operational initiatives.

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Work Schedule

The role operates on the following rotating night shift pattern:

Week 1

• Monday: 7:00pm – 7:00am
• Tuesday: 7:00pm – 7:00am
• Wednesday: 7:00pm – 7:00am

Week 2

• Monday: 7:00pm – 7:00am
• Tuesday: 7:00pm – 7:00am
• Wednesday: 7:00pm – 7:00am
• Thursday: 7:00pm – 3:00am

Additional hours may be required from time to time to meet operational requirements.

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Skills and Experience

Essential

• Previous experience in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Demonstrated leadership or supervisory experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to prepare clear and accurate shift reports.
• Ability to operate and troubleshoot manufacturing equipment.
• Basic mechanical aptitude and fault-finding capability.
• Ability to train and coach others.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Good computer literacy.
• Current driver's licence.

Desirable

• Experience in plastics manufacturing.
• Forklift licence.
• Experience with MRP or manufacturing systems.
• Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives.

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Personal Attributes

• Leads by example.
• Strong sense of accountability and ownership.
• Positive, practical and hands-on approach.
• Approachable and supportive leadership style.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Safety-focused.
• Calm under pressure.
• Solutions-oriented.
• Reliable, dependable and professional.
• Committed to developing and supporting others.