Shift Manager-AN

Job Title

Shift Manager – AN (Ammonium Nitrate)

Job Purpose

To manage and control shift operations for the AN Production Plant, ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient production in line with operational plans. The role is accountable for people, plant, and process performance during the shift, driving production targets, safety excellence, product quality, and effective coordination with maintenance and support functions.

Key Responsibilities

Safety, Health, Environment & Quality (SHEQ)

• Drive a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all SHEQ standards, procedures, and legal requirements.
• Lead daily safety interactions, toolbox talks, risk assessments, and shift handovers.
• Ensure adherence to process safety management requirements and critical controls.
• Monitor plant conditions and operational risks, taking immediate corrective action where required.
• Ensure all incidents, near misses, hazards, and non-conformances are reported and investigated.
• Promote environmental compliance and responsible operational practices.
• Ensure product quality standards and specifications are consistently achieved.

Production & Operations Management

• Manage and coordinate all shift production activities to achieve production targets and operational KPIs.
• Monitor plant performance, process parameters, equipment reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure optimum utilization of plant resources, raw materials, and manpower.
• Coordinate plant start-ups, shutdowns, changeovers, and emergency responses.
• Ensure production activities are executed according to standard operating procedures.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve productivity, reliability, and cost efficiency.
• Ensure accurate production reporting and shift documentation.

People Management

• Lead, supervise, and develop shift teams to achieve operational excellence.
• Allocate work effectively and ensure adequate staffing levels during shifts.
• Manage employee performance, discipline, attendance, and conduct in line with company policies.
• Coach and mentor operators to improve competency and operational capability.
• Foster teamwork, accountability, and high-performance culture within the shift team.
• Support training and competency assessments for operators and controllers.

Maintenance & Reliability Coordination

• Coordinate with maintenance teams to ensure timely resolution of equipment breakdowns and plant issues.
• Support planned maintenance execution and plant shutdown activities.
• Ensure equipment defects and reliability concerns are identified and escalated appropriately.
• Monitor plant availability and minimize unplanned downtime.

Operational Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure compliance with operational standards, ISO requirements, and statutory regulations.
• Maintain accurate shift logs, production records, downtime reports, and incident reports.
• Participate in operational reviews, audits, and improvement initiatives.
• Ensure effective communication and handover between shifts.

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

• Matric certificate / NQF Level 4 in Chemical Operations
• National Diploma or Degree in Chemical Engineering, Production Management, Operations Management, or related technical field.
• Supervisory or management qualification will be advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum of 3-4 years’ experience in team management within a process or chemical operations environment.
• Strong understanding of maintenance planning, equipment reliability, and operational excellence.
• Proven leadership, team development, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing/chemical plant operations.
• Knowledge of SHEQ standards and legal compliance.
• Ability to lead and motivate teams in a shift environment.
• Problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication and reporting skills.

• Basic mechanical or process troubleshooting skills.
• Computer literacy (MS Office, production systems).

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