Associate Director of Manufacturing - Night Shift Lead

Introduction to role

Are you ready to lead and inspire a team in the world of manufacturing? We are seeking a motivated and experienced Night Shift Production Lead to establish and lead our new night shift operations in a sterile manufacturing environment. This critical leadership role will oversee first-line managers and be fully accountable for the safety, quality, and performance of all night shift production activities.

As this is a newly established shift, the successful candidate will play a key role in building the team, developing capability, and embedding a culture of operational excellence, compliance, and collaboration.

Accountabilities

This position will be working 12 hour night shifts Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from 18:00 - 06:00 across our sterile manufacturing plants on our Macclesfield campus.

Shift Leadership & Performance

• Serve as the single point of accountability for night shift operations.

• Lead all night shift manufacturing activities, ensuring production targets, quality standards, and compliance requirements are consistently achieved.

• Monitor and manage key performance indicators (KPIs) for safety, quality, efficiency, and schedule adherence.

• Drive timely issue resolution and continuous improvement to optimise performance and reduce downtime.

• Conduct regular performance reviews and ensure effective communication and escalation across shifts.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and coach first-line managers, providing guidance, feedback, and support to develop strong leadership capability.

• Build a high-performing team culture focused on safety, quality, and ownership.

• Oversee training and competency development to ensure team members are qualified for sterile operations.

• Promote engagement, accountability, and collaboration across all levels of the night shift.

Compliance & Sterility Assurance

• Ensure strict adherence to GMP, aseptic practices, and regulatory requirements.

• Maintain exceptional standards of documentation, data integrity, and batch record accuracy.

• Partner with Quality Assurance to investigate deviations, drive root cause analysis, and implement effective corrective actions.

• Role model sterile discipline and good manufacturing behaviours at all times.

Communication & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure seamless communication and coordination between night and day shifts.

• Collaborate with cross-functional partners in Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and Planning to resolve issues and align priorities.

• Lead the successful launch and stabilisation of the new night shift, including team setup, process alignment, and performance systems.

• Foster a culture of problem-solving, continuous improvement, and innovation using Lean principles.

• Support audit readiness, validation activities, and digital transformation initiatives.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Proven leadership experience in a sterile or GMP-regulated manufacturing environment.

• Demonstrated experience of applying Lean manufacturing principles and employing digital tools or data systems to drive performance and process improvement.

• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop teams through change.

• Excellent communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.

• Flexible and resilient leader able to thrive in a fast-paced, start-up shift environment.

• Strong commitment to SHE excellence, with proven experience fostering a safety-first mindset and driving proactive risk reduction initiatives.

• Experienced working within unionised environment.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions.

At AstraZeneca, we are driven by our commitment to deliver accelerated growth and make a positive impact on people's lives. Our Operations team is at the forefront of transforming molecules into medicines through cutting-edge science, digitalization, and sustainable practices. With a focus on Lean processes, we strive for efficiency and speed, ensuring that we meet the needs of patients globally. Join us in our inclusive environment where curiosity is encouraged, challenges are embraced, and opportunities for growth are abundant.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now and be part of our journey to deliver life-changing medicines!

Date Posted

10-Nov-2025

Closing Date

23-Nov-2025

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.