Start Up Manager

Start-Up Manager

Location: Birstall Leeds

Salary: Competitive Bonus Benefits

Type: Full-time Permanent

The Role

Were looking for a Start up manager to play a pivotal role in delivering new production assets and driving performance across a fast-paced pet food manufacturing environment.

Youll lead commissioning validation and start-up of equipment while owning the sites loss analysis agendaidentifying where we lose efficiency speed and quality and turning those insights into high-impact improvement projects.

This role is critical to ensuring our lines start strong run efficiently and continuously improve in a high-volume high-demand settinghelping us deliver the quality pet nutrition that millions of pets rely on every day.

What Youll Be Doing

• Lead commissioning validation and start-up (CVS) of lines/ equipment and new product development
• Drive safe right-first-time start-ups with a strong focus on quality food safety and compliance
• Own and lead site-wide loss analysis across key metrics (OEE waste downtime speed loss)
• Identify and prioritise the biggest losses impacting throughput cost and service
• Build and manage a pipeline of focused improvement projects aligned to business priorities
• Lead delivery of loss reduction initiativesfrom data analysis through to shopfloor implementation and sustainment
• Apply structured problem-solving tools (RCA 5 Whys DMAIC) to eliminate root causes of chronic losses
• Champion TPM principles embedding a culture of continuous improvement and operator ownership
• Work closely with production engineering and maintenance teams to improve line reliability and efficiency
• Support rapid ramp-up of new lines to target speeds waste and quality standards
• Support the delivery of site innovation projects (NPD/NPI) by identifying monitoring and escalating risks during relevant innovation stagegate milestones across issues pertaining to People Supply Chain Engineering Quality H&S

What Were Looking For

• Engineering or technical degree (or equivalent experience)
• Strong experience in FMCG or high-volume manufacturing environments (food/pet food preferred)
• Proven track record in commissioning/start-up and driving line performance improvements
• Deep understanding of OEE loss trees and waste reduction in a production setting
• Experience delivering measurable improvements in efficiency waste and downtime
• Knowledge of TPM Lean or Six Sigma methodologies
• Strong presence on the shopfloor with the ability to engage and influence operators and leaders
• Data-driven results-focused and comfortable working at pace

Why Join Mars Petcare

• Be part of a purpose-driven business: A Better World for Pets
• Work on products that make a real difference to the health and happiness of pets globally
• Join a company guided by the Five Principles: Quality Responsibility Mutuality Efficiency and Freedom
• Be empowered to own both start-up success and ongoing operational performance
• Access strong development opportunities within a global organisation that invests in its people
• Contribute to industry-leading standards in food safety quality and sustainability

Mars is committed to providing access equal opportunity and reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities long-term health conditions or who are neurodiverse during the application and recruitment process. To request reasonable adjustments complete our Reasonable Adjustment Request Form here.

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