Shift Leader

Vantive Health LLC; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A vital organ therapy company is seeking a Shift Leader at its Liverpool site. The successful candidate will optimize process performance and reliability while leading day-to-day operations in the manufacturing of Icodextrin. Responsibilities include ensuring safety standards, driving continuous improvement, and collaborating with teams to enhance manufacturing systems. Candidates should have a degree in Chemical Engineering and experience in process operations, particularly in pharmaceuticals or specialty chemicals.

Qualifications

• Experience in process operations, ideally in pharmaceuticals or chemicals.
• Proven ability to drive improvements using structured methodologies.
• Experience with ultrafiltration or drying technologies is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Champion safe systems of work and equipment operation.
• Monitor and analyse process parameters for optimum performance.
• Support investigations of process deviations and non-conformances.
• Provide technical guidance and coaching to operators.
• Analyse process and production data to identify trends.

Skills

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Experience in statistical process control

Ability to influence across functions

Education

Degree in Chemical Engineering or related discipline

Tools

Lean methodologies

Six Sigma

Job description

Vantive is a vital organ therapy company on a mission to extend lives and expand possibilities for patients and care teams everywhere. For 70 years, our team has driven meaningful innovations in kidney care. As we build on our legacy, we are deepening our commitment to elevating the dialysis experience through digital solutions and advanced services, while looking beyond kidney care and investing in transforming vital organ therapies. Greater flexibility and efficiency in therapy administration for care teams, and longer, fuller lives for patients— that is what Vantive aspires to deliver.

We believe Vantive will not only build our leadership in the kidney care space, it will also offer meaningful work to those who join us. At Vantive, you will become part of a community of people who are focused, courageous and don’t settle for the mediocre. Each of us is driven to help improve patients’ lives worldwide. Join us in advancing our mission to extend lives and expand possibilities.

This is an exciting opportunity for a technically minded professional to join as Shift Leader at Vantive’s Liverpool manufacturing site, where we produce Icodextrin using advanced ultrafiltration and spray drying technology. The Shift Leader will play a key role in optimising process performance and reliability, leading all aspects of day‑to‑day operations within our RCB Building and driving continuous improvement in yield, efficiency, and product quality.

Working closely with Operations, Quality, and Maintenance, the Shift Leader will ensure that the site’s key manufacturing systems are running at their best and that operators are engaged in sustaining and improving process performance.

Key Responsibilities

Safety:

• Champion safe systems of work and equipment operation in accordance with site standards and statutory regulations (e.g. LOTO, PTW, PUWER).
• Lead and support safety investigations, ensuring robust root cause analysis and preventive actions.
• Collaborate with EHS to drive a culture of “Zero Harm” and continuous improvement in process safety.
• Participate in safety walkabouts and contribute to risk assessments for process equipment.

Process Performance & Improvement:

• Monitor and analyse process parameters across ultrafiltration and spray drying operations to ensure optimum yield, quality, and throughput.
• Lead problem‑solving and root cause analysis (e.g. DMAIC, 5‑Why, A3) to resolve process issues and reduce variability.
• Identify and deliver opportunities for efficiency gains, cost reduction, and waste minimisation.
• Partner with maintenance and reliability teams to improve equipment uptime and reliability.
• Own and maintain key process documentation such as process maps, control plans, and operating standards.

Quality:

• Support investigations of process deviations and non‑conformances; define and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Contribute to process validation, change control, and continuous quality improvement.
• Ensure all process operations comply with GMP, GHP, and GDP standards.
• Work with Quality to maintain audit readiness and support internal and external audits.

People & Collaboration:

• Provide technical guidance and coaching to operators, ensuring strong understanding of process fundamentals and control parameters.
• Act as the technical link between Operations, Engineering, and Quality to ensure alignment on priorities and issues.
• Support training and competency development for operations personnel related to process performance and improvement.
• Encourage a culture of ownership and continuous improvement within the operations team.

Data & Systems:

• Analyse process and production data to identify trends, variances, and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and report KPIs for process reliability, yield, and energy efficiency.
• Lead trials, experiments, and process optimisation initiatives using structured methodologies.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Essential:

• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with experience in statistical process control or data analysis.
• Demonstrated experience in process operations, ideally in pharmaceuticals, food, or specialty chemicals.
• Proven ability to drive process improvements using structured methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, TPM).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence across functions and levels.

Desirable:

• Experience with ultrafiltration, drying, or similar continuous process technologies.
• Familiarity with GMP environments.
• Practical knowledge of reliability engineering and OEE improvement.

Reasonable Accommodation

Vantive is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities globally. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please let us know the nature of your request along with your contact information. Form Link

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