Job Title:Process Lead, Bulk
Location: Newark
Grade: 5

Job Focus

The APU Process Lead supports the delivery of Customer Supply performance objectives related to quality, environment, health and safety (QESH), cost management, engineering reliability, continuous improvement, and capability development. This role drives improvement activity, operational trials, and daily performance within the APU.

Key Responsibilities

QESH Leadership
- Provide safety leadership to develop a zero lost-time injury culture.
- Conduct or support safety investigations when required.

Cost Leadership
- Support the APU Leader with financial governance and delivery of the APU Performance Improvement Plan (PIP).
- Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities aligned with site objectives.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives, using lean tools to remove waste and improve efficiency.
- Analyse performance data to optimise throughput, energy, and product quality.
- Contribute to ideation sessions for cost-saving projects.
- Share and implement best practices across APUs and sites.
- Support capital projects within the APU, especially those under £100K.

Delivery Leadership
- Oversee the process for quitting sugar silos and loading bulk customer tankers in line with the S&OP plan.
- Lead or support planned and reactive stoppages in coordination with Engineering, including permit authorisations and contractor supervision.
- Chair operational reviews and promote lean practices through tiered meetings and visual management.
- Deliver on process reliability targets and lead Defect Elimination (DE) with support from CI.
- Provide operational support to the Shift Performance Manager and APU team to meet objectives.
- Act as deputy to the APU Leader and lead the APU in their absence.

People Leadership
- Role model British Sugar’s values and leadership behaviours.
- Create a people development plan in line with APU goals.
- Support autonomy within the team, enabling decision-making.
- Act as a subject matter expert and coach for new starters, apprentices, graduates, and team members.
- Lead direct reports with regular 1:1s and annual reviews to support development.
- Provide development feedback to Shift Performance Managers.

Measures of Success

QESH
- Achieve operational QESH targets set in business and personal objectives.

Cost
- Deliver cost savings through PIP projects.
- Develop a 5-year PIP roadmap.
- Embed lean methodology as standard practice.

Delivery
- Meet key performance targets for the APU.

People

- Achieve 100% completion of the annual personal development process.
- Implement and deliver the APU people development plan.

Scope

- Line management responsibility for six operational roles and occasional agency staff.
- Understands factory incident and crisis team protocols. May act as Factory Incident Controller.
- May act as deputy to the Engineering Lead and APU Leader.

Decision Making

- Acts as technical authority for APU processes, making decisions to minimise cost, maximise efficiency, and ensure product quality.
- Participates in maintenance planning and prioritisation with Engineering.
- Influences the APU operational and engineering budget.
- Applies lean and continuous improvement tools to drive optimisation.
- Provides weekend technical cover and operational steer for 24+ hour periods as needed.

Key Relationships

- APU Leader and Process Leads
- Engineering Leads and support teams
- Technical support staff
- Site General Manager
- Central Planning team

Other Factors

- Flexibility required due to the operational support nature of the role.
- On-call advice and leadership cover responsibilities for APU Leader and Engineering Lead.

Person Profile

Key Competencies (British Sugar):
- Drive and Accountability
- Adaptive Thinking
- Engaging Teams
- Influencing
- Liaising/Networking
- Continuous Improvement through Creative Solutions
- Focused Development
- Commercial Acumen

Knowledge and Qualifications (E = Essential, D = Desirable):

- NEBOSH General Certificate (D)
- Green Belt Lean Six Sigma (D)
- Technical knowledge of large-scale factory operations (E)
- Awareness of industrial hazards and controls (E)
- Technical accounting understanding (E)
- Diploma in Technical Operations (D)
- HACCP Level 3 (D)
- Extensive sugar or bulk loading process knowledge (D)

Experience:

- Leading and developing high-performing teams (E)
- Proven technical problem-solving and lean experience (E)
- Cross-role and multi-site experience (D)

Skills and Abilities:

- Strong communication across all business levels (E)
- Proven team leadership and development skills (E)
- Strategic and tactical thinking ability (E)
- Strong analytical and project planning skills (E)
- Knowledge of Lean tools and techniques (E)
- Operational intuition and decision-making under pressure (E)
- Potential to progress within the business (D)

Personal Qualities:

- Credible and influential communicator
- Passionate leader who motivates through challenge
- Strong commitment to health and safety
- Aligned with British Sugar values and leadership model
- Daily commitment to continuous improvement

We are committed to creating an environment where all our people are treated with respect and given the opportunities to succeed. We want British Sugar to be a great, inclusive place to work for everyone.

A NOTE FOR RECRUITMENT AGENCIES:

We prefer to hire people directly, but we do have a preferred supplier list for when we need a helping hand. We'll be in touch directly if we need you!

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