Job description

Company Description

Sika is a speciality chemicals company with a globally leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protection in the building sector and industrial manufacturing. Sika has subsidiaries in 102 countries around the world and, in over 400 factories, produces innovative technologies for customers worldwide. In doing so, it plays a crucial role in enabling the transformation of the construction and transportation sector towards greater environmental compatibility. With more than 34,000 employees, the company generated sales of CHF 11.76 billion in 2024.

Job Purpose

The Shift Manager is responsible for leading and controlling all production activities during the assigned shift, ensuring that operations are performed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with the approved production plan, Sika standards, and customer requirements.

The role ensures effective deployment of people, equipment, and materials; achievement of safety, quality, productivity, cost, and delivery targets; and timely escalation of significant operational issues. The Shift Manager acts as the primary operational point of responsibility during the assigned shift within the defined level of authority.

Key Responsibilities

Shift Operations and Production Control

• Plan, coordinate, and supervise all production activities during the assigned shift in accordance with the approved production schedule.
• Ensure achievement of shift targets relating to output, quality, yield, productivity, cost, and on-time completion.
• Allocate employees, equipment, materials, and other resources effectively across production lines.
• Monitor production progress throughout the shift and take timely action to address deviations, bottlenecks, or operational disruptions.
• Ensure that production processes are conducted in accordance with approved work instructions, formulations, specifications, and standard operating procedures.
• Coordinate product changeovers, line start-ups, shutdowns, cleaning activities, and other shift-related operational requirements.
• Ensure the proper use of raw materials, packaging materials, production equipment, and utilities.
• Act as the primary operational decision-maker during the shift within the established authority and escalation framework.

Health, Safety, and Environment

• Demonstrate visible safety leadership and ensure full compliance with Sika HSE requirements and applicable legal regulations.
• Conduct shift safety briefings and ensure that employees understand the relevant hazards, controls, and safe working procedures.
• Ensure the correct use of personal protective equipment and adherence to site safety rules.
• Stop any unsafe activity immediately and ensure that appropriate corrective action is taken before work resumes.
• Identify, report, and escalate unsafe conditions, near misses, environmental concerns, and incidents.
• Support incident investigations, root-cause analysis, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure that emergency procedures are understood and followed by all shift employees.
• Maintain safe and environmentally responsible operations, including proper waste handling and spill prevention.

Quality Management

• Ensure that all products manufactured during the shift comply with approved Sika specifications, quality standards, and customer requirements.
• Verify that required in-process checks, sampling, testing, and production documentation are completed correctly.
• Coordinate with the Quality team regarding nonconforming products, process deviations, and quality concerns.
• Stop or hold production when quality requirements are not met, in accordance with the approved escalation and authorization process.
• Support investigations into quality deviations and customer complaints and ensure implementation of agreed corrective actions.
• Ensure that nonconforming materials and products are properly identified, segregated, and controlled.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor and report shift performance against established KPIs, including:
  • Safety performance
  • Production output
  • Schedule adherence
  • Yield and material consumption
  • Productivity and efficiency
  • Equipment downtime
  • Waste and production losses
  • Product quality and process deviations
• Investigate performance gaps and implement immediate containment or corrective actions within the assigned authority.
• Maintain accurate production logs, shift reports, downtime records, material consumption records, and incident reports.
• Escalate significant safety, quality, maintenance, staffing, or production issues to the relevant manager in a timely manner.
• Ensure that all data entered into SAP or other production systems is complete, accurate, and submitted on time.

Team Leadership and Workforce Management

• Lead, supervise, and support the shift team, including operators, technicians, helpers, and other assigned employees.
• Assign responsibilities and communicate clear performance expectations at the beginning of each shift.
• Monitor employee attendance, punctuality, breaks, overtime, workplace conduct, and compliance with company procedures.
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels and coordinate any urgent staffing requirements with Production Management and HR.
• Provide on-the-job guidance, coaching, and feedback to shift employees.
• Identify training and development needs and communicate them to the relevant manager.
• Support employee performance management and disciplinary processes in coordination with Production Management and HR.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, respect, and effective communication among shift employees.

Equipment and Maintenance Coordination

• Monitor equipment condition and operational reliability throughout the shift.
• Ensure that operators complete required equipment inspections and basic autonomous maintenance activities.
• Report breakdowns, abnormalities, and equipment risks to the Maintenance team without delay.
• Coordinate with Maintenance to prioritize interventions and minimize production downtime.
• Ensure that equipment is safely isolated and released for maintenance in accordance with applicable procedures.
• Verify that equipment is safe and operationally ready before production resumes.
• Record equipment downtime, causes, actions taken, and operational impact accurately.

Shift Handover and Communication

• Conduct structured shift-start briefings covering production priorities, safety requirements, quality concerns, staffing, and equipment status.
• Complete a clear and comprehensive handover to the incoming Shift Manager or Supervisor.
• Ensure that handovers include production status, pending orders, equipment conditions, quality issues, safety concerns, staffing matters, and required follow-up actions.
• Communicate relevant shift information to Production Management and other supporting departments.
• Attend operational meetings and contribute accurate information regarding shift performance and challenges.

Workplace Organization and Continuous Improvement

• Ensure that production and supporting areas are maintained in a clean, safe, and organized condition.
• Lead implementation and sustainability of 5S standards within the assigned shift and production areas.
• Ensure compliance with approved standard operating procedures and visual management requirements.
• Identify and propose opportunities to improve safety, quality, productivity, workflow, resource utilization, and cost efficiency.
• Participate in continuous improvement activities, root-cause analysis, and problem-solving initiatives.
• Encourage shift employees to report problems and contribute practical improvement ideas.

Compliance and Audit Readiness

• Ensure compliance with Sika policies, plant procedures, management systems, and applicable legal requirements during the shift.
• Maintain accurate and traceable shift documentation and operational records.
• Support internal, external, customer, certification, and regulatory audits.
• Ensure timely closure of assigned corrective actions and audit findings.
• Immediately escalate any significant noncompliance or operational risk through the appropriate management channels.

Key Performance Indicators

Performance may be measured against the following indicators:

• Shift HSE performance and safety compliance
• Production output versus plan
• Schedule adherence
• Product quality and right-first-time results
• Yield and material usage variance
• Labor productivity and shift efficiency
• Waste, rework, and production losses
• Equipment downtime and response time
• Compliance with standard operating procedures
• Accuracy and timeliness of shift reports
• 5S and workplace organization results
• Attendance and overtime management
• Completion of corrective and improvement actions

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial, Production, or another relevant Engineering discipline.
• A relevant technical diploma may be considered where supported by substantial and directly relevant manufacturing experience.
• Typically, 3–7 years of experience in a manufacturing or production environment.
• At least 1–2 years of experience leading a production shift, line, or operational team.
• Experience in chemicals, construction materials, cementitious products, admixtures, coatings, or a comparable process-manufacturing industry is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve production, quality, and delivery targets in a demanding manufacturing environment.
• Practical experience coordinating with Quality, Maintenance, Warehouse, and HSE functions.
• Experience working in a structured manufacturing environment with documented procedures and performance indicators.

Technical Knowledge

• Good understanding of manufacturing processes, production planning, and shop-floor operations.
• Working knowledge of production quality controls and nonconforming-product management.
• Good awareness of occupational health, safety, and environmental requirements in a manufacturing environment.
• Basic understanding of equipment operation, breakdown identification, and maintenance coordination.
• Ability to monitor and interpret production KPIs, including output, efficiency, yield, waste, and downtime.
• Working knowledge of ERP or production management systems, preferably SAP or an equivalent system.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Knowledge of 5S, Lean Manufacturing, root-cause analysis, or other continuous improvement methods is preferred.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 requirements is an advantage.

Leadership Competencies

• Strong shop-floor leadership and the ability to motivate, guide, and hold employees accountable.
• Ability to make timely, fact-based decisions within the assigned level of authority.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to remain effective under operational pressure.
• Effective planning, prioritization, and resource-allocation skills.
• Clear communication and effective shift-handover capabilities.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with Production, Maintenance, Quality, Warehouse, and HSE teams.
• High level of responsibility, integrity, discipline, and reliability.
• Strong commitment to safety, quality, compliance, and operational excellence.
• Good written and spoken Arabic and English.

Other Requirements

• Willingness and ability to work on a rotating-shift schedule, including night shifts, weekends, and public holidays, according to plant operational requirements.
• Ability to respond appropriately to urgent production, safety, quality, staffing, and equipment-related matters during the assigned shift.
• Ability to work in an active manufacturing environment and comply with all applicable site safety and personal protective equipment requirements.

We offer competitive salaries, aligned with local market benchmarks and the specific scope and responsibilities of each role. Compensation is determined based skills relevant to the position, education and/or training.  We are committed to fair and equitable pay practices in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

We offer competitive salaries, aligned with local market benchmarks and the specific scope and responsibilities of each role. Compensation is determined based skills relevant to the position, education and/or training.  We are committed to fair and equitable pay practices in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.