Shift Manager; Cole

Position: Shift Manager (Cole)
Job Description:

Shift Manager - 3rd Shift (Nights)

Location:

Mars Petcare (Fort Smith, AR)

Schedule:

Monday - Friday, 10:30 PM - 7:00 AM

Segment:
Mars Petcare

Position Overview

Are you a decisive, people-first leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about driving operational excellence?

The Shift Manager (3rd Shift) is a critical, front-line people manager at our state-of-the-art Fort Smith, AR manufacturing facility. Leading an average of 15 shift associates, you will champion human safety, food safety, product quality, and cost efficiency. Operating from 10:30 PM to 7:00 AM, Monday through Friday, you will direct night-shift operations to deliver high-quality pet care products most safely and efficiently.

This role is a hands-on leadership opportunity where you will partner closely with the broader 24-hour Area Managership Team to execute area reliability strategies and implement the Mars Supply Excellence (MSE) program. If you are a collaborative leader, an effective change agent, and a builder of high-performing teams, your tomorrow starts today at Mars Petcare.

People Leadership & Associate Development

* Lead & Engage:
Cultivate an environment of high engagement, trust, and mutual respect on the night shift. Direct, motivate, and coach a team of approximately 15 operations associates.

* Talent Development:
Manage associate relations, facilitate training and cross-training strategies, and support individual career growth plans.

* Advocacy & Accountability:
Drive accountability in safety and quality while serving as a champion for self-managed, team-working principles.

Operational Excellence & Cost Conversion

* Conversion Management:
Direct the night-shift efforts of multi-line, area, or technology teams to efficiently convert raw materials into quality finished products within design specifications.

* Line Operations:
Coordinate materials, night-shift staffing, and technical resources to support seamless line operations, changeovers, and preventive maintenance.

* Problem Solving & Escalation:
Serve as the on-shift point of escalation. Reactively lead incident resolution, troubleshoot equipment constraints, and proactively mitigate risks.

Continuous Improvement & Mars Supply Excellence (MSE)

* MSE Pillar Leadership:
Support and lead key facets of the Mars Supply Excellence (TPM) program, specifically driving Autonomous Maintenance (AM) and Autonomous Work Teams (AWTs) on your shift.

* Change Agency:
Actively identify opportunities for technological and operational improvements, leading change management initiatives with a continuous improvement mindset.

* Area Ownership:
Collaborate with the Area Managership Team (including the Area Manager, CI Specialist, and Maintenance Coordinator) to implement long-term reliability strategies.

Safety, Quality, and Standards Adherence

* Associate Safety First:
Own the safety culture on 3rd shift. Implement Mars Safety programs, eliminate hazards, and drive a relentless "safety-first" mindset.

* Food Safety & Quality:
Ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Mars Quality standards. Lead HACCP requirements, ongoing training, and shift-level quality goal adherence.

* Standards Enforcement:
Communicate, reinforce, and hold the shift accountable to established operational policies and plant guidelines.

Education & Experience

* Undergraduate Degree (Bachelor's):
Highly preferred, ideally in Engineering, Basic Sciences, Business, or a related discipline.

* OR

* Equivalent

Experience:

High School Diploma/GED combined with 4+ years of technical manufacturing experience, continuous improvement leadership, or military leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

* Demonstrated capability in leading, training, and developing others (previous direct people management experience is highly valued).

* Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to convey critical expectations clearly and concisely.

* Working knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and food safety/sanitation practices.

* Proficiency in digital administrative tools (MS Office Suite, ERP/CRM systems, email).

* Comfort leading teams and making critical decisions in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.

* Successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen and background check.

Preferred Qualifications

* Prior supervisory experience in a food production, FMCG, or highly regulated manufacturing environment.

* Functional knowledge of HACCP concepts and OSHA regulations (OSHA certification is a plus).

* Experience with TPM, Lean Manufacturing, or Mars Supply Excellence (MSE) methodology.

* Strong technical or mechanical aptitude to guide on-shift troubleshooting of packaging/processing machinery.

Why Transitioning Military & Veterans Thrive Here

At Mars, we recognize that the leadership, adaptability, and mission-first mindset developed in the military are world-class assets.

* Recognized Leadership:
We fully value military rank and operational experience. Roles such as Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) or…