Machine Leader PM6-1

Lead People. Drive Performance. Deliver Manufacturing Excellence.

At DS Smith, we're redefining packaging for a changing world through innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence. We're looking for an experienced and motivated Machine Leader to join our Operations team at Kemsley Mill.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a hands-on leader with strong papermaking knowledge and a passion for developing people, improving performance, and driving continuous improvement. You'll play a key role in ensuring the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of the manufacturing process, from stock preparation through to finished product.

Working closely with the Senior Shift Manager and operational teams, you'll help deliver world-class standards in safety, quality, productivity, and environmental performance

About the Role

As a Machine Leader, you'll provide day-to-day leadership across designated manufacturing areas, coordinating people, processes, and equipment to achieve operational targets. You'll support and develop team members, drive process improvements, and ensure standards are consistently maintained while promoting a strong culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

This role also provides operational support to the Senior Shift Manager and acts as a key leadership presence within the area during shifts.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead, coach and develop operational teams to achieve safety, quality and production objectives.
• Drive machine performance and maximise efficiency across papermaking operations and stock preparation processes.
• Monitor and improve key performance indicators across output, reliability, energy, water and chemical usage.
• Support effective communication across shifts and operational departments.
• Lead problem-solving activities, fault finding and root cause investigations.
• Utilise SAP, operational systems and performance data to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support planned shutdowns and operational recovery activities.
• Provide shift cover and operational leadership when required.

Continuous Improvement

• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to enhance safety, quality, efficiency and performance.
• Use operational and quality data to drive informed decision-making.
• Support improvement projects and implementation of best practices.
• Coach team members in problem solving and performance improvement methodologies.

Health, Safety & Environmental Excellence

• Demonstrate visible safety leadership and promote a strong safety-first culture.
• Ensure compliance with risk assessments, permits, isolations and Safe Systems of Work (SSOW).
• Support investigations, risk assessments and corrective actions following incidents or operational losses.
• Ensure compliance with environmental standards and actively contribute to reducing DS Smith's environmental footprint.
• Maintain adherence to all site management systems, legal requirements and industry standards.

About You

We're looking for a proactive and safety-focused manufacturing leader who can inspire teams, drive operational excellence, and champion continuous improvement. You'll bring strong papermaking expertise, a hands-on leadership style, and a passion for developing people while delivering outstanding performance across safety, quality, reliability and efficiency.

Essential Skills & Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of the papermaking process.
• DCS (Distributed Control System) and QCS (Quality Control System) operational experience.
• IOSH Managing Safely qualification.
• Internal Permit Receiver training.
• Demonstrated safety leadership capability.
• Excellent communication and team leadership skills.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving ability.

Experience

• Experience within a papermaking or heavy manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience leading and developing operational teams.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing safety systems and procedures.
• Experience in process troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
• Track record of driving operational performance improvements.
• Good knowledge of Manufacturing Business Systems (MBS).

Benefits

Additional benefits include:

• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Income protection
• Employee assistance program
• Cycle to work scheme
• Shopping discounts

Closing date: Friday, 30th October 2026     

Note. This role is part of the paper reorganisation proposal and will be advertised internally for the relevant paper employees.

About us

We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!

Fair recruitment at DS Smith

To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria