Job Title: Machine Shop Shift Supervisor
Location: Bristol
Pay Range: £55,000 - £59,000
Contract Type: Permanent
Shift: 3 shifts rotating
A leading precision manufacturing business is seeking an experienced Machine Shop Shift Supervisor to join its production leadership team. This role is responsible for ensuring the machine shop operates safely, efficiently, and effectively while meeting customer requirements and business objectives.
The successful candidate will play a key role in leading shift operations, developing team capability, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and performance within a CNC machining environment.
Key Responsibilities – Machine Shop Shift Supervisor
Health, Safety & Environment:
- Ensure the team adheres to all company policies, procedures, and safety standards.
- Maintain a strong presence on the shop floor to reinforce safe working practices.
- Deliver toolbox talks and communicate safety work instructions as directed by the EHS Lead.
- Conduct risk assessments where required to ensure a safe working environment.
- Report accidents and near misses in accordance with company procedures and support corrective and preventative actions.
- Liaise with Facilities to support environmental and compliance activities.
Leadership & People Management:
- Lead the shift team to achieve daily production targets and operational objectives.
- Conduct start-of-shift meetings to review performance, priorities, and goals.
- Manage and support Team Leaders, ensuring effective labour allocation and output.
- Identify training requirements and make recommendations to the Manufacturing Manager.
- Take responsibility for employee performance, conduct, and adherence to company standards.
- Ensure all team members receive relevant updates, communications, and training.
- Maintain and update skills matrices to support workforce development.
- Support recruitment activities, including interviewing machine shop operators.
- Manage timesheets, holidays, return-to-work interviews, and associated administration.
- Conduct performance reviews and annual grading activities.
- Promote a positive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture.
- Maintain a visible and approachable leadership presence on the shop floor.
Production & Delivery:
- Oversee daily machine shop operations to ensure production schedules are achieved.
- Troubleshoot production issues and coordinate rework activities to maintain workflow.
- Deliver weekly objectives set by the Manufacturing Manager.
- Lead daily Gemba walks and report operational performance.
- Ensure accurate and timely job bookings across all operations.
- Support Team Leaders with machine allocation and production prioritisation.
- Raise purchase requisitions for approved suppliers including tools, consumables, and equipment.
- Manage and report Kanban stock levels.
- Participate in weekly performance review meetings with the Manufacturing Manager.
- Support maintenance activities and escalate machine-related issues when required.
- Track and support Continuous Improvement activities through CI and HIVE systems.
- Implement operational changes and business improvement initiatives.
- Present previous day performance metrics during SFM meetings.
- Coordinate and monitor TPM activities to ensure planned machine maintenance is completed.
- Drive initiatives aimed at reducing downtime, improving machine reliability, and increasing Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
Quality & Continuous Improvement:
- Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations following quality issues, scrap, or machine collisions.
- Work closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Engineering, and Production teams to implement corrective actions.
- Maintain and improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) within the machine shop.
- Report findings and recommendations to relevant departments.
- Ensure accurate completion of production records to support traceability and quality requirements.
- Support quality-focused continuous improvement initiatives to reduce scrap and improve process capability.
- Encourage team participation in Continuous Improvement activities to eliminate waste and improve efficiency.
General Responsibilities:
- Maintain high standards of housekeeping and workplace organisation.
- Support internal and external audits to ensure compliance with required standards.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties as requested by management.
Qualifications & Requirements – Machine Shop Shift Supervisor
- Previous experience in a CNC machine shop or precision manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrable ability to set and operate a range of CNC machine tools within defined processes.
- Strong leadership experience with the ability to organise, coach, mentor, and motivate teams.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage effectively at all levels of the business.
- Computer literate with strong administrative capabilities.
- Highly organised and methodical approach to problem-solving.
- Positive, proactive, and approachable leadership style.
- Open-minded, adaptable, and driven to support business improvement and change initiatives.
- Target-focused with a commitment to achieving operational excellence.
What We Can Offer – Machine Shop Shift Supervisor
- Pension – 5% matched contribution (up to 8% matched)
- Life Cover x4 salary
- 25 days holiday, plus an additional day at 5,10, 15, 20 and 25 years – a maximum of 30 days
- Simply Health cover for self and any of employees children Level 3
- Company bonus scheme – non contractual and dependant on company performance
- Enhanced paternity and maternity leave (after qualifying period)
- Retail discounts
- Cycle to work scheme
For more information on this role, please contact Harvey Clough on 01453 829799 or send a copy of your CV to harvey.clough@omegaresource.co.uk.
Omega Resource Group is an employment agency specialising in opportunities at all levels within the Engineering, Aerospace, Automotive, Electronics, Defence, Scientific, Oil & Gas, Construction and Manufacturing sectors.
For details of other opportunities available within your chosen field, please visit www.omegaresource.co.uk.