Production Supervisor (Afternoon Shift)

Role Summary

We are seeking a hands-on, people-focused Production Supervisor to lead our Afternoon Shift production team in Cambridge. This role goes beyond managing daily production. Once day-shift support functions such as Quality, Engineering and Technical Operations have left site, the Afternoon Shift Supervisor is often the senior production decision-maker on site. The Supervisor is accountable for running the shift safely, compliantly and productively, keeping the operation inspection-ready, developing the team and driving continuous improvement.

Reporting to the Production Manager, the Production Supervisor will lead hourly production employees across various classifications in sterile and non-sterile manufacturing and packaging, with day-to-day accountability for production execution, people leadership, safety, quality, delivery and cost. The position will also partner with Supply Chain on critical production supplies and lead continuous improvement activities across the shift.

The successful candidate will combine strong floor leadership with sound judgement, technical aptitude and a continuous improvement mindset. They will be comfortable making timely decisions, coaching employees, using operational data to identify issues and opportunities, partnering across functions and taking ownership for results.

**This is an Afternoon-shift position, Monday - Friday, 3:00pm - 11:30pm. With Flexibility to support other shifts or weekends when business needs require.

Role Specific Requirements :

Shift Leadership

Serve as the on-shift operations lead, making sound, timely decisions within GMP and safety boundaries, including stopping the line or placing product on hold when required.

Escalate issues through the defined after-hours escalation process, using on-call Quality, Maintenance and EHS support when needed, and act as the senior production leader during emergencies on shift.

Lead structured handovers with incoming and outgoing shifts so that issues, decisions and open actions are clearly communicated and nothing is lost between shifts.

Safety & Environmental Leadership

Demonstrate visible leadership and personal accountability for workplace health, safety and environmental expectations, fulfilling supervisor duties under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Lead pre-shift safety talks, safety observations and hazard identification, and proactively investigate and address incidents, near misses and safety or environmental concerns.

Ensure corrective actions are implemented and sustained.

Ensure on-shift compliance with EHS programs, including PPE, lockout/tagout, WHMIS and waste handling, storage and disposal requirements, in partnership with EHS.

Quality & Compliance

Ensure production activities are performed in accordance with approved specifications, current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), Good Documentation Practices (GDP), validated processes and company requirements.

Review batch records and logbooks in real time on shift to drive right-first-time documentation and data integrity (ALCOA+).

Identify, contain and initiate deviations within 24 hours; lead or support root cause investigations using structured tools (5-Why, fishbone, human-factors analysis) and own the quality and timely completion of assigned CAPAs.

Keep the shift inspection-ready at all times and support regulatory, customer and internal audits.

Participate in change controls, validation activities and new product introductions that affect the shift.

Aseptic and Sterile Operations

Lead and model aseptic behaviours, gowning practice and intervention discipline in classified areas in line with EU GMP Annex 1 and the site Contamination Control Strategy.

Act as first responder to environmental monitoring excursions and other contamination-control events on shift, escalating to Quality as required.

Support aseptic process simulations (media fills) and maintain personal gowning qualification.

Operational Excellence

Lead afternoon-shift production activities to achieve established safety, quality, delivery and cost expectations.

Run tiered daily accountability and use shift KPIs (safety, right-first-time, schedule adherence, OEE, downtime, scrap) to proactively identify constraints and take action.

Coordinate line clearance, changeovers and equipment readiness with Maintenance and Engineering.

Partner with Supply Chain and Warehouse on material availability through min/max or kanban processes, flagging supply risks early.

People Leadership & Capability Development

Provide visible, engaged leadership for the Afternoon Shift production team, with regular one-on-ones and clear expectations for performance, safety, quality, attendance and accountability.

Own the shift skills matrix and training plan, ensuring employees are trained and qualified before performing GMP tasks, and build cross-training for flexibility.

Develop lead hands and high-potential operators through development plans and succession planning.

Build a respectful, inclusive and accountable work environment that promotes collaboration and problem-solving.

Manage attendance and support accurate timekeeping and payroll administration through ADP.

Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving

Champion a continuous improvement mindset within the shift and lead at least two improvement projects per year using Lean and problem-solving tools (standard work, 5S, changeover reduction, error-proofing).

Encourage employees to identify opportunities and translate them into practical, sustained improvements, and help adopt digital tools and electronic records that make work simpler and more reliable.

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.

Competencies Required for the Role :

SAFETY AND QUALITY MINDSET – puts safety, product quality and data integrity first in every decision, and expects the same from the team.

LEADING AND DEVELOPING PEOPLE – sets clear expectations, coaches in the moment, recognises good work and builds capability for the future.

ACCOUNTABILITY AND OWNERSHIP – owns shift outcomes and follows issues through to closure rather than passing them on to the next shift.

JUDGEMENT AND DECISION-MAKING – makes sound, timely decisions with limited support available, and knows when and how to escalate.

PROBLEM SOLVING – gets to the root cause of issues using data and structured tools rather than treating symptoms.

PROCESS IMPROVEMENT – identifies, analyzes and improves processes to make work safer, simpler and more reliable.

FOSTERING COLLABORATION – works across departments and shifts to reach shared goals, and respects others.

ADAPTABILITY – stays effective through changing priorities, new products, new technology and new requirements.

Requirements :

Required

Post-secondary degree or diploma in science, engineering or a related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

3+ years of experience leading people in a supervisory or formal team-lead role in a regulated (GMP) manufacturing environment.

Working knowledge of cGMP, Good Documentation Practices and data integrity, and hands-on experience with deviations, root cause analysis and CAPA.

Working knowledge of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act and supervisor responsibilities.

Ability to meet gowning qualification requirements for classified (cleanroom) areas.

Strong analytical, problem-solving, written and verbal communication skills, and proficiency with Microsoft Office, ERP and electronic quality systems.

Assets

Experience in an aseptic manufacturing environment and familiarity with EU GMP Annex 1.

Supervisory experience within pharmaceut