Manufacturing Manager - Night Shift at Unilever in Independence, MO

Earlier this year (March 2026), Unilever announced an agreement to separate our Foods business. Our Foods business, including brands such as Hellmann's and Knorr, will join forces with McCormick to become a global flavour leader, with leading positions across spices, seasonings, condiments and complementary food categories, supported by a strong retail and foodservice platform. McCormick has 135+ years of heritage, a presence in 150+ countries and territories, and a portfolio of trusted brands. The transaction remains subject to consultation, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions with a targeted deal close of mid-2027.

Job Purpose

We're looking for a proven manufacturing leader to serve as the senior operational leader for overnight operations at our Independence facility. In this highly visible role, you'll lead production, maintenance, quality, warehouse, and supervisory teams to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient manufacturing performance across a 24/7 food manufacturing operation.

This is an opportunity to make a direct impact on people, performance, and culture while leading a team responsible for producing some of the world's most recognized consumer brands.

Responsibilities

As the Night Shift Manufacturing Manager, you will:

• Lead the factory's overnight operation, ensuring safety, complaint, and efficient production execution.
• Deliver key operational targets across safety, quality, service, productivity, and cost.
• Drive accountability and performance through front-line supervisors and shift leadership teams.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for operational, maintenance, quality, and people-related issues during night shift operations.
• Build a high-performance culture focused on employee engagement, development, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with day-shift leadership to ensure seamless communication, execution, and shift handovers.
• Drive loss elimination and operational improvements using Lean Manufacturing, TPM, WCM, or similar methodologies.

Day-to-Day

• Lead all manufacturing activities during assigned night shift coverage.

• Coach and develop supervisors and front-line leaders to strengthen capability and performance.

• Monitor and improve KPIs related to safety, quality, service, productivity, labor, and cost.

• Coordinate cross-functional teams including Production, Maintenance, Quality, Warehouse, and Engineering.

• Lead incident response, risk mitigation, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.

• Ensure compliance with OSHA, GMP, HACCP, food safety, environmental, and quality standards.

• Facilitate effective communication, issue escalation, and shift transition processes.

• Champion continuous improvement initiatives that improve reliability, efficiency, and employee engagement.

• Build credibility across union and non-union teams through visible leadership and accountability.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field.
• Willingness to work a flexible night shift operation.
• 5+ years of manufacturing, operations, or supply chain experience within food, consumer goods, or a similar manufacturing environment.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing manufacturing teams.
• Experience operating in a unionized manufacturing environment.
• Strong experience managing safety, quality, productivity, and labor performance metrics.
• Proven ability to lead teams, develop talent, solve complex problems, and drive operational results.
• Ability to work a night shift schedule and act as the senior site leader during assigned coverage.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading large-scale manufacturing operations in a 24/7 environment.
• Food manufacturing experience with GMP, HACCP, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of TPM, Lean Manufacturing, WCM, Six Sigma, or related operational excellence systems.
• Labor relations, grievance management, and collective bargaining experience.
• SAP experience.
• Track record of leading cultural and performance transformation initiatives.

Pay: The pay range for this position is $103,000 to $154,400. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.

Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.

Long-Term Incentive (LTI): This position is LTI eligible.

Benefits: Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance

(including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

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At Unilever, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive/succeed. All applicants will receive fair and respectful consideration, and we actively support the growth and development of every employee.

Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities.

For more information on your federal rights, please see Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at NA.Accommodations@unilever.com. Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses. The Protected Veterans or Individuals with Disabilities AAP narratives are available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment Monday through Friday during normal business hours at establishment.