Cell Lead

Function: Supply Chain

Work location: Manggahan, Pasig

Terms and Conditions: Full-time

Reports to: Directly reporting to the Production Manager.

The Ice Cream division at Unilever is preparing to stand on its own, aiming to become an independent, EUR 8.3 billion publicly listed company by the end of 2025. We’re on a mission to create the ultimate snacking company. A place where growth, innovation, founder and ownership mentality, and performance are cultivated and rewarded. And where we craft extraordinary ice cream experiences - transforming ordinary moments into lasting memories. Because we know, life tastes better with ice cream.

ABOUT THE MAGNUM ICE CREAM COMPANY:

The Magnum Ice Cream Company is all about growth. Growing our business. Growing our customers’ businesses. Growing our people’s careers. Growth begins with empowerment. So we free our people to be innovative, responsible entrepreneurs, driven and equipped to give our consumers more amazing products and unforgettable moments – and having fun doing it.

With 19.000 expert ice cream colleagues and iconic brands like Wall’s, Cornetto and Ben & Jerry’s, loved in 76 countries, we are the world’s largest Ice Cream company leading the industry. We have been taking pleasure seriously for more than 100 years, serving happiness with every lick or scoop of ice cream for generations.

We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of The Magnum Ice Cream Company as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen before the end of 2025.

We dream big but keep things simple to act fast.

If you want to grow with us, make an impact, and shape the future of Ice Cream, this is the place for you!

Main Job Purpose
The Cell Lead (First Line Manager) is a management professional with a good technical understanding of manufacturing, general or chemical engineering or food technology. The Cell Lead have proficient mechanical skills and display excellent personal qualities.

The role provides the governance function for a cluster of semi-autonomous teams, delivering management and leadership support for performance monitoring, overtime allocation, working patterns and dispute resolution. The Cell Lead retains responsibility for the Technical and Basic Operators within the semi-autonomous team, but is not involved in the day to day team management beyond the monitoring and performance management role.

Leading improvement projects for operational processes, the Cell Lead has a strong understanding of the end-to-end manufacturing process. This includes the chemical and electro-mechanical processes and controls. She/he is able to interpret technical diagnostics, identify key issues and process risks. The Cell Lead possesses the leadership skills to act with speed and rigour.

She/he understands the factory’s financial situation and use their training in WCM methodologies and IP processes to drive the semi-autonomous team’s work to counter losses and eradicate waste. They lead project work to support factory initiatives. Skills for problem solving, coaching and innovating are central to the role.
The Cell Lead provides a common standard of communication and engagement across the factory. They liaise closely with the core factory functions, including Manufacturing, Engineering, HR, Quality and Safety to achieve this.

Key Responsibilities, Skills and Competencies
The Cell Lead is the over-all responsible for the performance of the line across all shifts. The role leads the line team and owns CIL, EHS, Quality, OLE, CI, and all governance forums for the line.

Process/Tool ownership and responsibilities

• Owns the daily, weekly and monthly workflow for the Line. Leads the preparation of the line team and facilitates the meetings.

• Owns the alignment with Cost Deployment and the 90-day loss elimination plan for the line.

• Owns the CIL process for the line. This includes deployment, execution and reporting the KPIs and continuous improvement process.

• Deploys and manages the EHS processes of the line in alignment with the EHS team. Prepares the EHS measures for meetings and assessment of upcoming deviations for the daily workflow.

• Deploys and manages the Quality processes on the line in alignment with the Quality team. Prepares the Quality measures for meetings and assessment of upcoming deviations for the daily workflow.

• Supports all other work processes in the line workflows.

People Responsibilities

• Together with Focused Improvement Engineer (FI Engr) and Focused Technician (FT), comprises the “Shopfloor Trinity” in the assigned lines or cells. The Cell Lead works closely with FI Engr and FT in driving autonomous operations of the lines.

• Leads the line team. Supports with handling escalations and prioritising work.

• Responsible for the proper morning meeting execution and capability building for all operators in the line.

• Manages the interface with other teams (e.g., Quality, EHS, planning, warehouse, HR. etc) and is accountable for their impact on the line.

• Coaches operators on processes.

Loss Elimination

• Owns the loss elimination cycle for the line and executes distinct parts from loss elimination plans

• Supports and leads problem solving sessions

Core Skills and Competencies

• Technical. Effective mechanical skills (see qualifications) supported by detailed knowledge of the end-to-end manufacturing processes relevant to the operation and endorsed Good Manufacturing Practice. Knowledge of:

• Chemical and electro-mechanical processes and principal factory controls.

• Preventative maintenance schemes and condition monitoring (eg vibration analysis).

• Hazardous Area Equipment and Hazards specific to operation.

• Online/remote diagnostics to connect with category technical experts.

• Safety. Utilise appropriate safety and environmental procedures for people, processes, materials, products and equipment to ensure a safe working environment for the whole team. Full knowledge of hazards in the workplace.

• Environment. Reduce costs due to waste and minimise impact to health, safety and the environment through working to eliminate waste and through the correct management of waste and hazardous materials.

• Leadership. Promote the development of a highly effective team through the establishment of a positive team climate supported by servant leadership and clear communication.

• Facilitation and Coaching. An ability to facilitate technical improvements using WCM improvement tools. Able to coach Technical Operators and semi-autonomous teams to build team performance.

• Decision Making. Makes governance decisions for the semi-autonomous team and adjudicates on unresolved team issues. Sets the strategy for Continuous Improvement and Preventative Maintenance in assigned area guided by loss trends and direction provided by the Production Manager and/or Manex Manager.

• Continuous Improvement. Apply rigorous Cost Deployment and the Zero loss concept to eliminate losses. High skill level in Continuous Improvement that is aligned closely with World Class Manufacturing and LEAN methodologies.

• Problem Solving. Has the ability to identify, prioritise and address problems using appropriate tools and techniques that eliminate recurrence.

• Quality. Apply core knowledge of Quality skills; Quality Measurement, Prioritisation, Improvement, Assessment and Certification etc to sustain Quality standards in the factory operation.

• Management. Able to coordinate business resources and apply risk management processes. Keen sense of prioritisation and ability to influence change. Resolve conflicts where identified.

• Administration. Timely and accurate administration for a cluster of teams; shift line-up, performance management, training, rewards and recognition, and safety.

• Planning and Organising. Prepare work plans within resource constraints and review implementation to drive improvement.

• Business Awareness. Understand the business needs for change and innovation.

Qualifications Required

• Management - leadership and management of change, human resources management, organisations and behaviour, business strategy and decision making.

• Technical – Mechanical maintenance skills equivalent to Technical Operator Mechanical Maintenance programme; bearings, shafts and couplings, basic pneumatics, lubrication.

• First Line Manager Course - Successful completion of the FLM modules; Factory Fundamentals, Leadership and Management, WCM and IP and Factory Assessment.

Education and Experience Required
ESSENTIAL:

• University degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical or Industrial Engineering) or successfully completed the equivalent Unilever FLM curriculum.

• 5 years experience in manufacturing operations

• Candidates will have practical experience of applying preventive maintenance and autonomous maintenance strategies within a manufacturing, general engineering or food technology environment.

• Candidates must be able to analyse factory and technical processes in order to identify opportunities for performance improvement. Strong coaching skills are a pre-requisite; enquiring, supportive, challenging.

PREFERRED / DESIRABLE:

• Experience of operating with semi-autonomous or autonomous teams.

• Maintenance Engineering Discipline at Post Apprenticeship Skill level (as graded by national standards).

Other Requirements

• Flexible Day Worker - Normally operates on days, but must be prepared to attend the factory out of hours to support factory processes as required. Flexible and agile worker to meet leadership duties and attend training.

ARE YOU EXCITED TO CRAFT THE ICE CREAM FUTURE?

To apply, you must do so online. Please do not forget to upload your CV, latest EoY and a motivation letter.  If you have been informed that you are at risk of redundancy, please make sure to tick this box during your application. Please also attach your letter of redundancy to the application.

Your application will be reviewed against our requirements, and we will be in touch shortly after the closing date to provide you with an update on the status of your application.

By applying for this vacancy, you are confirming that you have made your Line Manager aware of your application and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to apply for other positions.

Disclaimer

Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. 

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.