Packaging Manager

Job Title & Location

Packaging Manager (Permanent role) - Dundalk, County Louth. Night shift covering Thursday to Saturday 12 hour shift (7pm to 7am).

Summary of Role

The Packaging Manager is a key member of the site Operations Leadership Team, responsible for leading a high performing, multi skilled team in a fast paced, regulated manufacturing environment. The role oversees day to day operations of the Packaging Department to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient production, driving operational excellence and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership: Lead and coordinate daily packaging operations to meet production schedules, quality standards, and customer requirements in a GMP regulated CDMO environment. Monitor and drive achievement of departmental KPIs, including output, quality, safety, and efficiency targets across multiple packaging lines. Implement agile and lean production practices to continuously improve productivity and reduce waste. Provide clear direction and performance expectations to team members across all shifts, ensuring operational continuity in a multi shift environment.
• People Management & Team Development: Recruit, onboard, and develop production team members in collaboration with HR and training functions. Promote a positive, inclusive, and high performing team culture with a strong focus on engagement, quality, safety, and continuous learning. Deliver regular feedback, coaching, and performance reviews, address performance or conduct issues in line with company policy, ensure adequate cross training and succession planning, and manage workforce planning in line with demand fluctuations.
• Quality & Compliance: Ensure compliance with all internal and external regulatory and quality standards. Adhere strictly to GMP, SOPs, and applicable regulatory requirements. Collaborate with Quality Assurance to investigate and resolve deviations, non conformances, and customer complaints. Support internal and external audits and inspections, ensuring readiness at all times, and drive a right first time culture through training, coaching, and quality metrics awareness.
• Communication & Cross Functional Collaboration: Actively participate in daily tiered communication meetings, planning sessions, and cross functional forums. Maintain effective working relationships with key departments including Engineering, Warehouse, Quality, Planning, and Procurement. Provide timely updates on production status, risks, and improvement initiatives, and support client facing activities as required.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, cost, and delivery. Utilize problem solving tools and techniques to address root causes and implement sustainable solutions. Support digitalisation and automation initiatives where appropriate.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 3 years supervisory or people management experience in a high volume manufacturing or packaging environment.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in a primary or secondary packaging environment.
• Technical certificate, diploma, or degree preferred; candidates with strong equivalent technical experience will also be considered.
• Experience in a GMP regulated or pharmaceutical environment essential.
• Proven ability to lead and motivate cross functional teams in a dynamic setting.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and experienced with ERP/MRP systems.
• Flexible, hands on approach with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Strong understanding of health, safety, and environmental standards in manufacturing.

Desirable Attributes

• Experience in a high volume CDMO Packaging environment.
• Exposure to multiple packaging formats (blister, bottle, sachet, vial labelling) across different client products with varying regulatory and quality requirements.
• Exposure to client audit activities within a CDMO setting.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or exposure to lean manufacturing tools.
• Experience working across multiple shifts or in 24/7 operations.
• Ability to analyze data and translate insights into actions.
• Change management experience in transitioning teams or implementing new systems/processes.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

PCI Pharma Services is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We do not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital or domestic or civil union status, familial status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, disability, military eligibility or veteran status, or any other protected status.