Shift Leader

At Bunge, we connect farmers to consumers to deliver essential food, feed, and fuel to the world. We are looking for a proactive and safety‑focused Shift Leader to join our Bilbao plant and play a key role in ensuring safe, efficient, and high‑quality manufacturing operations.

Reporting to the Production Manager, the Shift Leader is responsible for overseeing and coordinating manufacturing operations during their shift, ensuring that production processes are executed according to established production, quality, food safety, environmental, and safety standards.

This hands‑on operational leadership role combines process supervision, team coordination, troubleshooting, and operational decision‑making across multiple plant areas.

Production Operations & Process Control

• Monitor and control manufacturing processes to ensure compliance with operational parameters, quality standards, and food safety requirements.
• Oversee operations from raw material receipt through processing and controlled storage of finished products.
• Primarily operate from the Control Room, using plant monitoring and control systems to regulate key process parameters.
• Conduct regular field inspections and plant walkthroughs to verify operational performance, safety conditions, and process compliance.
• Take immediate corrective actions when deviations occur.

Extraction Operations

• Monitor extraction plant performance through control systems and visual inspections.
• Supervise auxiliary services and process support systems.
• Monitor water treatment requirements and process conditions.
• Ensure proper operation of extraction, distillation, degumming, and related facilities.
• Promote compliance with all safety requirements.

Preparation Operations

• Inspect preparation plant operations and equipment, monitor and adjust crushers and rollers, and support cleaning and inspection activities.
• Verify correct operation of conveyor systems, screens, and ventilation equipment.
• Coordinate safe removal of blockages and process interruptions.
• Supervise, coordinate, and control refinery operations, boilers and utility systems, cogeneration facilities, wastewater treatment operations, and biodiesel production processes.
• Ensure continuity, efficiency, and compliance of all supporting plant services.

Maintenance Coordination

• Review maintenance work conditions and permit requirements, coordinate maintenance activities with production priorities, perform and support basic maintenance tasks when required, and ensure safe execution of maintenance interventions.

Inventory & Logistics

• Coordinate unloading of raw materials and auxiliary materials, monitor stock levels in warehouses and storage tanks, and support inventory accuracy and operational continuity.

Leadership & Safety

• Supervise and provide technical support to shift personnel ensuring compliance with food safety, environmental, quality, and occupational health & safety procedures.
• Drive a strong safety culture and ensure safe plant operation at all times.
• Understand and manage critical process stages and parameters to guarantee safe, high‑quality production.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical disciplines.

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Experience in continuous‑process manufacturing environments, preferably within the food, oils, chemical, biofuel, or process industry sectors.
• Understanding of industrial process control systems and plant operations.
• Knowledge of quality, food safety, environmental, and health & safety standards.
• Ability to lead and coordinate teams in a shift‑based environment.
• Strong troubleshooting and decision‑making skills.
• Basic to intermediate English proficiency.
• Medical certificate of fitness for industrial work (where required).