Head of Engineering

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The Role

The Head of Engineering will be responsible for the comprehensive management and oversight of equipment operations, maintenance, and safety within the Cluster, ensuring full compliance with environmental and operational standards. In this pivotal role, you will act as the primary point of contact between department managers and the Engineering team, leveraging your technical expertise to meet the department's objectives in food safety, personnel safety, and site maintenance. You will also lead the implementation of innovative projects, demonstrating the Engineering department's exemplary performance both on-site and externally. Your leadership will ensure the successful execution of all Engineering-related initiatives within the Cluster.

Duties Include:

• Exercise diligence and independent judgement to ensure the transparent, values-driven, and professional management of the site's engineering operations.
• Develop, implement, and maintain an effective and efficient engineering strategy that is budget-conscious, well-managed, flexible, and adaptable to evolving production needs.
• Oversee the management of Lean and Continuous Improvement (CI) activities within the Engineering function to drive operational excellence.
• Ensure that robust standards and procedures are in place, regularly updated, and adhered to, governing all site engineering activities. This includes new asset realisation, safe working practices, contractor management, and competency assessments within the team.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Head of Operations and the site management team on all matters related to maintenance and engineering within the cluster.
• Utilise organisational and local Management Information (MI) to identify and prioritise the local engineering agenda, aligning with wider organisational engineering goals. Ensure MI is consistently accurate, transparent, and regularly reviewed.
• Lead the implementation of a planned maintenance programme that optimises production efficiency and minimises downtime.
• Foster a 'one-team' mindset by integrating the engineering function with manufacturing operations.
• In collaboration with the site management team, optimise and improve the plant's productive capabilities to meet business demands, including the provision and efficient use of utilities (gas, water, electricity, compressed air), while ensuring compliance with environmental legislation.
• Manage site utility suppliers to ensure timely and adequate resources are available in emergency, accident, disaster, or outage situations, as part of the site's crisis management plan.
• Implement effective systems for managing stores to minimise inventory levels and working capital requirements.
• Engage regularly and constructively with broader engineering teams across other sites, including HSE departments, to ensure local delivery of site engineering goals.
• Apply financial rigour to all engineering activities, ensuring value for money and cost-efficiency across the site.
• Execute the Group's engineering strategy within the cluster.
• Ensure full compliance with company policies, procedures, and all relevant food safety legislation and guidance.

Skills & Experience Required:

• HNC / equivalent in Electrical Engineering / Mechanical Engineering
• NEBOSH Certificate qualified • Mechanical / electrical qualification or equivalent.
• Level 4 Food Hygiene (or equivalent) • Advanced HACCP (or equivalent)
• 5+ years of Engineering leadership experience; with exposure to FMCG environments, M&S audit standards and being 'audit ready'.
• Evident confidence in presentation, communication and negotiating with professional peer groups.
• Efficient in delivering objectives and key measures.
• Ability to lead engineering segments of audits and ensure delegated Managers are able to lead also.
• Ability to work with peers in a matrix structure to draw in external skills to achieve local goals
• Track record of delivery
• Ability to manage priorities and projects across a multi-site and multi-function organisation
• A personal commitment to role model behaviours and to leadership and management through example

The Benefits:

• Competitive Salary
• Company Bonus Scheme
• Car Allowance
• Competitive Contributory Pension
• Online Benefits Hub
• Healthcare
• Life assurance scheme
• Free onsite parking