Engineering Manager- Food Manufacturing

Job Title: Engineering Manager- Food Manufacturing

Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Job type: Full time, Permanent

Gafoor is a dynamic and rapidly growing family-owned business in Preston looking for an experienced engineering manager with a strong background in food manufacturing. Gafoor is a key player in their sector operating in a modern, BRC accredited facility supplying some of the biggest and most progressive names in the grocery, retail, and wholesale sector on a national basis.

About the Role:

The Engineering Manager will be accountable for a team of circa 16 engineers covering a 24/7 shift pattern with KPI, OEE and budgetary responsibility. The operation involves live animal intake through to distribution of finished and packed product from the company's manufacturing site, employing 500 team members. The successful candidate will require a flexible approach to their working hours in order to provide leadership and direction for engineers and machine minders working on a range of shift patterns including nights and weekends.

The overall focus of the role will be to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the operation to maximise efficiencies by minimising down time and waste. Implementing and overseeing a best-in-class preventative maintenance culture. Working with the cross functional management team, the position will also contribute to the development and implementation of organisational strategies, policies and practices.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Actively lead and participate in lean manufacturing improvements and site continuous improvement plans.
2. Ensure that a safe working environment exists for all employees and that all areas meet the highest standards of Health & Safety.
3. Schedule and support plant overhauls.
4. Utilise CI tools (e.g. Root Cause Analysis), review and continually improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the maintenance plan.
5. Measure the effectiveness of maintenance activities and report against KPI's.
6. Establish a culture of planned and predictive maintenance.
7. Ensure standards of quality, food safety, hygiene and housekeeping are consistently maintained.
8. Support and implement change processes in line with business developments and opportunities.
9. Alongside the Operations Manager analyse, evaluate, and manage various plant performance indicators, such as line efficiencies, budget variance and product quality measures.
10. Be an active member of the company's leadership team and play a key role in shaping the day to day management and culture of the wider team.

About you:

The candidate must have skills and experiences in the following areas:

1. A track record in implementing a preventative maintenance and Continuous Improvement culture.
2. Data-driven with a pro-active approach to problem solving.
3. Positive can-do attitude with drive and tenacity to follow actions through.
4. Excels in managing OEE, PPM schedules, manpower planning and improving KPIs.
5. Proven leadership skills in a large manufacturing operation with a multicultural workforce.
6. Experience of operating within a BRC accredited environment.
7. Proficient in all MS Office applications.
8. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Please note that sponsorship is not on offer for this role and therefore candidates must have the legal right to live and work in the UK to be considered.