Head of Engineering (Food Manufacturing)

Job Description

Head of Engineering £100,000 package + relocation for the right candidate

South Wales

My client is a market leading FMCG business based in South Wales.

They have enjoyed significant growth in recent years which has been facilitated by increased customer demand, continued diversification of their product range and ongoing investment from the parent company. With over 500 employees across two UK sites, they are committed to recruiting talented and driven professionals to join the business on an impressive growth journey.

Responsibilities

The Head of Engineering will be responsible for leading and managing all engineering activities across our multi-site food manufacturing business in the UK. This role will involve providing strategic direction, driving operational excellence, and ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of engineering teams to support our production operations.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strict adherence to Environmental, Health and Safety policies and safe operating procedures, whilst promoting a health and safety culture to safeguard all employees.
2. Strict adherence to Technical and Quality policies, proactively contributing to the business food safety and quality culture, whilst continually maintaining high product quality and GMP.
3. To provide Strategic Leadership in the development and implementation of the overall engineering strategy aligned with the company's objectives and operational requirements.
4. Ensure total compliance with all relevant regulatory standards, codes, and guidelines related to engineering and manufacturing operations (including LOLER, PUWER, DSEAR, Electrical Regulations, PSSR, L8, Effluent consent).
5. Champion a strong safety culture and promote adherence to health and safety protocols and procedures across all engineering activities.
6. Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance engineering processes, systems, and capabilities across all sites.
7. Lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineering managers and professionals across multiple sites by setting clear objectives, providing direction, and monitoring performance to ensure alignment with company goals, whilst delivering against agreed KPI’s.
8. Oversee the maintenance, repair, and optimisation of manufacturing equipment and facilities to maximise uptime and efficiency.
9. Implement preventive Asset Care maintenance programs and asset management strategies to minimise downtime and reduce costs.
10. Lead the team to safely deliver self-managed engineering projects from conception to completion, including planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and execution.
11. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support the implementation of new technologies, equipment upgrades, and facility expansions.
12. Manage relationships with external suppliers, contractors, and service providers to ensure timely delivery of goods and services working to a safe and engineering compliant standard.
13. Negotiate contracts, monitor performance, and drive cost savings initiatives to optimise Engineering procurement processes, with MRO and efficient inventory management.
14. Identify and implement changes to working practices and procedures in the interest of achieving world class engineering standards.
15. Manage and deliver departmental budget through robust planning and devising cost-effective working practices.
16. Ensure full ownership and accountability of Engineering owned areas, ensuring high standards of GMP and housekeeping.

Qualifications

1. We are looking for a graduate level engineering candidate with preferably a lean Six Sigma qualification and at least 8 years experience in a leadership role.
2. Proven experience in a senior engineering leadership role within the food manufacturing industry, managing multi-site operations.
3. Demonstrated leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams to achieve excellence.
4. Significant technical experience, specifically electrical, mechanical, and automation engineering.
5. Significant experience in creating and managing a budget.
6. Demonstrable experience in implementing and sustaining change.
7. Demonstrable experience of delivering successful continuous improvement initiatives.
8. Excellent problem-solving abilities and decision-making skills, with a focus on driving results and continuous improvement.
9. Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally and build strong relationships at all levels of the business.
10. Experience with project management methodologies and tools, with a track record of successfully delivering complex engineering projects on time and within budget.