Engineering Manager

Job Description - Engineering Manager

Location: Bracknell, UK Reports to: Manufacturing Director Department: Engineering & Facilities

Job Purpose

The Engineering Manager will lead engineering, maintenance and facilities across our manufacturing and distribution operations, ensuring equipment, buildings and infrastructure remain safe, reliable and efficient. The role requires a hands-on, commercially aware manager who can balance daily operational demands with long-term improvements and projects.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering and Maintenance · Manage engineering and maintenance across two operational sites. · Ensure reliability and performance of production machinery, utilities and infrastructure. · Develop and implement maintenance programmes. · Manage contractors, equipment breakdowns, troubleshooting and root-cause analysis. · Coordinate engineering resources to minimise production downtime. · Manage spare parts, contractors and technical service providers. · Support the development of ISO 14001 certification.

Facilities and Infrastructure · Oversee manufacturing facilities, warehouses, offices and external infrastructure. · Manage compressed air, water systems, electrical installations and building services. · Coordinate building works, equipment installations and site modifications. · Manage maintenance and refurbishment contractors. · Oversee fire protection and critical safety infrastructure. · Ensure compliance with legislation, HSE and insurance requirements.

Health, Safety and Compliance · Ensure engineering activities comply with legislation and company policies. · Manage machinery safety assessments and PUWER/LOLER compliance. · Oversee electrical safety, fire safety, working at height and contractor management. · Maintain engineering records, inspections, risk assessments and maintenance documentation. · Address compliance issues and implement corrective actions. · Support ISO 45001 certification.

Budget and Commercial Management · Manage the annual engineering budget of approximately £800K. · Control expenditure and prioritise resources according to business needs. · Obtain and evaluate quotations and negotiate with suppliers and contractors.

Production and Operational Improvement · Work with Production, Operations, Supply Chain and Finance to support business objectives. · Deliver equipment upgrades and improvements to increase capacity and efficiency. · Support the introduction of new machinery, processes and packaging equipment.

Team and Stakeholder Management

· Lead and coordinate an engineering team of four. · Allocate workloads, set priorities and support staff development. · Coordinate internal teams, contractors and specialist engineering companies. · Report on performance, projects, expenditure and operational risks to senior management. · Coordinate engineering projects across both sites.

Scope of Responsibility

· Three operational sites, including one undergoing closure. · Over 300 items of production and plant machinery. · Annual engineering budget of approximately £800K. · Manufacturing and distribution business employing approximately 180 people.

Required Experience and Qualifications

· Degree or equivalent in Mechanical, Electrical or Manufacturing Engineering, or similar. · Significant engineering management experience in manufacturing or industry. · Experience managing maintenance, facilities and industrial equipment. · Experience managing budgets, contractors and suppliers. · Good understanding of machinery safety, H&S legislation and engineering compliance. · ISO 14001 or ISO 45001 experience advantageous. · Experience leading teams and cross-functional projects. · Strong organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills. · Ability to manage competing operational priorities.

Desirable Skills and Experience

· FMCG, packaging, chemical manufacturing or similar industrial experience. · Knowledge of compressed air, production machinery and building services. · SAP, ERP or CMMS experience. · Multi-site engineering management experience.

Key Personal Attributes

· Practical, proactive and solutions-focused. · Commercially aware with strong budgetary discipline. · Able to work independently and make sound decisions. · Strong contractor management and communication skills. · Able to prioritise safety, production continuity and equipment reliability.

Key Performance Indicators

· Equipment availability and reduced unplanned downtime. · Completion of preventative maintenance. · Engineering expenditure against budget. · Completion of statutory inspections and compliance actions. · Reduced maintenance costs and recurring failures. · Engineering team and contractor performance.