Head of Engineering

A challenging yet rewarding opportunity for a Head of Engineering to join a growing FMCG manufacturing business based near Chester.

Head of Engineering

Salary: £70,000 - £80,000 p/a

Location: Chester

A leading organisation with FMCG is seeking a Head of Engineering to join their Senior Leadership Team at their main facility based near Chester. This pivotal role offers you the opportunity to shape and guide a highly skilled engineering team, driving operational excellence across all aspects of the engineering function, including utilities infrastructure and asset reliability. You will be empowered to foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and flexible working, ensuring that both people and processes are optimised for success. With a competitive salary range of £70,000 - £80,000 per annum, plus additional benefits including annual bonus, this position provides an exceptional platform for you to make a significant impact within a supportive environment that values your expertise and commitment to engineering excellence.

What you'll do:

As Head of Engineering, you will play an instrumental role in guiding the engineering team towards operational excellence by providing vision, direction, and unwavering support. Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve collaborating with various stakeholders across production, maintenance, and site leadership to deliver proactive solutions that enhance manufacturing outcomes. You will be entrusted with developing robust maintenance strategies that underpin reliable plant performance while managing critical resources such as spare parts inventories. Your expertise in project management will be called upon as you lead CapEX projects from planning through execution. By nurturing a collaborative environment where cross-functional teamwork thrives, you will help create pathways for career progression while ensuring labour flexibility aligns with business needs. Your commitment to supporting individual development within your team will be essential in maintaining high levels of engagement and performance throughout the department.

• Oversee all aspects of the engineering function on site, ensuring seamless operations across utilities infrastructure while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and customer service.
• Collaborate closely with Maintenance and Production teams to proactively identify engineering-based solutions that improve manufacturing performance and drive operational efficiency.
• Define and implement comprehensive maintenance strategies and asset care programmes to ensure equipment availability meets both manufacturing and distribution demands.
• Provide coaching and expert guidance to Production Managers and Maintenance Managers to ensure effective delivery of maintenance execution programmes aligned with strategic objectives.
• Manage spare parts inventory efficiently to guarantee availability for both breakdowns and routine asset care activities, minimising downtime and supporting continuous production.
• Lead the management of utilities usage on site, ensuring cost control measures are adhered to while meeting legislative and environmental standards.
• Project manage capital expenditure (CapEX) initiatives from inception through completion, delivering projects on time, within budget, and achieving anticipated benefits.
• Foster a culture of effective cross-functional working across lines and functions to enhance labour flexibility, engagement, and career development opportunities for team members.
• Support individual team members’ performance through regular reviews, coaching, utilisation of performance management tools, and adherence to disciplinary procedures when necessary.
• Ensure timely administration of changes related to team members’ terms and conditions such as pay adjustments, overtime approvals, well-being initiatives, and welfare matters.

What you bring:

For this Head of Engineering position, the company are keen to hear from applicants with an extensive background in engineering management within manufacturing or process-driven industries such as FMCG, packaging, cleaning solutions or chemicals. You’ll bring not only deep functional knowledge but also refined interpersonal skills that enable you to connect with colleagues at all levels, with the ability to manage complex projects alongside daily operational challenges. Your application should also show familiarity with modern maintenance practices to ensure equipment reliability remains uncompromised even during periods of high demand.

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge in technical manufacturing processes.
• Possess proven experience in asset reliability management, maintenance strategy development, and plant performance improvement within FMCG or similar sectors.
• Showcase strong stakeholder management abilities with a track record of building positive relationships across multidisciplinary teams.
• Exhibit proficiency in project management principles with hands-on experience delivering CapEX projects on time and within budget constraints.
• Display excellent computer literacy skills suitable for modern engineering environments including data analysis for decision-making purposes.
• Bring advanced understanding of spare parts management systems aimed at minimising downtime during breakdowns or scheduled maintenance activities.
• Have experience managing utilities usage effectively while adhering to environmental regulations and cost control requirements.
• Demonstrate compassionate people leadership skills focused on nurturing talent through coaching, mentoring, regular feedback sessions, and structured performance management processes.
• Show commitment to fostering inclusive workplace cultures where collaboration is prioritised over hierarchy.

What's next:

If you are ready to take on this rewarding challenge within a forward-thinking organisation that values your expertise, please apply today by clicking on the link provided.

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