Engineering Manager

Tanqeeb; Dubai; On-site; AED 420,000 - 660,000; Full time

Job summary

Scott Bader in the UAE seeks a Senior Engineering & Maintenance Leader to direct the Engineering and Maintenance functions on site, ensuring safe, reliable and cost-effective operations. You will drive CAPEX delivery, governance, and a reliability-centered maintenance strategy across the site.

The role requires deep chemical manufacturing experience, strong leadership, and a track record in implementing process improvements, HSE compliance and CMMS-driven planning.

Qualifications

• Experience in a chemical manufacturing environment.
• Proven project management experience.
• Experience with CMMS systems.
• Ability to lead a team effectively and across functions.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Proactive safety and risk management mindset.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and management leadership to Engineering and Maintenance to ensure safe, reliable and cost-effective site operations.
• Lead site engineering performance using procedures, KPIs, standards and governance routines.
• Embed Safety First culture through design, maintenance, contractor control, risk assessment and compliance with HSE standards.
• Lead the full CAPEX lifecycle from opportunity identification to post-project review.
• Develop and govern the CAPEX programme balancing health, safety, compliance and sustainability.
• Define proactive maintenance and reliability strategies including CMMS utilisation, planning, and spares management.
• Lead root-cause analysis of major equipment failures and implement corrective actions.
• Drive engineering excellence and maintenance excellence across the site with governance and performance reviews.
• Drive continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, and data-driven decision-making.
• Support Operational Excellence and Manufacturing Excellence objectives by improving asset utilisation and energy efficiency.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Maintenance planning

Safety & HSE

Project management

CAPEX delivery

CMMS knowledge

Team leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Process optimization

Tools

CMMS systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

• Provide technical and management leadership to the Engineering and Maintenance function, ensuring resources, systems and working practices support safe, reliable and cost-effective site operations.
• Lead the development of site engineering performance through effective procedures, standards, KPIs, work practices and governance routines.
• Act as a key member of the Site Leadership Team, contributing to site goals and supporting the company’s long-term vision.
• Embed the company Safety First culture through engineering design, maintenance practices, contractor control, risk assessment, process safety, Management of Change and compliance with site HSE standards.
• Lead the full CAPEX lifecycle, including opportunity identification, business case development, budgeting, detailed design, procurement, contractor coordination, implementation, commissioning and post-project review.
• Develop, govern and deliver the site CAPEX programme, balancing high-return business improvements with essential health and safety, quality, compliance, infrastructure, reliability and sustainability requirements.
• Ensure engineering projects are delivered to agreed scope, budget, schedule, safety, quality and compliance standards.
• Define and implement a proactive maintenance and reliability strategy covering preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, planning and scheduling, work-order management, spare-parts strategy and asset criticality assessments.
• Develop reliability-centred maintenance strategies that maximise asset availability, minimise unplanned downtime and optimise maintenance costs.
• Ensure effective utilisation and continuous improvement of CMMS systems to support planning, analysis and decision‑making.
• Lead root‑cause analysis of major equipment failures and ensure sustainable corrective and preventive actions are implemented.
• Lead the Engineering Excellence and Maintenance Excellence agenda across the site by establishing engineering standards, governance routines, KPIs and performance‑management systems.
• Develop and embed engineering best practices that improve asset reliability, maintenance effectiveness, energy efficiency and lifecycle cost performance.
• Establish structured engineering performance reviews covering safety, reliability, maintenance compliance, breakdown losses, maintenance cost, utility consumption and asset health.
• Drive continuous‑improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, root‑cause analysis, industry benchmarking and data‑driven decision‑making methodologies.
• Support Operational Excellence and Manufacturing Excellence objectives by improving engineering performance, asset utilisation, productivity and sustainability.
• Use engineering audits, maintenance performance data, and industry benchmarks to develop best‑practice maintenance systems, improve asset management and strengthen safety and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate and implement best practice. Benchmarking of technology and performance for overall site benefit.
• Network and develop external links to keep the business informed on the development of new technologies.
• Provide process‑engineering leadership and technical support to manufacturing operations, ensuring processes remain safe, capable, efficient and compliant.
• Lead process optimisation, debottlenecking, yield improvement, waste reduction and capacity‑enhancement initiatives.
• Support troubleshooting of process, equipment and quality issues through structured problem solving and data analysis.
• Identify and implement improvements that enhance throughput, quality, OEE, reliability, energy efficiency and operating costs.
• Support new product introductions, process modifications and technology upgrades through engineering assessment and Management of Change processes.
• Provide site facilities management covering utilities, contracts, services, buildings, grounds and related engineering infrastructure.
• Manage contractors and vendor services efficiently to ensure safe working, effective resource utilisation and proper maintenance of equipment, grounds and buildings.
• Monitor, analyse and minimise waste, utilities and maintenance costs through effective maintenance planning and analysis of equipment failure modes.
• Develop engineering and maintenance capability through structured competency assessments, development plans, coaching, mentoring and succession planning.
• Establish competency frameworks for engineering and maintenance roles to support current and future business requirements.
• Coach and develop engineers, supervisors and technicians to strengthen technical expertise, leadership capability and problem‑solving effectiveness.
• Promote a culture of accountability, ownership, technical excellence and continuous improvement across the engineering function.
• Support talent development and succession planning to ensure a sustainable engineering organisation.

Desired Candidate Profile

• Practical knowledge of engineering, maintenance, CAPEX delivery, and safety requirements within a chemical manufacturing environment
• Good practical knowledge of HSE requirements in a Chemical Industry
• Project Management Experience
• Strong working knowledge of defined engineering, maintenance, contractor management, and HSE procedures and standards
• Well organised with ability to work with schedules, planning, organising and recording
• Effective cross‑functional team working skills
• Practical knowledge of implementation of 5s, best practices & continual improvement
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and ability to operate in an automated environment
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to lead a team effectively
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver to tight deadlines
• Experience of working in a COMAH 1 or chemical manufacturing site
• Experience in scheduled, predictive and reactive maintenance
• Experience with CMMS systems
• Strong integrity and personal ethics aligned to Scott Bader principles.
• Assertive, methodical, process oriented, adaptable to change
• Ability to manage & lead