Engineering & Reliability Manager

seek.com.au; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

An established Australian food manufacturing organisation is seeking an experienced Engineering & Reliability Manager to join its Operations Leadership Team. This hands-on role leads maintenance, drives asset reliability and partners with production to improve efficiency.

Key focus areas include safety, maintenance planning, root cause analysis, and capital projects, with ownership of budgets and spares, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership within manufacturing engineering and maintenance.
• Strong understanding of reliability-centred maintenance and asset management.
• Experience leading maintenance improvement and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and build cross-functional relationships.
• Strong problem-solving, planning and project management skills.
• Seasoned engineering leader with experience in highly automated FMCG settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the maintenance function to ensure safe, efficient and reliable plant operation.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all relevant standards, systems and procedures.
• Develop maintenance team capability through coaching, mentoring and structured development initiatives.
• Partner closely with production and operational stakeholders to identify opportunities for improved equipment performance and operational efficiency.
• Drive preventive and predictive maintenance strategies to maximise asset reliability and minimise downtime.
• Utilise maintenance management systems and performance data to support effective planning and continuous improvement.
• Lead root cause analysis activities and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Manage maintenance budgets, procurement activities and spare parts inventory.
• Plan and deliver capital projects safely, on time and within budget.
• Monitor key performance indicators and implement initiatives that improve reliability, efficiency and cost performance.

Skills

Leadership

Reliability

Asset management

Maintenance planning

Root cause analysis

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

An established Australian food manufacturing organisation is seeking an experienced Engineering & Reliability Manager to join its Operations Leadership Team. This is a hands-on leadership role suited to an experienced engineering professional who enjoys working closely with operations, driving equipment reliability, and building capability within maintenance teams. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring the safe, efficient and reliable performance of the manufacturing operation while contributing to long-term operational improvement initiatives.

Key responsibilities

Lead and develop the maintenance function to ensure safe, efficient and reliable plant operation.

Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all relevant standards, systems and procedures.

Develop maintenance team capability through coaching, mentoring and structured development initiatives.

Partner closely with production and operational stakeholders to identify opportunities for improved equipment performance and operational efficiency.

Drive preventive and predictive maintenance strategies to maximise asset reliability and minimise downtime.

Utilise maintenance management systems and performance data to support effective planning and continuous improvement.

Lead root cause analysis activities and implement sustainable corrective actions.

Manage maintenance budgets, procurement activities and spare parts inventory.

Plan and deliver capital projects safely, on time and within budget.

Monitor key performance indicators and implement initiatives that improve reliability, efficiency and cost performance.

About you

Proven leadership experience within manufacturing engineering and maintenance environments.

Strong understanding of reliability-centred maintenance principles and asset management practices.

Experience leading maintenance improvement and continuous improvement initiatives.

Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and build effective cross-functional relationships.

Strong problem-solving, planning and project management skills.

Seasoned engineering and maintenance leader with significant experience in a manufacturing environment, ideally within FMCG or other highly automated production settings.

Strong technical expertise with practical leadership.

Collaborative and engaging leadership style known for developing people, building trust and creating accountability.