Controls Manager

D R Newitt Recruitment; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Industry leading benefits

Job summary

D R Newitt Recruitment is partnering with a major FMCG manufacturer in the West Midlands to recruit an Electrical & Controls Engineering Manager. The role takes ownership of electrical controls, automation and standards across a busy manufacturing site and leads a small engineering team on future projects, upgrades and continuous improvement.

You will be the technical expert for electrical and control systems, providing guidance to the team while remaining hands-on when required, and you will

Qualifications

• A recognised electrical apprenticeship / time-served electrical background.
• 10+ years' electrical engineering experience.
• Strong experience within FMCG or another highly automated manufacturing environment.
• PLC programming experience - Mitsubishi and/or Allen Bradley.
• Strong SCADA experience.
• Excellent knowledge of electrical legislation, safety, isolation and permit-to-work procedures.
• Experience with electrical projects, upgrades, commissioning and modifications.
• Strong fault-finding and problem-solving ability.
• Experience managing or mentoring engineers.
• The confidence to make technical decisions and influence stakeholders across the business.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a small team of Controls and Electrical Engineers.
• Own electrical standards, compliance and safe working practices across the site.
• Provide technical support for electrical faults, breakdowns and complex control issues.
• Maintain and develop PLC and SCADA systems.
• Lead electrical projects including installation, modification, upgrades and commissioning.
• Produce electrical specifications for plant, machinery and installations.
• Manage contractors and ensure electrical and H&S standards are maintained.
• Support capital and revenue projects and monitor spend.
• Develop electrical drawings, schematics and technical documentation.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and reliability improvements.
• Contribute to failure investigations and implement preventive solutions.
• Support electrical inspection, testing, authorisation and competency processes.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations and wider business functions.

Skills

Electrical apprenticeship

Electrical engineering experience

FMCG automation

PLC programming (Mitsubishi/AB)

SCADA

Electrical safety & permit-to-work

Project management

Mentoring engineers

Decision making & stakeholder влияние

Education

HND/ Degree in Electrical Engineering

IOSH or equivalent

Tools

Mitsubishi

Allen Bradley

Job description

Electrical & Controls Engineering Manager

Up to £76,000 + Excellent Benefits | West Midlands | Permanent

I'm currently working with a major FMCG manufacturing business that is looking to appoint an experienced Electrical & Controls Engineering Manager to take ownership of electrical controls, automation and electrical standards across a busy manufacturing operation.

This is a senior technical position offering the opportunity to take ownership of a highly automated site, lead a small engineering team and play a key role in future projects, upgrades and continuous improvement.

The Role

As Electrical & Controls Engineering Manager, you will act as the technical expert for electrical and control systems, providing guidance to the engineering team while remaining hands‑on when required.

You'll be responsible for:

• Leading and developing a small team of Controls and Electrical Engineers.
• Owning electrical standards, compliance and safe working practices across the site.
• Providing technical support for electrical faults, breakdowns and complex control issues.
• Maintaining and developing PLC and SCADA systems.
• Supporting and leading electrical engineering projects, including installation, modification, upgrades and commissioning.
• Producing electrical specifications for plant, machinery and installations.
• Managing contractors and ensuring appropriate electrical and H&S standards are maintained.
• Supporting capital and revenue projects, including monitoring spend against budget.
• Developing electrical drawings, schematics and technical documentation.
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives and identifying opportunities to improve plant reliability.
• Providing technical input into failure investigations and implementing solutions to prevent repeat issues.
• Supporting electrical inspection, testing, authorisation and competency processes.
• Working closely with engineering, operations and wider business functions.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for an experienced electrical/controls professional who can operate as a technical authority within a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.

You'll ideally have:

• A recognised electrical apprenticeship / time‑served electrical background.
• 10+ years' electrical engineering experience.
• Strong experience within FMCG or another highly automated manufacturing environment.
• PLC programming experience - ideally Mitsubishi and/or Allen Bradley.
• Strong SCADA experience.
• Excellent knowledge of electrical legislation, safety, isolation and permit‑to‑work procedures.
• Experience with electrical projects, upgrades, commissioning and modifications.
• Strong fault-finding and problem‑solving ability.
• Experience managing or mentoring engineers.
• The confidence to make technical decisions and influence stakeholders across the business.

An HND/Degree in Electrical Engineering, IOSH or equivalent, manufacturing experience and knowledge of Continuous Improvement would be advantageous.

Previous Electrical Duty Holder experience would be beneficial, but training can be provided for the right candidate with the appropriate technical and electrical safety background.

What's on Offer?

• Up to £76,000 basic salary + industry leading benefits
• Senior technical/management position
• Opportunity to take ownership of electrical and controls engineering across a major manufacturing operation
• Team leadership responsibility
• Strong exposure to automation, controls and capital projects
• Long‑term career development within a large, established organisation
• Excellent opportunity for an experienced Controls/Electrical Engineer looking to take the next step

If you're an experienced Controls Manager, Electrical Engineering Manager, Controls Engineer or Senior Electrical Engineer looking for a role where you can genuinely influence engineering standards, automation and site performance, I'd be keen to speak with you.

All applications will be treated confidentially.