Engineering Manager

Apex Appoint; Caulcott; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing firm in the UK is seeking a Senior Engineering Manager to oversee engineering operations across multiple sites. You will be responsible for leading and developing engineering teams, managing budgets, and ensuring production efficiency and safety standards. Strong engineering leadership experience in a food or FMCG environment is essential. The role offers a competitive salary between £65,000 and £75,000, along with opportunities for career progression.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Long-term career progression

Qualifications

• Experience within a food or FMCG manufacturing environment.
• Ability to manage budgets and prioritize spend.
• Hands-on leadership style with multi-site exposure.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop engineering teams across multiple sites.
• Ensure engineering supports production efficiency and food safety.
• Manage engineering budgets and ensure cost control.
• Implement Asset Care and PPM strategy across the group.
• Drive engineering strategy aligned with business growth.

Skills

Engineering leadership experience

Commercial awareness

Problem-solving skills

Commitment to safety

Continuous improvement approach

Education

Engineering qualification or degree

Job description

In this senior Engineering Manager role, you will play a critical part in the leadership of a growing food manufacturing business with multiple sites across Bedfordshire. You will operate at a strategic and operational level, leading engineering performance across sites while working closely with site leadership and central functions.

Your mission is to deliver safe, reliable, and cost-effective engineering operations that support production, growth, and long‑term asset performance across the group.

Key Responsibilities

Multi‑Site Leadership

Lead, coach, and develop Engineering teams across multiple food manufacturing sites, driving consistency in standards, performance, and culture. Embed accountability and continuous improvement across all locations.

Operational Excellence

Ensure engineering activities support production efficiency, food safety, and compliance. Drive improvements in uptime, reliability, and planned maintenance performance across all sites.

Financial Control

Own and manage engineering budgets across sites, including labour, materials, contractors, and capital expenditure. Ensure robust cost control while supporting investment aligned to business priorities.

Asset Care and Reliability

Develop and implement a robust, standardised Asset Care and PPM strategy across the group. Improve asset reliability, reduce unplanned downtime, and extend asset life in a cost‑effective way.

Engineering Strategy

Create and deliver a forward‑looking engineering strategy aligned to business growth, automation, sustainability, and future capacity requirements. Support site projects, upgrades, and new equipment installations.

Stakeholder Collaboration

Work closely with Operations, Technical, HSE, and Supply Chain teams to ensure engineering supports wider business objectives and regulatory requirements.

About You

You will bring proven engineering leadership experience within a food or FMCG manufacturing environment, ideally with exposure to multi‑site operations.

You will demonstrate strong commercial awareness, with the ability to manage budgets, prioritise spend, and justify capital investment.

You will be a confident leader, able to influence at site and senior management level, while remaining hands‑on and visible across operations.

You will have strong problem‑solving skills, a structured approach to continuous improvement, and a clear focus on safety, quality, and reliability.

An engineering qualification or degree is preferred, alongside strong practical engineering knowledge.

Why Join Us

This is an opportunity to take ownership of engineering performance across multiple sites within a well‑invested food manufacturing business.

You will have the autonomy to shape engineering strategy, drive real change, and make a visible impact at group level.

The role offers a competitive salary of £65,000 to £75,000 per annum, alongside a comprehensive benefits package and long‑term career progression.

Apply Today

If you are a commercially minded Engineering Manager with multi‑site experience and a passion for driving engineering excellence in food manufacturing, we would love to hear from you.

By applying for this role, you agree for your CV and application details to be shared with our client solely for the purpose of reviewing your suitability for this position. We will only progress your application with your knowledge and will be in touch to discuss the role before moving forward.