Head of Engineering, Food Manufacture

Accuri; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A food manufacturing company in the East Midlands is seeking an experienced Head of Engineering to lead the engineering strategy and maintenance operations. The ideal candidate will drive a culture of continuous improvement, ensure high equipment uptime, and maintain compliance with food safety regulations. This leadership role requires a strong background in engineering and experience in managing maintenance activities to support world-class manufacturing performance.

Qualifications

• Experience in engineering leadership roles within food manufacturing.
• Proven track record in maintenance management and continuous improvement.
• Understanding of food safety and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of engineering strategy aligned with business goals.
• Oversee day-to-day maintenance operations ensuring minimal downtime.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and engineering standards.

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Head of Engineering to lead the engineering strategy, reliability agenda, and site maintenance operations within our food manufacturing facility. This role is responsible for ensuring high equipment uptime, safe working practices, capital project delivery, and long-term asset care to support world-class manufacturing performance. The successful candidate will provide visionary leadership, drive a continuous improvement culture, and ensure engineering standards meet all food safety and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Engineering Leadership

Develop and implement a site-wide engineering strategy aligned with business goals, operational targets, and customer requirements.

Lead a proactive maintenance philosophy (PPM, TPM, RCM) to improve equipment reliability and performance.

Shape long-term asset care plans, budget forecasting, and engineering investment priorities.

Drive innovation, automation, and improvements in equipment efficiency.

Maintenance Management

Oversee day-to-day maintenance operations, ensuring rapid response, effective problem-solving, and minimal downtime.

Ensure all engineering tasks comply with statutory requirements, manufacturer guidelines, and food safety standards.

Set and monitor engineering KPIs (OEE, downtime, MTBF, MTTR, PPM completion).

Food Safety, Compli...