Head Of Engineering, Food Manufacturing

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

Job summary

A food manufacturing facility in Stowmarket seeks a Head of Engineering to lead engineering and maintenance teams, manage capital projects, and ensure compliance with food safety standards. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Engineering and extensive experience in the food manufacturing sector. Responsibilities also include driving sustainability initiatives and supporting cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8-10 years of experience in engineering leadership within the food, beverage, or FMCG manufacturing sector.
• Proven experience managing large maintenance teams and capital projects.
• Strong understanding of food safety standards (HACCP, GMP, BRC) and maintenance systems (CMMS).

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the site engineering and maintenance teams.
• Ensure high equipment uptime through effective maintenance programs.
• Drive initiatives to reduce energy, water, and waste across the site.

Skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Communication

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering

Job description

The Head of Engineering is responsible for leading all engineering, maintenance, and capital project activities at the food manufacturing facility. This role ensures the site’s equipment, utilities, and infrastructure operate safely, efficiently, and reliably to meet production targets, food safety standards, and sustainability goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Strategy
  • Lead and develop the site engineering and maintenance teams, fostering a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
  • Define and implement the site engineering strategy aligned with corporate objectives.
  • Manage departmental budgets, performance metrics, and resource planning.
• Maintenance & Reliability
  • Ensure high equipment uptime through effective preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
  • Oversee maintenance scheduling to minimise production downtime.
  • Champion root cause analysis (RCA) and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Capital Projects & Infrastructure
  • Lead site capital investment projects from concept through delivery, ensuring compliance with timelines, budgets, and safety standards.
  • Collaborate with cross‑functional teams on process improvement, automation, and capacity expansion projects.
• Compliance & Safety
  • Ensure full compliance with food safety, environmental, and health & safety regulations (e.g., HACCP, GMP, BRC, ISO, OSHA).
  • Maintain accurate engineering documentation, permits, and PPM maintenance records.
• Sustainability & Energy Management
  • Drive initiatives to reduce energy, water, and waste across the site.
  • Support corporate sustainability goals through innovation in utilities and process efficiency.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Act as the site’s engineering representative with auditors, contractors, and regulatory bodies.
  • Partner closely with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, and CI teams to support site performance and growth.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering (or related discipline).
• Minimum 8‑10 years of experience in engineering leadership within the food, beverage, or FMCG manufacturing sector.
• Proven experience managing large maintenance teams and capital projects.
• Strong understanding of food safety standards (HACCP, GMP, BRC) and maintenance systems (CMMS).
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional teams and drive a continuous improvement culture.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem‑solving skills.