Head of Maintenance - UK

Morson Talent; Portsmouth; Remote; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading independent fuel and lubricant distributor seeks a Head of Maintenance to oversee strategic leadership and execution of maintenance activities across terminals and depots. This role includes managing a £5M budget, ensuring compliance with regulations, and leading a multi-disciplinary engineering team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in the Oil & Gas sector and a degree in Engineering. Join a company that values excellence and customer satisfaction while contributing to essential services.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Oil & Gas sector, preferably downstream.
• Proven experience in budget and team management.

Responsibilities

• Manage Engineering Maintenance budget (~£5M) and lead Engineering Managers.
• Ensure compliance with engineering and safety regulations across sites.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organisational Skills

Attention to Detail

Education

Degree in Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Head of Maintenance

Location:Remote, with National travel
Salary: Competitive + Bonus + Car

The Client

Join the team at one of the UK's leading independent fuel and lubricant distributors. Operating over 100 depots nationwide, they deliver essential products like heating oil, diesel, and lubricants to a diverse range of customers, including homes, businesses, and agricultural operations. Their commitment to safety and compliance ensures a reliable and responsible service. Be part of a company that values excellence and customer satisfaction.

The Role

The Head of Maintenance is responsible for the strategic leadership and effective execution of all maintenance activities across Terminals, Depots, and industrial sites within the organisation. The role ensures that all maintenance tasks meet regulatory and legislative requirements and are aligned with industry best practices. It also includes the implementation and oversight of a Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) and the leadership of a multi-disciplinary engineering team.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Financial Leadership

• Manage the Engineering Maintenance budget (~£5M), including setting and monitoring annual budgets.
• Lead and support Engineering Managers (EC&I & Mechanical), Business Partners, and Technicians through both direct and matrix reporting lines.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure full compliance with all relevant engineering and safety regulations (including COMAH), legislation, and standards across operational sites.
• Appoint Technical Authorities and act as Duty Holder for applicable regulations.
• Establish and manage contractor governance frameworks ensuring competence, accreditations, and quality of work.

Policy, Systems & Documentation

• Develop, implement, and authorise Engineering Standards, Policies, and Procedures.
• Maintain compliance documentation and ensure up-to-date technical records.
• Lead the implementation and lifecycle management of the CMMS across the business.

Operational & Technical Oversight

• Oversee engineering scopes for capital and maintenance projects, ensuring design, build, and commissioning excellence.
• Maintain asset integrity and ensure all Safety and Environmental Critical Equipment is managed in line with MAH/MATTE and COMAH requirements.
• Approve Management of Change processes for engineering/maintenance changes.

Stakeholder Management

• Build collaborative working relationships across engineering, operations, HSE, and senior leadership teams.
• Support acquisition and development projects at third-party sites.
• Represent engineering in audits, regulatory visits, and intervention inspections.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Extensive experience in the Oil & Gas sector (preferably downstream).
• Extensive experience in a senior engineering leadership role.
• Degree (or equivalent) in an Engineering discipline.
• Multi-disciplinary engineering knowledge (Mechanical, Process, EC&I, Civil, Chemical, etc.).
• Proven experience in budget and team management.
• Professional membership of an accredited engineering or management institute.
• Familiarity with high-hazard process industries and COMAH regulations preferred.
• Qualified to assess and deliver training.
• Strong understanding of Process Safety principles.

Key Skills & Personal Attributes

• Proactive and self-driven leadership style.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Strong organisational and planning abilities.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Strong report writing and document management skills.

The recruitment process for this vacancy is being handled by Morson Talent. By applying to this vacancy, you are consenting to have your personal information shared with Morson Talent.

Your candidate experience is at the utmost importance to us. If you are not yet ready to apply but would like to discuss any of the above or require any reasonable adjustments (e.g. being able to apply in a different format), please [e-mail] arrange a confidential conversation.