Lead Maintenance Engineer

Avara Foods; Telford; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

31 days holiday

Pension 4%

Life assurance

Staff canteen

Cycle to work

Staff discounts

Job summary

Avara Foods in Telford is seeking a Lead Maintenance Engineer to join the Engineering Team on site. The role focuses on leading shift engineers, optimising machine output and product quality, and minimising downtime in a fast-paced FMCG factory.

You will deputise for the shift manager, ensure safe operations, and drive improvements while maintaining GMP standards and strong teamwork. The role involves 40-hour shifts across days and nights.

Qualifications

• Time served engineering apprenticeship with a minimum of 5 years post-apprenticeship experience.
• Minimum qualification – apprenticeship trained level 3 or above in engineering.
• Knowledge of industrial refrigeration plant desirable but not essential.
• Ability to lead, coach and develop a team of engineers.
• Strong communication with production and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Mentor and lead the team of shift engineers and apprentices.
• Minimise downtime through preventative maintenance and rapid fault diagnosis.
• Coordinate with maintenance and production to meet KPIs.
• Ensure safe working environment and GMP adherence.
• Record and report equipment performance and PMs.
• Manage stock usage and repair planning for the shift.
• Collaborate with contractors and suppliers on site works.
• Prepare and present shift engineering reports.

Skills

Multi-skilled engineering

Team supervision

Fault diagnosis

Problem solving

Communication

Adaptable under pressure

Education

Apprenticeship level 3 or above

Tools

CMMS familiarity

Job description

Who are we, and what do we do?

You may not have heard of us, but there’s a good chance you’ve enjoyed our products. Avara Foods is one of the UK’s leading food businesses, supplying chicken and turkey to the country’s major supermarkets and well-known restaurants.

A Little About Our Telford Site

Our advanced manufacturing site in Telford, is one of our main processing facilities, processing up to 1.5 million birds per week. There are over 1,200 talented people employed at our Telford site, helping us to deliver high quality products to our customers and making the business a trusted leader in fresh foods.

We’ve recently invested £2.3 million in technology and equipment, making it one of the most advanced food manufacturing facilities in the UK.

About The Role

Are you passionate about Engineering? Looking for a new challenge? Do you have experience as an Engineer?

As an inclusive, forward-thinking business, we take pride in our approach to investing in our people across Avara Foods and are looking for a highly competent and motivated Lead Maintenance Engineer to join our Engineering Team, based at our Telford site.

The role is mainly factory based so you’ll be working in a fast-paced, dynamic FMCG factory environment which is noisy and refrigerated in some areas, manufacturing short shelf life products where hygiene standards are critical. As a Lead Maintenance Engineer you’ll be working 4040 days and nights, 06.00-18.30 and 18.00-06.30.

What will you be doing as a Lead Maintenance Engineer at Avara?

As a Lead Maintenance Engineer, you will, deputise for the shift manager, lead the team of shift engineers, optimise machinery output and product quality, and minimise plant downtime through effective preventative maintenance, efficient breakdown response in specific area of the factory whilst maintaining a safe and healthy environment and promoting good engineering practice.

What will your key responsibilities as a Lead Maintenance Engineer include?

• Mentor to Level 1/ 2 / 3 Maintenance Engineers as well as Apprentices.
• Timely reporting of any Health and Safety, Animal Welfare and Environmental Issues
• Follow the communicated escalation route for unscheduled plant downtime and minimise downtime by following a good engineering practice.
• Demonstrate technical problem-solving techniques to identify root cause of issues.
• Raise Stock and Non-Stock request forms.
• Responsible for on-shift Engineering performance of fast-moving production line and wider factory Engineering activities with due consideration for safe plant operations. Assessing all aspects of maintenance procedures, ensuring a safe working environment at all times.
• Understanding of engineering and operational KPI’s and be able to identify areas for improvement.
• To ensure equipment is set up ready for shift start, performs at required output and ensure lines are shut down correctly. Ensure attendance at all SICs during the shift period.
• Must be familiar with process machinery or equivalent equipment and have the ability to fault find.
• Accountable for allocating and recording stock used in support of machinery.
• Maintain the Workshop and outside areas to high standard and satisfactory feedback is received from GMP audits.
• Make improvements in general area standards (link to Health & Safety Action Tracker, Technical Action Tracker)
• Identify the training needs of the Shift in order to coach, train and develop the team.
• Review data on equipment effectiveness, review PMs and coordinate inclusion of jobs on weekend or daily plans
• Communicate and collaborate with other colleagues, suppliers and contractors
• Lead and support improvements projects and initiatives
• Production of Engineering Shift Report
• Issuing of permits through SINICA and Contractor Management while on-site.

What You’ll Need To Be Successful

• Time served multi-skilled engineering apprentice with at least 5 years post apprenticeship experience
• Minimum qualification – apprenticeship trained level 3 or above in an engineering discipline. Ensure all information is treated as confidential.
• Good knowledge of industrial / commercial refrigeration plant desirable but not essential.
• You will need to be adaptable and assertive, and you will be comfortable working under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills are essential, as you will be required to collaborate with production colleagues and make the necessary adjustments to changing circumstances. You will also be required to liaise with numerous internal and external stakeholders and at times present engineering information to the wider business
• Able to control the workflow of a team of skilled engineers
• A logical thinker, with strong analytical skills and well-developed questioning, you will be able to drive accurate fault diagnosis through the team utilising your broad skill set and experience
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail is required to ensure that the team are thorough in their fault finding, and issues are diagnosed in a timely and effective fashion.
• Ability to maintain existing CMMS systems within the department
• A good understanding of food processes in an FMCG environment would be ideal.
• Previous supervisory experience ideally in a similar working environment is preferable

The Benefits Of Working For Avara Foods

As a Lead Maintenance Engineer you will enjoy a secure, supportive and progressive working environment, where your contribution and achievements will be recognised and rewarded.

Benefits

• £39,959.04 + £8030 shift allowance + £2,000 Lead allowance per annum
• 31 days holiday allowance
• Secure contract with long term career development opportunities
• Straight forward pension contribution of 4%
• Life assurance
• Subsidised staff canteen serving hot food
• Staff sales at hugely discounted prices
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salaried Advance Finance
• Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme
• Access to our Employee Benefit Scheme, which includes unlimited remote GP appointments and unlimited mental health sessions, physiotherapy sessions, medical second opinion consultation, and other discounts and perks, such as savings & discounts on weekly costs.
• Ts & Cs apply

What happens after you apply for this role?

After you’ve applied, you’ll be contacted in due course by a Resourcing Officer at our Telford site, to discuss your application and CV further. There’ll also be a chance for you to ask us any questions you may have about the role.

We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.

INDHP #TheAvaraWay