Maintenance Team Leader

United Utilities; Penrith; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus up to 7.5%

Field-based role

26 days annual leave (+4 years)

Pension up to 14% employer

Healthcare plan

MyGymDiscounts

Best Doctors

Salary Finance

Wealth at Work courses

EVolve Car Scheme

Employee Assistance Plan

Mental health first aiders

ShareBuy

MORE Choices flexible benefits

Enhanced parental leave

Job summary

United Utilities is seeking a Maintenance Team Leader to move from hands-on field work into a leadership role while staying connected to engineering knowledge. You’ll lead engineers, coach performance, and drive proactive maintenance standards.

Based at one of our operational hubs in the Penrith area, the role focuses on safety, planning, and continuous improvement, with a strong emphasis on developing others and delivering reliable asset performance.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in a maintenance environment with a recognised qualification (ONC/HNC or equivalent) in Mechanical, Electrical or Instrumentation engineering.
• Proven leadership ability to guide, support and develop others while maintaining high standards.
• Clear and approachable communication with a range of stakeholders.
• Strong organisation and planning to manage changing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Create a safe, high-performing environment prioritising safety and regulatory requirements.
• Plan and adapt maintenance activities to balance priorities and keep assets reliable.
• Drive high-quality preventative maintenance and identify issues early.
• Set and maintain standards for an organised, safe workplace and well-equipped team.
• Ensure critical parts and materials are in place with reliable processes.
• Make informed resource and delivery decisions in partnership with others.
• Collaborate with other teams to share knowledge and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Engineering background

Leadership

Communication

Organisation

Data-driven decision making

Continuous improvement

Education

ONC/HNC or equivalent

Job description

The Role

Are you working in a mechanical, electrical or instrumentation maintenance role and starting to think about what’s next? This is an opportunity to step off the tools and into a leadership role—while staying connected to your technical expertise.

We’re looking for a Maintenance Team Leader who understands the realities of working in the field—someone who brings practical experience, sound judgement, and a collaborative approach. This role is about using your knowledge to lead, support and develop a team of engineers, while contributing to strong, consistent standards across maintenance and reliability.

You’ll move beyond day-to-day reactive work and begin to shape how maintenance is delivered—coaching others, improving performance, and building a more proactive, forward-looking approach.

This is a natural next step for an engineer who is ready to grow their impact, support others to succeed, and take on broader responsibility in a supportive and performance-focused environment.

What you'll be doing

• Creating a safe, high-performing environment
  You’ll promote a culture where safety and wellbeing come first, ensuring your team works confidently, responsibly, and in line with all regulatory requirements.
• Shaping and delivering the maintenance plan
  You’ll plan and adapt maintenance activities across your area, balancing priorities to keep assets reliable while supporting your team with clear, achievable direction.
• Driving high-quality preventative maintenance
  You’ll encourage a proactive approach—supporting your team to complete preventative work effectively, identify issues early, and improve asset performance over time.
• Setting the standard for the workplace
  You’ll help create an organised, safe and well-equipped environment where people can do their best work and feel supported in maintaining high standards.
• Ensuring the right materials are in place
  You’ll work to ensure critical parts and materials are available when needed, with clear and reliable processes that support smooth day-to-day operations.
• Making informed decisions on resource and delivery
  You’ll take a balanced approach to deciding how work is delivered, working collaboratively with partners to achieve quality outcomes and long-term improvements.
• Working as part of a wider leadership community
  You’ll build strong relationships with other teams, sharing knowledge, supporting consistency, and contributing to a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

What you'll need

• A strong engineering background
  You’ll bring hands-on experience in a maintenance environment, along with a recognised qualification (ONC/HNC or equivalent) in Mechanical, Electrical or Instrumentation engineering, and the ability to understand and resolve asset issues.
• Developing or established leadership skills
  Whether you’ve already led a team or are ready for your first step into leadership, you have the ability to guide, support and develop others while maintaining high standards.
• Clear and approachable communication
  You can engage effectively with a range of people, sharing information clearly and building positive working relationships.
• Strong organisation and planning capability
  You’re able to manage changing priorities, stay organised, and help your team remain focused and productive in a dynamic environment.
• Confidence using systems and data
  You’re comfortable using IT systems and data to understand performance, identify trends, and support informed decision-making.
• A commitment to continuous improvement
  You’re motivated to keep learning, improving how things are done, and supporting others to develop their skills and confidence.

What's in it for you

• Salary £51,233
• Up to 7.5% performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
• This role will be field based, based out of one of our operational hubs
• A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service (increases one day per year), in addition to 8 bank holidays
• A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
• A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme
• MyGymDiscounts - gym and wellness benefit that offers up to 25% off on gym memberships and digital fitness subscriptions
• Best Doctors
• Salary Finance
• Wealth at Work courses
• Deals and discounts
• EVolve Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Mental health first aiders
• ShareBuy
• MORE Choices flexible benefits
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

About Us

Salary - 51,233
Work Type - Onsite
Job Location - Penrith Wastewater Treatment Works, Whinfell Holme, Brougham, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 2AB
Role Type - Permanent
Employment Type - Full Time
Working Hours -

United Utilities’ (UU) purpose is to deliver great water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West of England. We are committed to providing our services in a way that respects the environment, supports the economy, and benefits society.

We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves.

We uphold our ethics, values and business model to fulfil our mission and, by setting clear goals and objectives, we create sustainable long-term value for our colleagues, customers and communities. Whether you work with a team that shares your vision or join a network of peers with similar interests, you will find a welcoming and supportive organisation to be part of.

We’ve got a lot to offer. You’ll be part of a thriving FTSE 100 company and will enjoy a range of core benefits that reflect your value and value contribution.

We rely on every employee to ensure our customers receive the best possible service, day in, day out. In return, we ensure that you will be well rewarded for your efforts, from an excellent salary through to development opportunities that will really kick start a thriving career here at UU.