Maintenance Team Manager

CHEP; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus up to 10%

Private healthcare

Flexible working

25 days holiday + statutory holidays (

Company pension (7.5%)

Life Assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

CHEP Pontefract Service Centre seeks an experienced Maintenance Manager to lead the engineering function, ensuring plant equipment and services are maintained safely and efficiently in an automated manufacturing environment.

You will embed the TPM maintenance strategy, drive proactive maintenance, and utilise data/CMMS insights to improve asset performance and uptime as part of a culture focused on reliability and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading maintenance or engineering teams in manufacturing/industrial settings.
• Electrical discipline background essential.
• Experience with automated plants and PLC-driven systems.
• Track record of TPM or reliability-based maintenance strategies.
• Experience using CMMS with implementation/optimisation advantage.
• Excellent health & safety knowledge and practice.
• Experience managing maintenance budgets and P&L responsibilities.
• Strong coaching, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a twelve-person Maintenance Technicians team, ensuring capability and accountability.
• Embed and mature the Engineering TPM Maintenance Strategy for proactive maintenance.
• Manage breakdowns and planned maintenance activities with internal/external resources.
• Develop and deliver a robust Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) program.
• Drive equipment reliability through procedures, metrics, and monitoring.
• Oversee engineering data systems and ensure CMMS data integrity.
• Support capex projects from specification to commissioning of new automated equipment.
• Own the maintenance budget and control maintenance spend; manage on-site contractors.

Skills

Maintenance leadership

Electrical discipline

Automated plant experience

CMMS

Safety compliance

Budget management

Education

Engineering apprenticeship (level 3)

HNC/HND or NVQ4 (preferred)

Tools

CMMS

PLC experience

Job description

CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organization on earth via our 347 million pallets, crates and containers. We employ approximately 13,000 people and operate in 60 countries. Through our pioneering and sustainable share-and-reuse business model, the world’s biggest brands trust us to help them transport their goods more efficiently, safely and with less environmental impact.

What does that mean for you? You’ll join an international organization big enough to take you anywhere, and small enough to get you there sooner. You’ll help change how goods get to market and contribute to global sustainability. You’ll be empowered to bring your authentic self to work and be surrounded by diverse and driven professionals. And you can maximize your work-life balance and flexibility through our[Hybrid Work Model] https://urldefense.com/v3/ https:/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https3A2F2Fwww.youtube.com2Fwatch3Fv3DA17SyZVJM88;JSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUl!!HDu-1JFExg!FoxqXcTulynadywQlhAnaeT17qHc8fKzsePLX5SECcnm3He2vUvGwJ3ux48jDtkusbE$.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities May Include:

• Develop and manage a robust preventive maintenance program to ensure timely and effective maintenance, reducing equipment downtime and improving overall plant efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, actively enforcing corporate Zero Harm policies and conducting regular safety checks on equipment and building services.
• Implement process reliability systems and lead continuous improvement initiatives aimed at achieving equipment reliability and efficiency targets.
• Manage the procurement, inventory, and budget control of spare parts and consumables, ensuring effective stock management to support maintenance activities.
• Lead and support capital expenditure projects related to equipment upgrades, new installations, and plant improvements, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Monitor and optimize the use of utilities such as electricity, gas, and water, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs.
• Ensure plant compliance with regulatory requirements and corporate standards through regular safety audits, equipment testing, and asset management processes.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the maintenance team, ensuring adequate staffing, training, and performance management to meet the operational needs of the plant.

Engineering Maintenance Manager

(Internally known as Maintenance Team Manager)

Location: Pontefract, WF8 (Onsite)

Type: Full time, Permanent (Monday to Friday days)

Are you an experienced engineering leader with a passion for safety, reliability, and continuous improvement? Do you enjoy developing high-performing maintenance teams and driving plant performance in a fast-paced, automated manufacturing environment? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

CHEP is seeking a Maintenance Manager to lead the engineering function at our Pontefract Service Centre. This is a key leadership role where you’ll ensure plant equipment and services are maintained safely, efficiently, and in line with operational and compliance standards.

You’ll play a critical role in embedding and maturing the site’s Engineering TPM Maintenance Strategy, driving a proactive, reliability-focused culture across the plant. Working in an automated environment, you’ll support PLC-driven systems, lead continuous improvement initiatives, and use data and CMMS insights to improve asset performance and uptime.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

• Leading and developing a team of twelve Maintenance Technicians, ensuring high levels of capability, engagement, and accountability
• Embedding and continuously improving the Engineering TPM Maintenance Strategy, driving a shift from reactive to proactive maintenance
• Managing breakdowns and planned maintenance activities, deploying internal and external resources effectively
• Developing and delivering a robust Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) strategy, ensuring compliance and closing maintenance gaps
• Driving equipment reliability through optimisation, standard procedures, and performance monitoring
• Managing engineering data systems and ensuring strong CMMS compliance and data integrity
• Supporting engineering and capex projects, including specification, installation, and commissioning of new automated equipment
• Owning maintenance budgets and controlling maintenance material spend
• Managing contractors on site in line with legal, safety, and company requirements
• Conducting risk assessments and ensuring full compliance with Health, Safety, and Environmental standards
• Identifying and delivering continuous improvement and business improvement opportunities

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience leading maintenance or engineering teams within a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Strong technical background with experience in an electrical discipline
• Experience working in automated plants, ideally with exposure to PLC-controlled systems
• Track record of embedding TPM or reliability-based maintenance strategies
• Experience using CMMS systems, with implementation or optimisation experience highly advantageous
• Strong understanding of Health & Safety legislation and best practice
• Experience managing maintenance budgets and P&L responsibilities
• Confident people leader with strong coaching, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Resilient, proactive, and comfortable leading change in a fast-paced environment

Qualifications

Essential:

• Completed Level 3 recognised engineering apprenticeship (mechanical and/or electrical)
• HNC/HND, NVQ Level 4, or equivalent engineering qualification (preferred)

Desirable:

• NEBOSH
• 18th Edition
• PLC experience

What’s in It for You?

• Certified Top 17 Global Employer
• Annual bonus up to 10% based on company and individual performance
• Private healthcare (single cover)
• Flexible working
• 25 days holiday + statutory holidays, with the option to buy/sell 5 additional days
• 7.5% company pension contribution
• Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme

Remote Type

Not Remote

Skills to succeed in the role

Change Leadership, Change Leadership, Coaching, Collaboration, Compressors, Vacuum Pumps and Related Equipment, Computer Literacy, Data Analysis, Data Literacy, Disruptive Thinking, Drawings and Schematics, Electric and Electronic Controls, Electric Motors, Fans, Blowers and Supporting Ductwork, Feedback, Inclusive Leadership, Leading Customer Centric Teams, Lubrication Types and Systems, Machining (Lathes, Milling, and Drill Presses), Mathematic Literacy, Mechanical Literacy, Mentorship, Motivating Teams, Pipe Systems and Valves, Pneumatic and Hydraulic Systems, Power Transmission Systems {+ 3 more}

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to developing a diverse workforce in which everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has the opportunity to contribute to business success while realizing his or her potential. This means harnessing the unique skills and experience that each individual brings and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.