Reliability maintenance manager

pladis; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A global food manufacturer in Carlisle is seeking a Reliability Maintenance Manager to lead their maintenance strategy in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. The role involves developing predictive maintenance programs, ensuring compliance with stringent safety standards, and leading a multidisciplinary maintenance team. Ideal candidates have proven experience in maintenance management and a strong background in implementing technology-driven strategies.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in reliability or maintenance management within a food manufacturing or FMCG environment.
• Strong background in leading teams and implementing technology-driven maintenance strategies.
• In-depth knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead maintenance strategy to ensure high equipment availability and compliance with food safety standards.
• Develop predictive maintenance using AI-driven analytics.
• Foster a culture of safety and continuous improvement within the maintenance team.

Skills

Reliability management

Team leadership

Predictive analytics

Data analysis

Tools

CMMS platforms

AI-powered maintenance tools

Job description

Overview

Want to help us bring happiness to the world? Want to join an ambitious and fast growing global biscuits and confectionery business investing heavily in iconic global brands, infrastructure and people? Then this is the place for you.

As proud bakers and chocolatiers and custodians of iconic global brands, we don’t compromise on the quality of ingredients in our products or on the people we hire. We are looking for entrepreneurial spirits who share our passion for bringing happiness to our consumers and who embody our Winning Traits.

To succeed at pladis you need to be purpose-led, resilient and positive to succeed here because we expect pace and agility, we insist on collaboration and demand accountability. If that is your thing, then pladis offers global ambition, a clear Vision and roadmap for success, challenge, and unrivalled opportunities to learn and make an impact

Click “Apply” to get started.

What will this role achieve?

We are seeking a forward-thinking Reliability Maintenance Manager to lead our maintenance strategy within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. This role is critical to ensuring high equipment availability, minimal downtime, and compliance with stringent food safety standards.

Responsibilities

You will spearhead the integration of AI-driven analytics and condition-based monitoring (CBM) to deliver a predictive and proactive maintenance programme. By leveraging real-time data and advanced diagnostics, you’ll identify asset performance trends, reduce reactive interventions, and drive continuous improvement across the site.

• Predictive & Preventative Maintenance
• Develop and manage a predictive maintenance strategy using AI and CBM technologies to anticipate failures and optimise asset performance.
• Implement robust preventative maintenance schedules aligned with production demands and food safety compliance.

• AI & Data-Driven Insights
• Utilise AI-powered tools to analyse equipment data, identify root causes of downtime, and forecast maintenance needs.
• Collaborate with digital teams and third-party CBM providers to enhance diagnostic capabilities and automate reporting.

• Team Leadership
• Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary maintenance team, fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and innovation.
• Ensure technicians are trained in modern maintenance practices and digital tools.

• Compliance & Food Safety
• Ensure all maintenance activities meet regulatory standards including HACCP, BRC, and GMP.
• Maintain rigorous documentation and audit readiness for all engineering interventions.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with production, quality assurance, procurement, and IT to align maintenance strategies with operational goals.
• Support capital projects and equipment upgrades with reliability input.

• Asset Performance & Budget Control
• Monitor asset lifecycle costs and identify high-cost “bad actors” requiring redesign or replacement.
• Analyse maintenance budgets and resource allocation to improve cost-efficiency.

• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by introducing smart technologies, automation, and lean maintenance practices.
• Champion the use of digital twins, IoT sensors, and machine learning to enhance reliability outcomes.

Bring your experience

• Proven experience in reliability or maintenance management within a food manufacturing or FMCG environment.
• Strong background in leading teams and implementing technology-driven maintenance strategies.
• In-depth knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems, CMMS platforms, and CBM technologies.
• Familiarity with AI applications in maintenance, such as predictive analytics and automated diagnostics.
• Capable of managing multiple priorities and delivering results in a high-pressure environment.
• Proficient in data analysis, root cause investigation, and performance tracking.

pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.

We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List. If you are a recruitment agency and wish to submit candidate to be considered for this vacancy, you must have agreed to, and signed, our terms of business.
We will not accept CVs from any other sources other than those currently on our PSL. We will not pay a fee for any candidate that has not been represented by a provider on our PSL.