Site Engineering Manager

Warburtons; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit share

Holiday allowance

Pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Employee discounts

Health & wellbeing services

Job summary

Warburtons in Wakefield is seeking an experienced Site Engineering Manager to build the engineering function from the ground up at Bakery 41. You will shape strategy, establish standards and lead a safety-focused, reliable manufacturing operation.

You will work closely with senior leaders to embed systems, processes and governance, creating a high-performing engineering team and KPIs that drive asset care and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Significant engineering leadership experience in fast-paced manufacturing (ideally food/FMCG).
• Experience developing and implementing engineering strategies, systems and governance.
• Strong understanding of asset care and maintenance methodologies.
• Proven ability to build, lead and develop high-performing engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Bakery 41 engineering strategy aligned to manufacturing objectives.
• Establish engineering systems, governance and standards for a modern bakery.
• Create and embed asset care and maintenance strategies (preventative/planned maintenance).
• Build site engineering capability and a culture of safety, reliability and continuous improvement.
• Develop the engineering organisational structure and a capable, engaged team.
• Set clear engineering KPIs, reporting and performance measures to drive reliability.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Job description

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Salary: Competitive base salary, plus an excellent benefits package including car allowance, profit related bonus, private medical and life assurance.

Could you build the engineering operation behind our newest bakery?

This is a rare opportunity to join Warburtons at the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

Following an acquisition of an existing Wakefield manufacturing site we’re preparing to launch Bakery 41, the newest bakery in the Warburtons network.

We’re looking for an established Site Engineering Manager with significant experience in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment, ideally food or FMCG, who can take the lead in building the engineering function, systems, standards and capability our new bakery needs for the future.

This isn’t about inheriting an established engineering operation and maintaining what’s already there.

It’s an opportunity to build it.

The Recipe

As Site Engineering Manager, you’ll be a key member of the Bakery 41 leadership team, taking ownership of the engineering strategy and helping establish the foundations for a safe, reliable and high‑performing manufacturing operation.

You’ll have the opportunity to shape how engineering operates from the outset, establishing the systems, processes, standards and ways of working that will support the bakery as it develops.

From asset care and maintenance systems to engineering governance, team capability and reliability strategy, you’ll bring the experience to understand what great looks like and how to build it from the ground up.

Working closely with the Site Lead, senior leadership colleagues and our central Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence teams, you’ll turn strategy into practical, sustainable engineering standards that become embedded within Bakery 41.

We’re looking for someone comfortable operating at both a strategic and operational level. You’ll need the leadership credibility to set the direction, but also the energy and pragmatism to roll up your sleeves and make it happen.

The Method

You’ll take the lead in:

• Developing and implementing the engineering strategy for Bakery 41, aligned to our wider manufacturing and business objectives
• Establishing engineering systems, processes, governance and standards appropriate for a modern, high‑performing bakery
• Creating and embedding a robust asset care and maintenance strategy, including preventative and planned maintenance approaches
• Building engineering capability across the site and creating a culture centred around safety, reliability, accountability and continuous improvement
• Developing the engineering organisational structure and building a strong, capable and engaged engineering team
• Establishing clear engineering KPIs, reporting and performance measures to drive reliability and operational performance
• Ensuring engineering compliance and fulfilling the responsibilities of Engineering Duty Holder
• Working cross‑functionally with Production, HSE, Supply Chain and Manufacturing Excellence to ensure engineering is fully integrated into the new bakery’s operation
• Identifying opportunities to improve equipment reliability, productivity, efficiency and long‑term asset performance
• Supporting capital investment, equipment upgrades and engineering improvement programmes as Bakery 41 develops
• Bringing external thinking and best practice into the site while drawing on expertise from across the wider Warburtons engineering network

This opportunity will suit an established Engineering Manager who has already operated in a complex, fast‑moving manufacturing environment and understands what is required to build a highly effective engineering function.

You’ll bring:

• A recognised engineering qualification, such as HNC, HND, Degree or equivalent
• Significant engineering leadership experience within a fast‑paced manufacturing environment, ideally food, FMCG or another high‑volume consumer manufacturing operation
• Experience developing and implementing engineering strategies, systems and ways of working
• A strong understanding of modern asset care, maintenance and reliability methodologies
• Experience establishing, improving or transforming engineering processes rather than simply maintaining existing systems
• A proven track record of building, leading and developing high‑performing engineering teams
• Strong knowledge of engineering compliance, safe systems of work and relevant standards including PUWER
• Experience managing engineering budgets, resources and competing operational priorities
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to balance immediate operational requirements with longer‑term engineering strategy
• The confidence and credibility to influence senior stakeholders and challenge constructively
• A practical, hands‑on leadership style with the resilience to operate successfully within a changing and developing environment

Extra Dough

Last but by no means least, you’ll want to know what your breads worth:

• A slice of the annual profits (discretionary profit share)
• Family time is important to us and we know it will be to you, so you will have 5 weeks holiday and bank hols. Plus the opportunity to purchase up to an extra weeks annual leave
• Award winning pension scheme with company contributions
• Private medical insurance, health screening and life assurance
• Products you will love along with deals and discounts for you and the family through our Extra Dough website
• Support for your health and wellbeing, including access to free physiotherapy, 24/7 access to a confidential helpline for practical advice and a comprehensive occupational health service

For the right Engineering Manager, this is a genuinely career‑defining opportunity.

You’ll be joining Bakery 41 at a unique point in its journey, with the chance to use everything you’ve learnt throughout your engineering career to help create something new.

The systems you establish. The standards you set. The team you build. The culture you create.

They’ll become part of the foundations of our newest bakery.

We respect and value difference. We look to create an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Companies that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, or any other aspect which makes them unique, are proven to be better companies. More importantly, creating an environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best work, is the right thing to do.