Head of Engineering- Maintenance and Engineering

Morgan McKinley; Tipperary; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan McKinley is recruiting an Engineering Manager for a leading international meat and seafood processing facility. This hands‑on leadership role will drive maintenance, reliability, and continuous improvement across a fast‑paced site.

You will oversee a small engineering team, manage maintenance schedules, ensure strict adherence to food safety and Health & Safety standards, and partner with production and external contractors to optimise performance.

Qualifications

• Experience leading engineering/maintenance teams in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Proven track record in improving reliability and reducing downtime.
• Strong knowledge of quality systems and food safety requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate all engineering and maintenance activities across site.
• Manage preventative and reactive maintenance programmes.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, Health & Safety, and engineering standards.
• Minimise downtime and improve equipment reliability across production operations.
• Manage engineering KPIs and performance reporting.
• Coordinate calibration schedules and site maintenance planning.
• Work closely with production, technical teams, and external contractors.
• Support continuous improvement, cost reduction, and operational efficiency initiatives.
• Assist with CAPEX projects and site improvement activities.
• Develop and support the engineering team through coaching and leadership.

Skills

People leadership

Maintenance planning

Food safety compliance

Root cause analysis

Contractor management

Calibration oversight

Documentation practices

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

CMMS

Job description

Engineering Manager - Food Manufacturing

About the Business

A leading international food manufacturing business specialising in high-quality meat and seafood products supplied to retail, foodservice, and industrial customers globally.

With operations across the UK, Europe, and North America, the company is recognised for its focus on quality, sustainability, operational excellence, and continuous investment across its manufacturing network.

The Opportunity

An experienced Engineering Manager is required to lead engineering and maintenance operations at a rib processing facility within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

This is a key leadership role within a smaller site of approximately 260 employees, responsible for ensuring maximum equipment reliability, minimising downtime, and maintaining compliance with food safety and Health & Safety standards.

Reporting into the Head of Engineering, the successful candidate will oversee a compact engineering structure consisting of an Engineering Administrator and four maintenance staff, including facilities support.

The role will suit a hands‑on engineering leader who is comfortable operating within a fast‑paced food manufacturing environment while driving continuous improvement and operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate all engineering and maintenance activities across site
• Manage preventative and reactive maintenance programmes
• Ensure compliance with food safety, Health & Safety, and engineering standards
• Minimise downtime and improve equipment reliability across production operations
• Manage engineering KPIs and performance reporting
• Coordinate calibration schedules and site maintenance planningWork closely with production, technical teams, and external contractors
• Support continuous improvement, cost reduction, and operational efficiency initiatives
• Assist with CAPEX projects and site improvement activities
• Develop and support the engineering team through coaching and leadership

Ideal Candidate

• Previous experience in an Engineering Manager or Maintenance Manager role within food manufacturing or FMCG
• Strong understanding of maintenance systems and quality systems within a regulated manufacturing environment
• Experience managing preventative maintenance schedules, engineering compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Strong leadership and team management capability
• Experience supervising repairs, calibration activities, and contractor management
• Knowledge of root cause analysis, deviations, and good documentation practices
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Comfortable working within a hands‑on manufacturing environment