Utilities & Facility Engineer

Sonoco; Calerno; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonoco, a global leader in packaging, is seeking a Senior Utilities & Facility Engineer to ensure operational continuity across two industrial plants in Parma and Reggio Emilia. You will oversee utilities, energy management, and maintenance teams, coordinating internal operators and external suppliers.

The role requires a strong technical background, 5–8 years of experience, and expertise in PED, ISO 50001, and safety documentation.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant engineering field with minimum years of study.
• Minimum 5–8 years of experience as Facility/Utilities Engineer or Manager.
• Experience in industrial utilities management within complex manufacturing environments is essential.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance: PED, fire safety, and energy management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee utilities governance and optimization of thermal and pneumatic systems.
• Define and supervise maintenance plans for buildings, yards, and roofs with budget oversight.
• Lead energy management and decarbonization projects to reduce carbon footprint.
• Manage maintenance contracts, on-site works and supplier performance.
• Ensure full legal compliance and collaborate with HSE for safety documentation.
• Drive digitalization of documentation and paperless systems for utilities & maintenance.

Skills

Thermal systems

Compressed air systems

Refrigeration plants

Industrial burners

P&ID diagrams

Electrical schematics

CAD layouts

ISO 50001 compliance

PED compliance

Microsoft Office

Education

Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering / Energy Engineering / Industrial Management / Civil & Environmental Engineering

Tools

CAD software

P&ID software

MS Office

Job description

Reporting directly to the Maintenance Manager, the role holds full strategic and operational responsibility. The Senior Utilities & Facility Engineer will ensure the operational continuity, utilities optimization, and regulatory compliance across two industrial manufacturing plants located in Parma and in the province of Reggio Emilia. They will coordinate two in‑house operators (one per plant), handling ordinary maintenance activities on the systems while interacting with internal electrical and mechanical workshops. The role also includes full management and supervision of a network of external collaborators, consultants, and suppliers for specialized maintenance, inspections, and continuous improvement activities.

Mission

The ideal candidate is a professional with a strong technical background and proven experience in industrial utilities management and facility maintenance within complex manufacturing environments. The main objective is to ensure maximum operational continuity, lead advanced energy‑efficiency and decarbonization projects, guarantee full regulatory compliance of the plants, and optimize operating costs. One of the main responsibilities for the role is the update and maintenance of all technical and legal documentation related to environmental and safety matters (HSE) linked to their area of responsibility. Additionally, the Senior Utilities & Facility Engineer will be a champion for the paperless system digitalization plan for utilities and facility maintenance, driving the transition toward integrated HSE and maintenance platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Utilities Governance & Process Equipment Optimization — Strategic overview, operational and performance optimization of service systems: thermal power plants, compressed air systems, fluid/gas distribution networks, and cooling water generation/distribution systems. Advanced technical management of critical assets such as chillers and industrial burners, maximizing reliability (MTBF) and minimizing downtime.
• Strategic Facility Management — Definition and supervision of extraordinary and conservative maintenance plans for buildings, yards, auxiliary structures, and plant roofing, including budget management.
• Energy Management, Sustainability & Decarbonization — Advanced analysis of energy carriers (electricity, gas, water), implementation of consumption‑monitoring systems, and design/execution of energy‑efficiency projects aimed at sustainability and carbon‑footprint reduction.
• Supplier Management & Technical Procurement — Negotiation and management of maintenance contracts (SLA/KPI), supervision of complex on‑site works, rigorous verification of work progress (SAL), and full economic cycle management from offer approval to final invoice validation.
• Legislative Compliance, Safety & HSE — Ensuring full legal compliance of all systems (mandatory inspections, fire‑safety regulations, PED directive). Active collaboration with the HSE Manager (RSPP) for drafting and applying safety documentation (DUVRI, POS, site safety plans) for all external contractors.
• Digitalization Leadership — Design, implementation, and roll‑out of an integrated paperless system for digitalizing registers, certifications, and technical documentation related to utilities and facility management, making it fully accessible online for HSE and Maintenance departments.

Required Qualifications

Education

Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Industrial Management, or Civil/Environmental Engineering.

Experience

Proven experience (minimum 5–8 years) as Facility/Utilities Engineer or Manager, preferably within complex and structured industrial manufacturing environments (metalworking or food industry is a strong plus).

Technical Skills

• Deep technical knowledge of thermal systems, compressed air systems, refrigeration plants, and industrial burners.
• Proficiency in reading P&ID diagrams, electrical schematics, and CAD layouts.
• Solid understanding of the PED Directive, fire‑safety regulations, and Energy Management frameworks (e.g., ISO 50001).
• Excellent command of Microsoft Office Suite.

Language Skills

• Proficient English level, both spoken and written, for documentation management and to liaise with international partners and vendors.

Logistics & Soft Skills

• Valid driving license (Category B) and availability for regular commute between Parma and Reggio Emilia sites.
• Strong leadership, people‑management attitude, excellent negotiation skills, strategic vision, advanced problem‑solving capabilities, and proactivity.

Environment & Growth

Opportunity to operate with high autonomy and responsibility within a market‑leading organization. The role offers strategic visibility across plant operations and serves as a key pillar for operational efficiency and ecological transition, with concrete prospects for professional development.

#LI-AO1 We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.

Founded in 1899, Sonoco (NYSE: SON) is a global leader in value‑added, sustainable metal and fiber consumer and industrial packaging. The Company is now a multi‑billion‑dollar enterprise with approximately 22,500 employees working in 270 operations in 40 countries, serving some of the world’s best‑known brands. Guided by our purpose of Better Packaging. Better Life., we strive to foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and excellence to provide solutions that better serve all our stakeholders and support a more sustainable future. Sonoco was proudly named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek.

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