Manager Maintenance Utilities

Panda International; Leiden; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Panda International in Leiden, Netherlands, seeks a Manager Maintenance Utilities to lead a multidisciplinary team and ensure reliability of critical utility systems in a GMP manufacturing setting.

You will drive preventive and corrective maintenance for HVAC, WFI, and steam, develop maintenance strategies, and collaborate with Production and cross-functional teams to improve asset availability and performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Chemical Engineering, or equivalent.
• 10+ years of maintenance experience in industrial manufacturing.
• 5+ years in maintenance management with proven results.
• >=5 years of people leadership experience.
• >=5 years in GMP-regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Experience in utilities maintenance (HVAC, WFI, steam).
• Strong knowledge of asset management and reliability improvement.
• Proficient in SAP Plant Maintenance (SAP PM).
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management.
• Ability to balance daily ops with long-term strategy.
• Fluent in Dutch and English.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary team of Maintenance Engineers and Technicians.
• Oversee preventive and corrective maintenance for critical utility systems (HVAC, WFI, steam).
• Balance daily priorities with long-term maintenance objectives and reliability goals.
• Develop and implement maintenance strategies, processes, and standards.
• Manage two major maintenance contracts and contractor performance.
• Collaborate with Production, Maintenance, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Apply asset management to optimize maintenance activities and asset performance.
• Develop team capabilities to meet current and future business needs.
• Contribute to the department’s five-year maintenance plan.
• Ensure GMP compliance and site procedures in all activities.
• Monitor performance, identify improvements, and drive reliability.
• Influence decisions to align maintenance objectives across the organization.

Skills

Mechanical/Electrical/Industrial/Chem

10+ years maintenance experience

5+ years maintenance management

5+ years people leadership

5+ years GMP pharma environment

Utilities maintenance (HVAC, WFI, STE)

Asset management & reliability

SAP PM

Leadership & stakeholder Mgmt

Dutch & English fluency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Chemical Engineering

Tools

SAP PM

Job description

Manager Maintenance Utilities

Location: Leiden, Netherlands

Industry: Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Role Overview

A leading pharmaceutical company is seeking an experienced Manager Maintenance Utilities to lead a multidisciplinary maintenance team responsible for ensuring the reliability, availability, and performance of critical utility systems within a GMP-regulated manufacturing environment.

The role is part of a Maintenance Department comprising more than 80 FTE and involves leading a team of 8 Maintenance Engineers and 7 Technicians, alongside responsibility for two major maintenance contracts. The primary scope includes utilities such as HVAC, Water for Injection (WFI), and steam systems.

Reporting to the Site Maintenance Lead, the Manager Maintenance Utilities will oversee preventive and corrective maintenance activities, develop team capabilities, and drive continuous improvement in maintenance performance and processes. The position requires a strong balance between day-to-day operational management and long-term strategic planning, including contributing to the department’s five-year maintenance strategy.

The successful candidate will work closely with Production, other maintenance teams, and cross-functional stakeholders to improve asset reliability, strengthen maintenance maturity, and ensure effective maintenance perations in a GMP environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary team of Maintenance Engineers and Technicians, fostering a service-oriented, collaborative, and high-performance culture.
• Oversee preventive and corrective maintenance activities for critical utility systems, including HVAC, WFI, and steam, ensuring equipment reliability and operational availability.
• Balance daily operational priorities with long-term maintenance objectives, asset reliability, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive the development and implementation of maintenance strategies, processes, and standards to improve equipment performance and departmental maturity.
• Manage two major maintenance contracts, ensuring effective contractor performance and alignment with operational and business requirements.
• Collaborate closely with Production, Maintenance, and other cross-functional stakeholders to align priorities and deliver reliable maintenance support.
• Apply asset management principles to optimize maintenance activities, equipment reliability, and the long-term performance of utility assets.
• Develop team capabilities and ensure the right people, skills, and resources are in place to meet current and future business needs.
• Contribute to the development and execution of the department’s five-year maintenance plan.
• Ensure maintenance activities are performed in compliance with applicable GMP requirements and site procedures.
• Monitor maintenance performance, identify improvement opportunities, and implement initiatives to enhance operational effectiveness and reliability.
• Manage stakeholder expectations and influence decision-making across the organization to achieve shared maintenance objectives.

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Chemical Engineering, or equivalent technical knowledge.
• More than 10 years of experience in maintenance within an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• At least 5 years of experience in a comparable maintenance management role, with a proven track record of delivering results.
• At least 5 years of experience in people leadership, including team development and performance management.
• At least 5 years of experience working in a GMP-regulated pharmaceutical or other product manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience in utilities maintenance, ideally involving HVAC, Water for Injection (WFI), and steam systems.
• Good understanding of asset management principles, maintenance strategies, and reliability improvement processes.
• Proficiency in SAP Plant Maintenance (SAP PM).
• Strong leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to manage day-to-day operational responsibilities while maintaining a strategic, long-term perspective.
• Fluency in both Dutch and English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills in both languages.