Head of Engineering and Asset Optimisation

Vitaco Group; Auckland; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Wellness product discounts

Onsite café subsidies

Naturopathic advice

Collaborative team environment

Birthday day off

Job summary

Vitaco Auckland manufacturing is seeking an experienced engineering leader to oversee the Engineering and Maintenance function across multiple sites. You will drive asset management, reliability initiatives and a structured lifecycle framework to optimise safety, cost and performance.

You will develop talent, lead digital manufacturing initiatives and partner with Operations, Capital Projects and Quality to deliver superior outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience leading engineering teams in FMCG or complex manufacturing.
• Strong background in asset management and maintenance strategies.
• Proven ability to drive safety, quality and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead Engineering and Maintenance across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Develop and maintain Vitaco's Asset Management System and lifecycle processes.
• Drive reliability improvement using RC/M and root-cause analysis.
• Embed a best-in-class Reliability Centered Maintenance framework.
• Foster a high-performing engineering culture through coaching.
• Lead continuous improvement and digital manufacturing initiatives.
• Oversee CMMS governance, data quality and MES integration.
• Manage engineering budgets and long-term asset replacement strategies.
• Lead spare parts optimisation and inventory governance.
• Collaborate with Operations, Capital Projects, Quality, Supply Chain and Safety.
• Ensure world-class Health, Safety, Quality and Environmental standards.
• Establish engineering standards and contractor governance across sites.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Multi-site leadership

RCM & reliability engineering

Asset lifecycle management

Continuous improvement

Digital transformation

Budgeting & capital planning

Stakeholder management

Safety & quality

People development

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical, Electrical or Industrial Engineering

Tools

CMMS governance

MES integration

Data analytics

Job description

This is an exciting time to join Vitaco as we continue to grow and invest in our manufacturing capability. As a key member of the Operations Leadership Team, you'll lead engineering, reliability and asset optimisation across our Auckland manufacturing operations, build high-performing teams and play a critical role in supporting our continued growth.

About Vitaco

At Vitaco, our vision is Empowering Healthier Lives.

We are one of Australasia's leading health and wellness companies, employing more than 650 people across New Zealand and Australia. Our portfolio includes trusted brands such as Musashi, Nutra-Life, Healtheries, Athena and Balance, with products manufactured and distributed to customers across Australasia and more than 30 countries worldwide.

We're incredibly proud to have been recognised as an HRD 5-Star Employer of Choice for two consecutive years (2025 & 2026), reflecting our commitment to creating a workplace where our people can thrive.

About The Role

Reporting to the General Manager Operations, you'll lead a multidisciplinary engineering function responsible for ensuring our manufacturing assets operate safely, reliably and efficiently across multiple sites.

You'll be responsible for embedding best-practice asset care, leading reliability-centered maintenance initiatives, improving equipment performance and partnering closely with Operations, Capital Projects and Supply Chain to maximise manufacturing performance and support future growth.

You will also lead the development and execution of Vitaco's Asset Management Strategy and 5-Year Asset Management Roadmap, ensuring assets are managed through a structured lifecycle framework that optimises safety, compliance, reliability, risk and total cost of ownership.

Leading a team of approximately 16 engineering professionals, including six direct reports, you'll foster a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement while working closely with the wider Operations Leadership Team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Engineering and Maintenance function across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Develop and maintain Vitaco's Asset Management System, ensuring governance, standards and lifecycle processes support sustainable manufacturing performance.
• Drive reliability improvement through the application of asset criticality, FMEA, root cause analysis and defect elimination methodologies.
• Develop and embed a best-in-class Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) framework.
• Build a positive, high-performing engineering culture through coaching and leadership.
• Lead continuous improvement and digital manufacturing initiatives.
• Lead digital engineering and manufacturing initiatives including CMMS governance, engineering master data quality, MES integration, data analytics and predictive maintenance capabilities.
• Manage engineering budgets, maintenance planning and long-term asset replacement strategies.
• Lead spare parts optimisation, inventory governance and critical asset support strategies to minimise operational risk and optimise working capital.
• Partner with Operations, Capital Projects, Quality, Supply Chain and Safety teams to deliver outstanding business outcomes.
• Ensure world-class Health, Safety, Quality and Environmental standards are maintained across all engineering activities.
• Establish engineering standards, contractor governance and lifecycle project handover requirements across all manufacturing sites.

About You

You're an experienced engineering leader who enjoys solving complex problems, developing people and creating sustainable operational improvements.

To Be Successful In This Role You'll Bring

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Industrial Engineering.
• Extensive engineering leadership experience within FMCG, food manufacturing or another complex manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience leading engineering teams across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Strong expertise in Reliability Centered Maintenance, preventative maintenance and asset management.
• Strong expertise in asset lifecycle management, reliability engineering and risk-based maintenance strategies.
• Experience driving continuous improvement and digital transformation initiatives.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including budgeting and capital planning.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and communication skills.
• A leadership style that builds trust, accountability and high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated success developing technical capability, succession planning and engineering leadership pipelines.
• A genuine passion for safety, quality and operational excellence.

Why Join Vitaco?

• Competitive salary with annual salary review
• Discounts on our amazing health and wellness products.
• Access to wellness initiatives and subsidized onsite café.
• Naturopathic advice from in-house experts.
• A fun, supportive team environment that champions collaboration and innovation.
• Celebrate your birthday with a day off!

Applications will be considered before the closing date