Head of Machinery Maintenance Section

Virtucruit; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing company in Dammam is seeking a Machinery Maintenance Section Head to lead maintenance operations. The successful candidate will ensure optimal performance and safety of all machinery and oversee team management. Required qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field and over 7 years of experience in maintenance roles within food manufacturing. Proficiency in CMMS and strong leadership skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in maintenance roles within food manufacturing or FMCG.
• In-depth knowledge of food processing machinery and utility systems.
• Strong understanding of TPM and reliability engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead the maintenance section and manage a team of technicians.
• Develop preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Ensure rapid response to machinery breakdowns.

Skills

Team leadership

Troubleshooting

Preventive maintenance methodologies

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or Mechatronics

Tools

CMMS

Job description

Foreground is partnering with a leading food manufacturing company in Dammam to hire a Machinery Maintenance Section Head.

This leadership role is responsible for ensuring the optimal performance, reliability, and safety of all plant machinery and equipment in a fast-paced food production environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the maintenance section, managing a team of mechanical and electrical technicians to deliver high equipment availability and reliability.
• Develop, implement, and monitor preventive and predictive maintenance programs for all production and utility equipment.
• Ensure rapid response and troubleshooting of machinery breakdowns to minimize production downtime.
• Oversee maintenance planning, scheduling, and execution, ensuring compliance with food safety and quality standards.
• Manage spare parts inventory, procurement, and cost control to ensure availability and minimize operational costs.
• Drive root cause analysis (RCA) for major breakdowns and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Support installation, commissioning, and validation of new equipment and upgrades.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records, work orders, and compliance documentation.
• Train, mentor, and evaluate maintenance staff to build technical capabilities and foster a safety-first culture.
• Collaborate with engineering, production, and quality teams to support continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or equivalent technical discipline.
• 7+ years experience in maintenance roles within food manufacturing or FMCG, including supervisory or section head experience.
• In-depth knowledge of food processing machinery, packaging equipment, and utility systems.
• Strong understanding of preventive and predictive maintenance methodologies, TPM, and reliability engineering.
• Familiarity with food safety and quality standards (ISO, BRC, SFDA).
• Excellent troubleshooting, organizational, and team leadership skills.
• Experience using CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems).
• Strong communication and reporting skills; English required, Arabic is a plus.