Engineering Manager

Engineering Manager (Chemicals) – Staff – Salary + Benefits – Site Based – North Wales

Our leading chemicals manufacturing client is seeking an Engineering Manager on a staff basis. The Engineering Manager will lead the engineering and maintenance function, ensuring the safe, reliable and efficient operation of all plant assets. Reporting to the Site Manager, you will be responsible for engineering strategy, asset integrity, maintenance management, capital projects and statutory compliance, while driving a culture of continuous improvement across the site.

This is a role requiring technical expertise, excellent people management skills and experience operating within a manufacturing or high-hazard process environment. You will be managing a direct team of 10 including 4 E&I Techs, 4 Mech Techs, 1 Reliability Engineer and 1 Process Engineer.

Key Responsibilities:

Engineering Leadership

• Lead and develop the engineering and maintenance team, promoting a strong safety and continuous improvement culture.
• Develop and deliver the site's engineering strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Manage engineering budgets, resources and performance through effective KPI monitoring.
• Provide technical leadership, coaching and development to engineering personnel.

Asset Integrity & Maintenance

• Develop and maintain an effective asset integrity management programme.
• Implement preventative and predictive maintenance strategies to maximise equipment reliability and availability.
• Ensure statutory inspections, equipment condition monitoring and engineering documentation are maintained to the highest standards.
• Oversee mechanical, electrical and instrumentation maintenance activities, including preventative, corrective and shutdown maintenance.
• Improve maintenance planning, scheduling and backlog management using the site's CMMS.
• Manage engineering contractors and specialist service providers to ensure safe and effective delivery of work.

Engineering Systems & Governance

• Preventative maintenance programmes
• Asset management and equipment criticality assessments
• Engineering standards and procedures
• Management of Change (MOC)
• Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA)
• Spare parts strategy, Engineering document control, Maintenance performance reporting and KPIs, Shutdown planning and execution.

Capital Projects

Support the delivery of capital investment projects from concept through commissioning by:

• Managing contractors, budgets and project schedules
• Supporting installation, commissioning and safe operational handover

Projects may include plant upgrades, infrastructure improvements, environmental initiatives, reliability improvements and new process equipment.

Compliance

Ensure engineering activities comply with all relevant legislation and company standards, including:

• COMAH Regulations, Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (PSSR), LOLER, DSEAR, Electricity at Work Regulations, Environmental Permit requirements.

Support regulatory inspections and audits involving the HSE, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and insurance providers.

Continuous Improvement

Drive improvements across:

• Plant reliability and equipment availability, Maintenance efficiency, Asset lifecycle performance, Energy efficiency, Engineering standard, Contractor performance, Site engineering culture.

Person Specification:

Essential

• Degree, HNC or HND in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Significant engineering management experience within manufacturing or the process industries.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering and maintenance teams.
• Strong understanding of asset integrity, maintenance management and engineering best practice.
• Experience managing engineering contractors and external service providers.
• Demonstrable success delivering engineering improvement and capital projects.

Desirable

• Mechanical engineering background.
• Experience within a COMAH, chemical, pharmaceutical, oil & gas or other high-hazard process environment.
• Experience implementing or developing CMMS systems.
• Chartered Engineer status, or working towards professional registration.