Head of Engineering & Asset Reliability

We are working with an established, asset-intensive manufacturing business to appoint a Head of Engineering & Asset Reliability. This is a senior site leadership role with responsibility for engineering strategy, maintenance performance, capital delivery and the long-term reliability of a large and technically complex operation.

Operating within a 24/7 process manufacturing environment, you will lead a multi-disciplined engineering function and create the standards, structure and culture required to improve plant availability, strengthen compliance and deliver sustainable operational performance. The environment may be familiar to leaders from chemicals, energy, building products, minerals, paper, glass, cement or other continuous-process industries.

The role

As the senior engineering leader on site, you will provide visible leadership and work closely with operations, safety, finance and the wider leadership team. Your remit will span day-to-day engineering effectiveness and the longer-term development of the site's assets, people and infrastructure.

• Own and deliver the site engineering and asset-management strategy, aligned to safety, quality, service, cost and output objectives.
• Lead the mechanical, electrical, reliability and project-engineering teams, setting clear standards and building a high-performance, accountable culture.
• Improve plant availability and reliability through disciplined preventive and predictive maintenance, root-cause analysis and robust defect elimination.
• Drive maintenance transformation, introducing effective planning, scheduling, shutdown management, performance measures and continuous-improvement routines.
• Maintain strong governance of statutory and mandatory inspections, including pressure systems, lifting equipment and other regulated assets.
• Identify engineering risk early, develop practical mitigation plans and ensure priorities are understood and supported across the business.
• Develop annual maintenance budgets and multi-year capital plans, producing well-founded investment cases based on risk, return and operational need.
• Lead major maintenance, refurbishment and capital projects safely, on time and within budget, from concept and design through to commissioning.
• Manage engineering expenditure, contractors, suppliers and service agreements to achieve value, quality and reliable delivery.
• Build engineering capability through coaching, succession planning, competence development and clear career pathways.
• Keep abreast of relevant technologies and maintenance practices, applying innovation where it can materially improve safety, reliability or cost.
• Act as a credible engineering voice across the site, communicating clearly with colleagues, senior leaders, contractors and employee representatives.

About you

• You will be a rounded engineering leader who combines sound technical judgement with the ability to lead people, shape strategy and deliver change in a demanding operational setting.
• Senior engineering or maintenance leadership experience gained within a large-scale, asset-intensive manufacturing or process environment.
• A strong track record of improving safety, plant reliability, maintenance effectiveness and operational performance.
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• Practical knowledge of modern maintenance, asset-management and reliability principles, supported by strong planning and governance disciplines.
• Experience developing and delivering significant capital and major-maintenance programmes.
• A good working knowledge of relevant health, safety, environmental and statutory-compliance requirements.
• Degree-level engineering qualification, or equivalent professional experience; chartered status or membership of a relevant institution would be advantageous.
• A visible, calm and credible leadership style, with the confidence to challenge constructively and influence at every level.
• Experience of unionised environments, Lean, Six Sigma or structured continuous improvement would be beneficial but is not essential.

Why join?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a strategically important engineering function and have a genuine influence on the future performance of a complex manufacturing site. You will inherit a broad remit, capable teams and a clear mandate to strengthen reliability, modernise maintenance and shape future investment.

Salary and Package

£80,000 - £100,000 + Car Allowance, Pension, Holiday

How to apply

For a confidential discussion, please contact Carl Walker at Elevation Recruitment Group or apply with a current CV.