Engineering Department Manager

Natures Way Foods is a leading manufacturer of prepared salads, coleslaw and “food-to-go” for supermarkets and retailers, and as such we work closely with farmers across Europe. Our culture is inclusive, and our people are diverse spanning 39 different languages. We operate four manufacturing facilities capable of producing over 326m units per year. Building on previous success, this year is set to be another exceptional year for our organisation. It is an exciting time to join Natures Way Foods as we are expanding our production lines and there is genuine opportunity to develop your skills and progress within the organisation.

We are currently looking for talented Engineering Department Managers to join our rapidly growing business in Selsey, West Sussex. You will be responsible for overseeing a team of engineers to ensure the efficient running of manufacturing operations. The role involves managing maintenance activities, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards together with NWF standards.

• Manage a team of engineers to optimise performance.
• Ensure all maintenance activities are conducted safely and in compliance with relevant regulations.
• Oversee planned and reactive maintenance to minimise downtime and maximise equipment efficiency.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational performance and reduce costs.
• Work closely with production and quality teams to support manufacturing objectives.
• Ensure proper documentation and reporting of engineering activities and equipment performance.
• Provide technical support and troubleshooting expertise to resolve engineering issues.
• Monitor engineering budget and resources effectively.
• Support training and development initiatives to upskill engineering staff.
• Manage contractors ensuring work is carried out to standard, and necessary work permits, method statements and risk assessments are in place.

The Engineering Departmental Manager is a hands-on role responsible for leading and directing the activity of the Engineering team to ensure the PPM schedule is delivered on time in full. This role will work closely with all other functional teams e.g: Technical, Production, Hygiene, Logistics, H&S, Finance and Supply Chain.

• HNC (or equivalent) qualification in Engineering.
• Proven experience in an engineering leadership role within a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to support, mentor and train apprentices.
• Ability to solve complex engineering issues.
• Ability to motivate and develop a team.
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations, including PUWER, LOLER, and COSHH.
• Hands-on experience with PLCs and control systems.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.

• Professional and positive approach.
• Strong engineering ability.
• Self-motivated.
• Coaching and mentoring style.
• Strong in building relationships and able to communicate at all levels.
• Team player, and able to work on own initiative.
• Meticulous.
• Solution focused and pragmatic approach to problem solving.
• Flexible.

What type of people succeed here? We look for passionate people, with a can-do attitude and an ambition to succeed. We strive to help our people in channelling that passion into everything they do, because your success is our success! We love people who have high standards & lots of ideas, because we are always striving to improve, and we want you to help us do that. Natures Way is a fun, fast and friendly environment where you will be surrounded by a passionate and dedicated team, who are committed to being the best at fresh. Apply now & join our family!