At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead maintenance strategies and ensure brewing equipment operates efficiently and reliably.
- Company: Join AB InBev, a global leader in brewing with iconic brands.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, health perks, a beer allowance, and generous holidays.
- Other info: Dynamic culture focused on collaboration, growth, and making a difference.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced brewery while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Degree in engineering and experience in maintenance leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 € per year.
Ownership Purpose: Brewing the world’s most loved beers and building brands consumers love, AB InBev is where ownership, ambition, and action thrive. Our portfolio of iconic brands includes global classics like Stella Artois, Budweiser, and Corona, and well-known favourites such as Camden Hells, Beck’s, and Leffe. We empower you to dream big, lead change, and create a long-lasting legacy. We value relentless problem-solvers who take accountability, embrace challenges, and turn bold goals into results through resilience and hard work.
What's in it for you:
- Benefits for you and your family to help your physical and mental health
- Competitive parental leave and pension double contributions
- 25 days holidays per year
- Employee benefits to help your physical and mental health and overall well-being (travel insurance, gym memberships, discounted services, dental, etc.)
- A beer allowance to enjoy our brands
- 2 volunteer days a year to support your local community
- WPA Private Medical Care
- 26 weeks paid leave for primary caregiver
The Role: We are seeking an experienced Maintenance Reliability Manager to take ownership of the maintenance and reliability strategy for our Brewing Department within a high-performing, fast-paced brewery environment. This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for ensuring that all brewing assets, utilities interfaces, and supporting infrastructure operate safely, efficiently, and with best-in-class reliability. You will combine strategic ownership of maintenance systems with hands-on operational leadership to drive performance today while building sustainable capability for tomorrow.
You will lead the deployment of world-class maintenance and reliability practices, embedding continuous improvement, strengthening technical capability, and ensuring long-term asset performance and cost optimisation.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Maintenance Strategy & Reliability Leadership
- Own and execute the Brewing Department maintenance and reliability strategy.
- Translate production and business needs into robust asset care strategies.
- Lead the Maintenance Pillar within the site management system (VPO – Voyager Plant Optimisation).
- Drive long-term asset performance, reliability improvement, and cost optimisation.
- Execution Excellence
- Ensure effective planning, scheduling, and execution of all Brewing maintenance activities.
- Drive high levels of schedule compliance, backlog management, and maintenance discipline.
- Own key maintenance KPIs including availability, MTBF, downtime, cost, and reliability performance.
- Lead structured response to breakdowns and chronic losses, ensuring RCA and sustainable fixes.
- Ensure accurate CMMS execution (SAP/Sigma), including work order quality and feedback loops.
- People Leadership & Capability Development
- Lead, coach, and develop maintenance planners, reliability engineers, and Plant Technical Experts.
- Build strong technical capability in fault finding, condition monitoring, and structured problem solving.
- Develop apprentices and frontline engineers through training plans and hands-on coaching.
- Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
- Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving
- Embed structured tools such as 5 Whys, PDCA, Abnormality Management, and RCA.
- Lead initiatives to eliminate chronic losses and improve overall equipment effectiveness.
- Drive improvements across safety, quality, throughput, energy, and cost.
- Ensure adherence to SOPs, standards, and maintenance best practices.
- Asset Care, Compliance & Utilities
- Ensure safe, compliant, and reliable operation of brewing equipment and utilities systems (steam, refrigeration, compressed air, cooling systems).
- Support food safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance requirements including audits and inspections.
- Own engineering inputs into safety and quality compliance standards.
- Support VPO audits and maturity assessments.
- Planning, Spares & CAPEX
- Own spare parts strategy including critical spares identification and inventory optimisation.
- Partner with planning teams to ensure robust long-, medium-, and short-term maintenance plans.
- Lead CAPEX projects and new equipment introductions, ensuring maintainability and reliability by design.
- Own Management of Change (MOC) for brewing engineering modifications.
- Additional Responsibilities
- Provide hands-on support during breakdowns and escalations.
- Ensure completion and quality of all maintenance documentation and CMMS updates.
- Support development of SOPs, training materials, and maintenance documentation control.
- Participate in reliability events including PM optimisation, CIL, and SOP reviews.
- Support OEMs and contractors on site to ensure effective execution and knowledge transfer.
- Support 5S implementation and sustainment activities.
- Attend training courses and operational meetings as required.
What we’re looking for:
- Degree (or equivalent experience) in Mechanical, Electrical, or Automation Engineering.
- Significant experience in maintenance and reliability leadership within high-speed manufacturing or process environments (brewing or FMCG desirable).
- Proven track record of delivering maintenance strategy and reliability improvement at scale.
- Strong leadership experience managing engineering or technical teams.
- Strong knowledge of CMMS systems (SAP preferred) and maintenance data analysis tools.
- Strong fault-finding capability across mechanical, electrical, and automation systems.
- Experience within World Class Manufacturing / TPM / structured maintenance environments.
- Strong understanding of utilities systems (steam, refrigeration, compressed air, cooling systems).
- Strong analytical capability (e.g. Power BI or similar tools).
- Desirable: Experience in brewing, batch processing, or high-speed packaging environments.
- Knowledge of refrigeration plant, steam systems, heat exchangers, and compressed air networks.
- Experience delivering CAPEX or large-scale reliability improvement programmes.
Why build your career with us: We recruit for mindset, ambition, cultural fit, and growth opportunities. UNIQUE CULTURE: We are proud to be part of something bigger than ourselves and are passionate about building upon our company’s long legacy. We believe in collaboration and candor, which results in a dynamic culture with open communication. BRANDS EVERYONE LOVES: We are part of the collective, global history of beer. We are the proud makers of more than 500 iconic brands, from beloved international classics to local favourites. GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES: Our people grow at the pace of their talent. We empower our people to learn, expand their perspectives, and unlock career growth. In an environment where commitment to excellence pays off, our people are able to deepen their impact and create a long-lasting legacy.
Maintenance Reliability Manager – Brewing in Preston employer: AB InBev UK
At AB InBev, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters ownership, ambition, and collaboration. Located in Samlesbury, our brewery provides not only competitive benefits such as generous parental leave and a beer allowance but also ample opportunities for personal and professional growth within a dynamic environment. Join us to be part of a legacy where your contributions matter and where you can thrive alongside some of the most iconic brands in the world.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Maintenance Reliability Manager – Brewing in Preston
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at AB InBev on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by knowing your stuff! Research AB InBev’s brewing processes and maintenance strategies. Show them you’re not just a fit for the role but also passionate about their brands.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your problem-solving skills! Be ready to tackle hypothetical scenarios related to maintenance reliability. They’ll want to see how you think on your feet and handle challenges.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team and owning your career path.
We think you need these skills to ace Maintenance Reliability Manager – Brewing in Preston
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Brewing:When writing your application, let your love for brewing shine through! Mention any relevant experiences or projects that highlight your enthusiasm for the industry and how you can contribute to our iconic brands.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs, so don’t hold back on showcasing your maintenance and reliability expertise!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and achievements. Remember, clarity is key!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at AB InBev UK
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your technical knowledge related to maintenance and reliability in brewing. Understand the key systems like CMMS, utilities, and fault-finding techniques. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're not just a candidate, but a potential leader in the field.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led teams or projects in the past. Highlight your experience in coaching and developing others, as this role requires strong people leadership. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Familiarise yourself with structured tools like 5 Whys and PDCA. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented these in previous roles to drive improvements. This shows that you align with their focus on accountability and continuous improvement.
✨Cultural Fit Matters
Research AB InBev's culture and values. They value ownership, ambition, and collaboration. Be prepared to share how your personal values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their dynamic culture. Authenticity goes a long way!
