At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering excellence and drive cultural change in a dynamic food manufacturing environment.
- Company: Gafoor, a fast-growing family-owned food manufacturer in Preston.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, relocation assistance, free meals, and enhanced pension.
- Other info: Join a supportive team with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of engineering and make a real impact in a growing business.
- Qualifications: Degree-level engineering qualification and proven leadership in food manufacturing.
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK (Relocation assistance available)
Salary: £70,000 - £80,000 per annum dependent on experience, specifically in relation to candidates with experience in the meat / poultry processing sector
Job type: Full time, Permanent
Shape the Future of Engineering at Gafoor
This is an opportunity to build, influence and transform. Gafoor is a fast-growing, family-owned food manufacturing business supplying major UK grocery, retail and wholesale customers from our modern, BRC-accredited facility in Preston. With 500 employees and a 24/5 operation spanning live intake through to finished product distribution, we are at a pivotal stage in our growth. We are investing in capability, infrastructure and leadership - and we are looking for a Head of Engineering.
About the Role:
Why This Role is Different:
- Strategic influence - A seat at the leadership table, shaping investment and integration of new technology.
- Autonomy - The scope to design and implement a best-in-class engineering roadmap.
- Transformation opportunity - The mandate to elevate engineering culture and embed preventative and predictive maintenance excellence.
- Commercial impact - Direct accountability for OEE, downtime reduction, cost control and performance optimisation.
- Real scale - Leadership of a multi skilled engineering team supporting a complex, high-throughput food manufacturing environment.
This role offers the rare balance of hands-on operational leadership and long-term strategic direction. Please note that sponsorship is not available for this role and therefore candidates must have the legal right to live and work in the UK to be considered.
What You'll Be Responsible For:
- Driving cultural change and engineering excellence across the function
- Embedding a robust preventative and predictive maintenance framework
- Delivering measurable improvements in availability, efficiency and waste reduction
- Managing KPI performance, budgets and contractor relationships
- Leading a structured program of capital expenditure
- Ensuring engineering compliance with BRC requirements/standards
- Aligning engineering capability with ambitious business growth plans
- Be an active member of the company's leadership team and play a key role in shaping the day-to-day management and culture of the wider team.
This is a visible leadership role requiring flexibility to support a 24/5 operation.
Who Will Thrive Here/What we are looking for:
You will be an experienced engineering leader from a food manufacturing background - ideally meat or poultry processing - who combines technical credibility with commercial acumen. You will bring:
- Degree-level (or equivalent) Engineering qualification
- Proven success leading multi-skilled engineering teams
- Strong experience implementing preventative maintenance and CI programmes
- Experience of managing 3rd party contractors and CDM compliance
- Experience managing capital expenditure projects
- Excellent I.T skills, all standards Microsoft packages
- Experience within BRC or similarly regulated environments
- A track record of improving OEE and operational performance
- The confidence to influence at board and shop-floor level
Most importantly, you will be motivated by building something stronger than what you inherited.
What You Gain/Why Join Gafoor:
- Competitive salary with flexibility for sector expertise
- Relocation package for candidates relocating (Relocation budget up to £5000)
- Genuine leadership influence within a growing, ambitious business
- The opportunity to shape culture, standards and long-term engineering strategy
- Free parking and onsite canteen serving fresh hot meals each day
- A business that values performance, accountability and continuous improvement
- Staff shop / discounted products
- PPE and uniform provided
- Enhanced pension and holiday entitlement with continuous service
If you are seeking the chance to join a well-established company at an exciting stage in their growth, please click the APPLY button to send your CV in for immediate consideration.
Head of Engineering - Food Manufacturing in Preston employer: All The Top Bananas
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Engineering - Food Manufacturing in Preston
✨Join Local Manufacturing Groups
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✨Apply Directly Through Company Websites
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Engineering - Food Manufacturing in Preston
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to All The Top Bananas specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at All The Top Bananas
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with All The Top Bananas, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like All The Top Bananas value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
