Engineering Team Leader Process - North London
Do you want to lead a team that keeps our site running safely, efficiently, and to world‑class standards? Here’s your chance to make a real operational impact while developing people, processes, and performance within a fast‑paced Arla production environment.
This is a Monday-Friday days based role that sits within the Maintenance & Engineering function and supports the site’s operational strategy.
How you will make an impact In this role, you will lead a team of technicians/frontline colleagues responsible for maintaining and improving the site's dairy processing equipment, ensuring safe operations, technical excellence, and continuous improvement in line with site and departmental goals. The team supports critical production assets including milk reception and storage systems, pasteurisers, separators, homogenisers, heat exchangers, pumps, valves, CIP (Clean-in-Place) systems, process pipework and associated automated control equipment. You will play a key part in maintaining equipment reliability, supporting digital and LEAN transformation, and fostering a culture where people thrive.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Ensuring continuity and improvement of daily operations as a people manager.
- Maintaining safe working conditions and supporting LEAN, food safety and quality standards.
- Leading 2nd‑line fault finding and coordinating technical resource prioritisation, maintaining, troubleshooting and improving dairy processing equipment, including pasteurisers, separators, homogenisers, heat exchangers, pumps, valves, CIP systems, storage tanks, process pipework and associated automated control systems.
- Planning, improving and executing equipment maintenance aligned with departmental strategy.
- Leading, coaching and developing your team in accordance with Good Leadership and Good Values.
What will make you successful
You bring a strong technical foundation and experience within maintenance or engineering, combined with a people‑centred and structured leadership approach. You can balance hands‑on problem solving with strategic priorities and foster a culture of safety, digital adoption and continuous improvement. Experience working with process plant and dairy manufacturing equipment such as pasteurisers, separators, homogenisers, pumps, valves, heat exchangers and CIP systems would be advantageous. We imagine that you have several years of professional experience — typically three to five years for university graduates or more than ten years for technically trained profiles. You hold a skilled technical education, technical engineering qualification or an engineering apprenticeship, and you bring one to three years of technical and/or maintenance experience following your training, with Arla‑trained technicians also fitting well. You preferably have some prior leadership experience and are able to demonstrate practical use of LEAN ways of working. In terms of personal qualities, you bring a safety‑first, inclusive and people‑focused mindset. You communicate and collaborate effectively and show a strong commitment to continuous improvement, with openness to digital tools and data‑driven decision making.
What do we offer?
We’re committed to your growth and development, offering internal and external training opportunities. You’ll enjoy a competitive salary, 26 days holiday, matched pension contributions up to 6%, life assurance, and flexible benefits. At Oakthorpe, you’ll join a team proud of its high job satisfaction and steep learning curve, with plenty of challenges and support to help you succeed.
Would you like to join us?
If you want to make an impact and help shape the future of dairy, apply as soon as possible. We process applications on a continuous basis and will close recruitment once the right candidate is found. For additional information, please contact Chris Wakefield at chwak@arlafoods.com
Shape the Future of Dairy
Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.
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Ref.: 110604
Team Lead - Maintenance & Engineering - London employer: Arla
Arla Lockerbie is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment, where continuous improvement and operational excellence are at the forefront. Employees benefit from opportunities for professional growth, skill development, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in a fast-paced manufacturing setting. With a commitment to sustainability and a culture that values every team member, Arla is dedicated to helping you thrive in your career while shaping the future of dairy.
