Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a maintenance team to ensure safety and reliability in a chemical manufacturing site.
- Company: Join a top-tier COMAH chemical manufacturer focused on innovation and safety.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Opportunity for continuous improvement and collaboration across departments.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on safety and efficiency in a high-stakes industry.
- Qualifications: Degree in engineering and 5+ years of relevant experience required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 ÂŁ per year.
As the Maintenance Manager you will manage and lead the maintenance team and support reliability, and project delivery function for an Upper Tier COMAH chemical manufacturing site. Ensure asset integrity, legal compliance, and safe, reliable plant performance while delivering OPEX projects and supporting CAPEX projects aligned to business strategy. Act as a key custodian of the sites Maintenance, MI program and contractor management, embedding robust engineering standards and disciplined execution across maintenance and projects.
Job Responsibilities
- Maintenance & Reliability Leadership
- Own the site maintenance strategy (preventive, predictive, and corrective), aligned with COMAH safety requirements and plant criticality.
- Maintain mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and control assets to achieve high availability and integrity—especially for high‑hazard equipment (e.g., reactors, storage tanks, formaldehyde handling systems).
- Implement reliability‑centred maintenance (RCM), failure mode & effects analysis (FMEA), and defect elimination to reduce unplanned downtime.
- Establish and manage spares strategy and obsolescence plans for critical equipment.
- Drive improvement and compliance with Bakelite EU Maintenance & Reliability KPI’s for the site.
- Management of mechanical integrity programs (thickness surveys, NDT, inspections, calibration/testing of relief devices).
- Safety & COMAH Compliance
- Ensure maintenance and project work protects the Safety Report assumptions and Safety Instrumented Functions (SIFs) integrity.
- Involvement with PHA (HAZOP/LOPA).
- Support Permit‑to‑Work systems (isolation, line‑breaking, hot work, confined space, excavation) and control of ignition sources.
- COMAH Duty Manager on call rotation.
- Project Management (CAPEX/OPEX)
- Assist with delivering the site’s CAPEX portfolio from concept to handover: scope, feasibility, on‑site management and commissioning.
- Involvement with Management of Change (MoC) for equipment, process, controls, and documentation changes and pre‑startup safety reviews (PSSR).
- Manage contractors/vendors: pre‑qualification, competence assessment, RAMS review, site induction, supervision, and performance.
- Manage contractors to construct and commission based on "issued for construction" designs in collaboration with the Project Manager.
- Where necessary and in accordance with agreed processes, ensure design alignment with corporate engineering standards, best available techniques, and lifecycle cost/maintainability.
- People, Culture & Stakeholder Management
- Lead and develop multi‑disciplinary maintenance team.
- Build strong interfaces with Operations, EHS, Quality, Supply Chain, and Corporate Engineering.
- Promote a positive culture and speak‑up environment for safety; lead incident investigations.
- Communicate plans, and risks clearly to leadership and regulators where appropriate.
- Implement continuous improvement in maintenance and shutdown execution.
- Utilise condition monitoring, vibration analysis, thermography, online diagnostics, and data analytics to improve reliability.
- Optimise energy usage and emissions performance (aligned to ISO 50001 where applicable).
Education & Experience
- Essential Qualifications
- Degree (BEng/BSc) in Mechanical, Electrical, or Control/Instrumentation Engineering (Preferred).
- Demonstrable experience (5+ years) in maintenance/reliability and project delivery within chemical or process industries.
- Upper Tier COMAH site experience with proven maintenance management leadership.
- Strong knowledge of UK regulatory frameworks: COMAH, DSEAR/ATEX, PUWER, LOLER, PSSR, Confined Space, Functional Safety (IEC 61511), EAWR.
- Proven competence in Permit‑to‑Work systems, mechanical/electrical isolation, and contractor control.
- Proficiency with CMMS (e.g., SAP PM) and project management software (e.g., MS Project).
- Desirable Certifications / Training
- NEBOSH General Certificate
- Functional Safety (IEC 61511) awareness.
- Project Management (e.g., Prince2)
- ISO Systems familiarity: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and ideally ISO 50001 (energy).
- Experience & Skills
- Experience of leading/supporting on CAPEX projects from design through to construction within operating plants.
- Maintenance scheduling & planning of preventive, reactive & shutdown activities, including material management.
- Leading reliability/continuous improvement through the use of problem‑solving tools/methodologies (A3 Thinking, 3C’s, 5 Why, Fishbone, FMEA etc).
- Contractor and vendor management; pre‑qualification and performance management.
- Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation and control systems familiarity.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
Key Behaviours
- Safety‑first & process safety mindset; challenges unsafe conditions and decisions.
- Ownership & accountability for asset integrity and project outcomes.
- Structured & disciplined in planning, controls, and documentation.
- Departmental collaboration; Operations, EHS, Engineering and Quality; fosters learning culture.
- Continuous improvement orientation and data‑driven decision‑making.
Maintenance Manager in Barry employer: Bakelite Synthetics
Contact Detail:
Bakelite Synthetics Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Maintenance Manager in Barry
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at local events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their needs, especially around maintenance and reliability leadership. We want to see that you’re not just a fit on paper but also in practice!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills through real-life examples. When discussing your experience, highlight specific projects where you’ve implemented reliability-centred maintenance or managed contractors effectively. This will help us see your hands-on expertise.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team and contributing to our maintenance strategy.
We think you need these skills to ace Maintenance Manager in Barry
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Maintenance Manager role. Highlight your experience in maintenance and reliability, especially within chemical or process industries. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of how you’ve improved maintenance strategies or led successful projects. This helps us see the impact you've made in previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and concise. Avoid jargon unless it's relevant to the role. We appreciate straightforward communication that gets to the point—just like we do in our work!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Bakelite Synthetics
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your technical knowledge related to maintenance and reliability, especially in the context of COMAH sites. Be ready to discuss specific methodologies like RCM and FMEA, as well as your experience with mechanical integrity programs.
✨Safety First
Since safety is paramount in this role, be prepared to talk about your experience with safety regulations and compliance. Familiarise yourself with UK regulatory frameworks such as DSEAR/ATEX and PSSR, and think of examples where you've ensured safety in past projects.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
This position requires strong leadership, so come equipped with examples of how you've led teams in the past. Discuss how you've fostered a positive culture and managed multi-disciplinary teams, highlighting any specific challenges you overcame.
✨Project Management Prowess
Be ready to showcase your project management skills, particularly in CAPEX and OPEX projects. Talk about your experience with managing contractors and vendors, and how you've ensured projects are delivered on time and within budget while maintaining high standards.