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- Tasks: Lead and manage a team of engineers, driving electrical safety and performance improvements.
- Company: British Sugar is the UK's largest sugar producer, committed to innovation and sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, opportunities for professional growth, and a chance to lead impactful projects.
- Why this job: Join a transformative role at the heart of automation and reliability in food manufacturing.
- Qualifications: Chartered Engineer status with strong expertise in electrical engineering and proven leadership experience.
- Other info: Be part of a major investment in cutting-edge technology at a centre of excellence.
British Sugar is a home-grown success story and one of the most efficient and competitive beet processers in the world. Around 3,500 farmers based in East Anglia and the East Midlands supply our four advanced manufacturing sites with eight million tonnes of sugar beet every year. We, in turn, make this in to over 1 million tonnes of sugar, serving customers across the UK, Ireland and increasingly growing commercially in the EU and world sugar markets.
If you would like to know a bit more about this opportunity, or are considering applying, then please read the following job information.
Salary Range £65,000.00 to £70,000.00
Lead. Influence. Transform.
Are you a visionary engineer ready to lead the electrical and control function in a pivotal food manufacturing site? Do you thrive on strategic thinking, developing people, and owning site-wide reliability and safety?
At British Sugar, we’re investing in the future. As our Electrical & Control Lead Engineer, you’ll be at the heart of a major transformation— whilst leading the team and ensuring Electrical and Control Reliability, you will also be supporting a high-impact E&C infrastructure upgrade that underpins our long-term success.
Why This Role Stands Out
We’re commissioning a multi-million-pound investment in high-speed packaging and palletising technology at our Bury St Edmunds site. This isn’t just a maintenance role—it’s a strategic leadership position at the core of our automation and reliability journey.
You’ll lead the entire electrical and control infrastructure, working alongside capital project teams to deliver step-change improvements and enable our Industry 4.0 ambitions.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
Lead and line-manage a team of dedicated Electrical & Control Engineers and technicians.
Influence and support multi-skilled technicians across the site, driving high standards.
Own electrical safety, compliance, and performance improvement programmes.
Develop and deliver long-term reliability, risk, and asset integrity strategies across a £250m estate.
Manage all electrical and control changes—from small-scale modifications to capital projects.
Champion cybersecurity in control systems and enable digital resilience.
Drive defect elimination, reduce downtime, and optimise throughput.
Lead cross-site expert forums, sharing best practice and standardising approaches.
Coach and develop engineers, technicians, and production teams to build site-wide competence.
Support strategic decision-making and deputise for the Engineering Support Manager as needed.
What You’ll Bring
Chartered Engineer status (or equivalent experience).
Strong expertise in electrical engineering, controls, and industrial instrumentation.
Proven leadership in maintenance, reliability, and compliance.
Experience managing technical teams and influencing larger operational groups.
Excellent coaching, communication, and decision-making skills.
A track record of leading continuous improvement and engineering excellence.
About the Site
Our Bury St Edmunds Customer Supply site is British Sugar’s centre of excellence for icing sugar and consumer packaging. We produce over 80 million 1kg packs and 53,000 tonnes of icing sugar annually. The site is undergoing a bold transformation—upgrading to cutting-edge automation, boosting reliability, and preparing for the future. A significant E&C infrastructure investment is your next big challenge.
Why Join British Sugar?
We’re the UK’s largest sugar producer, processing the entire UK sugar beet crop and supporting over 7,000 jobs. We invest continuously in safety, sustainability, and innovation—empowering our people to lead lasting change.
Ready to Lead Real Impact?
This is a rare opportunity to step into a site-critical role where your leadership will shape the future of our factory and team. If you’re a strategic, people-focused engineering leader—we want to hear from you.
Apply now and power the next chapter in British Sugar’s success
Senior Engineering Leader - Electrical employer: British Sugar PLC
Contact Detail:
British Sugar PLC Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Engineering Leader - Electrical
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with British Sugar's operations and recent projects, especially the multi-million-pound investment in automation at the Bury St Edmunds site. Understanding their current challenges and goals will help you demonstrate your strategic thinking during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the electrical engineering and food manufacturing sectors. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with individuals who may have insights into British Sugar's culture and expectations for this role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you've successfully managed technical teams in the past. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've driven continuous improvement and engineering excellence in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the latest trends in Industry 4.0 and cybersecurity in control systems. Being knowledgeable about these topics will not only impress during interviews but also show that you're aligned with British Sugar's ambitions for digital resilience and innovation.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Engineering Leader - Electrical
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in electrical engineering and leadership roles. Emphasise any relevant projects or achievements that align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for the role and the company. Discuss how your skills and experiences make you the ideal candidate to lead the electrical and control function at British Sugar.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your application, focus on your proven track record in maintenance, reliability, and compliance. Provide specific examples of how you've led teams and driven continuous improvement in previous roles.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Demonstrate your leadership capabilities by discussing your experience in coaching and developing teams. Mention any successful initiatives you've led that improved performance or safety standards.
How to prepare for a job interview at British Sugar PLC
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Senior Engineering Leader, it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership capabilities. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams, influenced operational groups, and driven high standards in previous roles.
✨Highlight Your Technical Expertise
Make sure to discuss your strong background in electrical engineering, controls, and industrial instrumentation. Be ready to explain complex concepts in a way that shows your depth of knowledge and ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
British Sugar values innovation and engineering excellence. Share specific instances where you've led continuous improvement initiatives or implemented strategies that enhanced reliability and performance in previous projects.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
Given the strategic nature of this role, be prepared to discuss your approach to long-term reliability, risk management, and asset integrity strategies. Think about how you would support the company's Industry 4.0 ambitions and be ready to share your vision for the future.