Company Description
Daler-Rowney is a long-established manufacturer of fine art materials, inspiring creativity since 1783. Formed through the merger of the Daler Board Company and the George Rowney Company, the business combines British manufacturing heritage with ongoing innovation in artists’ materials. With production sites in the UK and the Dominican Republic, Daler-Rowney offers a broad range of products including acrylics, oils, watercolors, brushes, papers, and sketchbooks. Since 2016, the company has been part of the F.I.L.A. Group, providing access to a global portfolio of creative and educational brands. Daler-Rowney’s purpose is to make art accessible through quality, innovation, and reliable materials for artists at every level.
Role Description
The Engineering Manager is responsible for the management and development of engineering, maintenance and facilities across Daler-Rowney's manufacturing and distribution operations.
The role ensures the reliability, safety and efficiency of production equipment, buildings and site infrastructure, supporting production requirements and ensuring compliance with applicable health, safety and environmental legislation.
The position requires a hands‑on, commercially aware manager capable of balancing day‑to‑day operational demands with long‑term engineering improvements and investment projects.
Key Responsibilities
Engineering and Maintenance
- Manage engineering and maintenance activities across two operational sites
- Ensure the reliability, availability and performance of production machinery, utilities and site infrastructure (covering over 300 items of production and plant machinery).
- Develop and implement preventive and corrective maintenance programmes.
- Oversee contractors carrying out maintenance in accordance with our contractor management policy.
- Manage equipment breakdowns, technical troubleshooting, root‑cause analysis and continuous improvement.
- Coordinate engineering resources and maintenance priorities to minimise production downtime.
- Manage spare parts, maintenance contractors and technical service providers.
- Support the maintenance and development of Daler-Rowney’s existing ISO14001 certification
Facilities and Infrastructure
- Oversee the maintenance and development of manufacturing facilities, warehouses, offices and external infrastructure.
- Manage essential site services, including compressed air, water systems, electrical installations and building services.
- Coordinate minor building works, equipment installations and site modifications.
- Oversee contractors carrying out maintenance, refurbishment and infrastructure projects.
- Support the management of fire protection systems and other critical safety infrastructure.
- Ensure activities comply with legislation, HSE rules and insurance requirement
Health, Safety and Compliance
- Ensure engineering activities comply with relevant legislation and company policies.
- Coordinate machinery safety assessments and compliance with PUWER and LOLER requirements.
- Oversee engineering-related electrical safety, fire safety, working‑at‑height controls and contractor management.
- Maintain appropriate engineering records, inspection schedules, risk assessments and maintenance documentation.
- Work with relevant internal teams and external specialists to address compliance issues and implement corrective actions.
- Support the development and implementation of Daler-Rowney’s ISO 45001 certification.
Budget and Commercial Management
- Manage the annual engineering and maintenance budget, approximately £800K per annum
- Monitor expenditure, control costs and prioritise resources according to operational risk and business needs.
- Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations and negotiate with contractors and equipment suppliers.
- Manage external service providers and ensure value for money.
Production and Operational Improvement
- Work closely with production, operations, supply chain, finance and other departments to support business objectives.
- Deliver equipment upgrades and process improvements to increase production capacity and efficiency.
- Support the introduction of new machinery, production processes and packaging equipment.
Team and Stakeholder Management
- Manage and coordinate: the engineering team, currently comprising four team members
- Allocate workloads, set priorities and support staff development.
- Coordinate internal stakeholders, external contractors and specialist engineering companies.
- Report on engineering performance, project progress, expenditure and operational risks to the Manufacturing Director and other senior management.
- Coordinate engineering projects and maintenance activities across both sites
Essential Qualifications and experience
- Degree or equivalent qualification in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering or a related discipline.
- Significant experience in engineering management within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
- Proven experience managing maintenance, facilities and industrial equipment.
- Experience managing budgets, contractors, suppliers and external service providers.
- Good understanding of machinery safety, health and safety legislation and engineering compliance. Previous experience within a 14001 or 45001 organization would be an advantage.
- Experience leading a team and coordinating cross‑functional projects.
- Strong organizational, analytical, problem‑solving and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple operational priorities simultaneously.
Desirable Skills and Experience
- Experience in FMCG, packaging, chemical manufacturing, paint production or a similar industrial environment.
- Knowledge of compressed‑air systems, production machinery and building services.
- Experience with SAP, ERP systems and computerized maintenance management systems.
Key Personal Attributes
- Practical, proactive and solutions‑oriented approach.
- Strong organizational capabilities.
- Commercial awareness and budgetary discipline.
- Ability to work independently and make sound operational decisions.
- Strong contractor management and stakeholder coordination skills.
- Ability to prioritise safety, production continuity and long‑term asset reliability.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
