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- Tasks: Lead a dynamic engineering team and drive performance in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Join DS Smith, a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holiday, and various employee perks.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to innovation and positive change.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in sustainability while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Degree in Engineering and proven management experience required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
We are recruiting for an Engineering Manager at our Retail Marketing site in Ely. This is a key leadership role responsible for both the strategic and day-to-day delivery of the engineering function, supporting a fast-paced, customer-focused operation.
You will lead a small but highly capable team, ensuring high performance, strong engagement, and ongoing development across the function. Alongside people leadership, you will take ownership of the commercial performance of engineering, balancing cost control with operational efficiency and service delivery.
The role is accountable for ensuring all site equipment is maintained to the highest standard, driving reliability and minimising downtime. A strong focus will be placed on data-led decision making, including tracking and improving key metrics such as MTTR (Mean Time to Repair) and MTTP (Mean Time to Production/Performance), alongside wider engineering KPIs.
You will lead the development and execution of the maintenance strategy, ensuring it aligns with business needs while continuously improving performance through robust reporting, analysis, and improvement initiatives.
We’re looking for a credible and forward-thinking leader who champions DS Smith values, thrives in a commercial environment, and brings a proactive, continuous improvement mindset.
Key Responsibilities- Lead, coach and develop a small engineering team (Engineers, Apprentices, and Team Lead)
- Manage the commercial aspects of the engineering function, including budgeting and cost control
- Drive equipment reliability and performance through effective maintenance strategies
- Monitor and improve key performance metrics including MTTR and MTTP
- Own and enhance engineering data reporting, using insights to drive decisions and improvements
- Ensure effective planning and execution of maintenance to minimise disruption to production
- Drive compliance and continuous improvement in HSER standards
- Support site-wide operational performance through strong cross-functional collaboration
- Degree qualified or equivalent in an Engineering discipline
- Proven experience in an engineering management role within a manufacturing or production environment
- Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing small to medium-sized teams
- Experience managing budgets and commercial performance within an engineering function
- Strong analytical mindset with experience in data reporting and KPI management (e.g. MTTR, MTTP)
- Sound knowledge of continuous improvement tools and techniques
- Competent in Microsoft Office and familiar with SAP systems
- Proven ability to perform in a customer-centric, commercially driven environment
- Strong decision-making capability, particularly under pressure
- Ability to build strong relationships and influence stakeholders across the business
- Competitive salary
- Qualifying Sick Pay scheme
- Pension scheme & Life insurance
- Share Save scheme
- Income Protection
- 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Virtual GP, Occupational Health & free Flu vaccine
- Cycle to Work and shopping discounts
We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!
Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.
Engineering Manager employer: DS Smith
Contact Detail:
DS Smith Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Engineering Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the engineering field and let them know you're on the hunt for an Engineering Manager role. 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 values. Since DS Smith is all about sustainability and innovation, think about how your experience aligns with these principles. Bring examples of how you've driven performance and led teams in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your analytical skills! Be ready to discuss how you've used data to make decisions in your past roles. Highlight your experience with KPIs like MTTR and MTTP, as this will resonate well with the hiring team.
✨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 at DS Smith.
We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Engineering Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience, budget management, and any relevant engineering metrics you've worked with.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've driven performance improvements or led teams in previous positions.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since data-led decision making is key for this role, be sure to mention any experience you have with KPIs like MTTR and MTTP. We want to see how you've used data to make impactful decisions.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role without any hiccups!
How to prepare for a job interview at DS Smith
✨Know Your Metrics
Familiarise yourself with key performance metrics like MTTR and MTTP. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive improvements in your previous roles, as this will show your analytical mindset and ability to make data-led decisions.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership skills, especially in managing and developing small teams. Think about specific situations where you coached team members or improved team engagement, as this aligns with the role's focus on people leadership.
✨Understand the Business Needs
Research DS Smith and its operations to understand their commercial environment. Be prepared to discuss how you would balance cost control with operational efficiency, demonstrating your understanding of the engineering function's impact on the business.
✨Continuous Improvement Mindset
Be ready to talk about your experience with continuous improvement tools and techniques. Share specific examples of how you've implemented these strategies in past roles to enhance performance and compliance, which is crucial for this position.