At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering teams to drive performance improvements and implement innovative solutions.
- Company: Join one of the UK's largest bakery businesses with a strong investment in team development.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for continuous improvement and collaboration across multiple sites.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a thriving FMCG business while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Degree in Engineering or equivalent experience, with proven leadership in fast-paced manufacturing.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
We have an opportunity for an experienced Site Engineering Lead to join the Engineering and Site Senior Leadership team at our highly automated Johnstone’s bakery site, which forms part of the 10 sites currently within the Finsbury Food Group. This is a fantastic chance to join one of the UK’s largest bakery businesses, who provides some of the top branded products along with outstanding prospects for growth and development.
At Finsbury Food Group, we are passionate about investing in our teams; supporting your career to meet its full potential and thrive in our growing group of bakeries. We have an extremely strong investment profile and continually look for ways to enhance our processes through innovation. This role is ideal for an experienced Engineering Leader looking to join a community of high calibre engineering leaders to deliver demonstrable gains in asset and people excellence.
You will be a key leader in the delivery of capital investment in a thriving FMCG business. The Site Engineering Lead will lead the engineering department on site to deliver the departmental and site strategies. Maximising OEE through robust leadership of the Engineering shift teams will be crucial to success, so strong leadership and team development capability are essential.
This role acts as the most senior engineering position on site and so will be required to be credible presenting to and influencing senior stakeholders. To be successful in this role, the candidate will have worked in a similar engineering leadership position within a fast-paced manufacturing sector. They will have demonstrable experience of leading and developing teams, change management and strong financial and performance success. Good stakeholder management and clear communication skills are essential as this is a fast-paced role with a need for adaptability, influencing and perseverance to drive sustained improvements.
This is what you’ll actually do! You’ll take full ownership of the engineering function on site, leading the delivery of the engineering strategy and driving measurable improvements in performance. Representing the site in a community of over ten bakeries sharing best practices in all aspects of asset excellence, delivering across our full balanced scorecard, with strong focus on Safety and Compliance at the forefront of everything you and your team do.
Another key focus will be maximising OEE through strong leadership of the engineering teams, ensuring high standards of reliability, responsiveness, and continuous improvement. You’ll build capability across the team by developing talent, strengthening succession pipelines, and embedding a high-performance culture. You’ll lead from the front in setting behavioural standards, championing the company’s values and Operational Excellence programme.
Using both internal best practice and external insights, you’ll identify and implement opportunities to improve efficiency, automation, and overall site performance. Alongside this, you’ll manage engineering budgets and resources effectively, ensuring robust financial control, optimised spare parts management, and delivery against key performance targets. As the senior engineering lead on site, you’ll also play a key role in influencing stakeholders and contributing to wider business strategy.
Ideally this is you!
- Degree or HND qualified in Engineering (or equivalent FMCG manufacturing experience)
- Proven experience leading and developing engineering teams in a fast-paced environment
- Strong track record of driving performance improvement and leading change
- Experience with automation and/or mechatronics within manufacturing
- Confident communicator with strong stakeholder management skills
- Highly organised with strong project management and problem-solving ability
- Able to balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational delivery
- Proactive, solutions-focused, and committed to continuous improvement
- Demonstrates strong leadership, accountability, and collaboration
- Open to new ideas and committed to implementing best practice
- Strong IT skills, including Excel and data analysis
- Professional, decisive, and confident working in a fast-paced environment
Site Engineering Lead in East Kilbride employer: Finsbury Food Group
Finsbury Food Group is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work environment in Mamhilad where you can thrive as a Reliability Lead. With enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with extensive learning opportunities, we prioritise employee growth and well-being while you contribute to our mission of delivering exceptional gluten-free products.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Site Engineering Lead in East Kilbride
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current employees at Finsbury Food Group. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company’s values and recent projects, especially around innovation and automation. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals, particularly in maximising OEE and leading teams. We want to see you shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Think of examples where you’ve successfully led teams or driven change in a fast-paced environment. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and make them impactful.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Finsbury Food Group family. Let’s get you that Site Engineering Lead role!
We think you need these skills to ace Site Engineering Lead in East Kilbride
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Site Engineering Lead role. Highlight your leadership experience, especially in fast-paced environments, and any specific achievements in engineering that demonstrate your capability.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for engineering and how your background aligns with our values at Finsbury Food Group. Don’t forget to mention your experience with automation and team development!
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your past roles, focus on measurable outcomes. Use numbers and examples to illustrate how you’ve driven performance improvements and led successful projects. This will help us see the impact you can bring to our team.
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. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our community at Finsbury Food Group!
How to prepare for a job interview at Finsbury Food Group
✨Know Your Engineering Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your engineering principles, especially those related to automation and mechatronics. Be ready to discuss specific projects you've led and how they improved performance or efficiency in a fast-paced environment.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading and developing teams. Think about times when you successfully managed change or improved team performance, and be ready to share these stories during the interview.
✨Communicate Clearly with Stakeholders
Since this role involves influencing senior stakeholders, practice articulating your ideas clearly and confidently. Use examples from your past experiences where effective communication led to successful outcomes.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Ability
Be prepared to discuss how you've tackled challenges in previous roles. Think of specific instances where your proactive approach led to solutions, particularly in relation to engineering processes or project management.
