Equipment Maintenance Manager

About The Role

Reporting to the Equipment and Mobilisation Manager, the Equipment Maintenance Manager is responsible for overseeing the workload of two in‑house Field Service Engineers, as well as managing subcontracted engineering providers across the UK. The role ensures all work is completed to a high standard, while maintaining customer satisfaction and meeting expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate maintenance activities for over 500 items of waste handling equipment (WHE), including compactors, balers, and other specialised equipment located on customer sites under fully inclusive rental contracts.
• Oversee the maintenance, repair and inspection of an additional 200 customer‑owned assets covered under service contracts.
• Ensure all equipment is maintained in line with safety, compliance and cost‑efficiency standards.
• Monitor and report on equipment performance, parts availability and maintenance costs.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, operational improvements and enhanced service delivery, as well as training needs within the team and subcontractors to ensure high performance and compliance.
• Review engineer worksheets for completion.
• Build return visits, further works, modifications, major overhauls and refurbishments into the planning schedule.
• Help plan monthly preventative maintenance schedules to ensure that the WHE continue to operate safely and efficiently with minimal downtime.
• Allocate resources to respond to breakdowns of equipment, ensuring communication between engineers/sub‑contractors and customers is always maintained.
• Audit sub‑contractors to ensure compliance with company policies, technical ability and safe working practices.
• Review and escalate where necessary the outcomes of services and breakdowns.
• Provide technical support to Key Account Managers across the business.
• Attend customer sites where required to investigate and resolve maintenance‑related issues.

Skills And Experience

The ideal candidate will come from an industrial‑based background with experience maintaining recycling and waste management equipment, such as balers and compactors, looking for progression into a management role.

• Time served or highly experienced in the methodology and requirements of repairs and maintenance of waste handling or associated equipment including:
• Understanding and experience of electrical circuits and testing/diagnostics on 3‑phase equipment.
• Understanding and experience of Hydraulic circuits and testing/fault finding.
• Experience of Mechanical engineering, fabricating & welding.
• Experience of maintenance documentation and legal requirements.
• Knowledge and experience of producing/reviewing risk assessments and method statements.
• Ability to multi‑task and delegate/escalate, where appropriate.
• Excellent face‑to‑face customer service and negotiating skills.
• IT literate with ability to use computer‑based systems e.g., Microsoft Office/CRM/ERP with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent written and oral communications with the ability to communicate clearly and concisely at all levels.
• Must have a ‘can do’ attitude and be flexible, resourceful, and able to work on own initiative with rapid, clear decision‑making.
• A full UK driving licence, as some travel will be required.

Qualifications And Knowledge

Relevant knowledge, experience and attitude supersede specific qualifications as this is a niche position, but the candidate should have:

• Relevant technical qualification.
• Relevant Health & Safety qualification.
• Evidence of recent training /learning.
• Demonstrate technical knowledge and competencies across the Electrical, Mechanical & Hydraulic arenas in recycling/waste management or a relevant industry.
• Experience of planning and organising maintenance tasks.
• Experience of delivering Operator Training/toolbox talks/briefings.

About You

We are Panda. We value waste. We’re in the business of waste management but that doesn’t just mean collecting bins. Behind every collection is a passionate team of people finding smarter, safer, and more sustainable ways to recycle and repurpose materials that would otherwise go to waste. Over the past 30 years, Panda has grown into a leading resource recovery business, bringing together almost 3,000 people across multiple brands, united by a shared vision and strong values. While our operations are diverse, our purpose is clear: to protect our people, support our customers, and create positive impact for the communities and environments we serve. At Panda, people are at the heart of everything we do. We work as one team, combining different skills, experiences, and perspectives to achieve shared goals. We care for each other’s wellbeing, encourage development, and support growth because we know we’re stronger together. We expect excellence in how we operate. High standards, bold thinking, and continuous improvement drive our passion for innovation. We challenge the ordinary, put safety first, and embrace new ideas while delivering practical, cost‑effective solutions that move our business forward. We own what we do. From day‑to‑day tasks to major projects, we take pride in our work and responsibility for the outcome. We don’t walk past problems we address them together. Our expertise, reliability, and care reflect who we are and the difference we make. And above all, we act with trust and integrity. Trust is built through open communication, honesty, and accountability. It allows us to move quickly, make confident decisions, and deliver results — knowing our people are empowered to do the right thing. Our journey depends on talented, committed people who want to make an impact. Take the first step and join us on the journey. Panda is committed to attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we operate and the people we serve.