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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a mechanical team in maintaining critical processing assets and ensure operational efficiency.
- Company: Imerys, a global leader in mineral-based specialty solutions with a commitment to sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days leave, private medical insurance, and ongoing training opportunities.
- Other info: Long-term career stability with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Join a hands-on leadership role and make a real impact in a dynamic industrial environment.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 in mechanical engineering and proven maintenance experience required.
The predicted salary is between 37002 - 39460 £ per year.
The Company
Imerys is the world’s leading supplier of mineral-based specialty solutions for the industry with €3.4 billion in revenue and 12,300 employees in 40 countries in 2025. The Group offers high value-added and functional solutions to a wide range of industries and fast-growing markets such as solutions for the energy transition and sustainable construction, as well as natural solutions for consumer goods. Imerys draws on its understanding of applications, technological knowledge, and expertise in material science to deliver solutions which contribute essential properties to customers’ products and their performance. As part of its commitment to responsible development, Imerys promotes environmentally friendly products and processes in addition to supporting its customers in their decarbonization efforts.
The Position
Job Summary
- Location: St Austell, Cornwall
- Salary: £37,002.70 – £39,459.80 DOE, plus a Chargehand payment of £3,156.05
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 7.00am – 3.30pm (40 hours per week)
- Contract: Full-time, permanent
- Reporting to: Site Engineer
At Imerys, our maintenance teams play a vital role in ensuring our mineral processing operations run safely, efficiently and reliably. In return, we offer a comprehensive benefits package and long-term career stability. This includes:
- Competitive base salary aligned to experience and role
- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
- Pension, life assurance and income protection
- Private medical insurance and a range of wellbeing support
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and family-friendly policies
- Cycle to Work and salary sacrifice schemes
- Employee assistance programme, mental health support and wellbeing clinics
- Recognition awards and long service awards
You will also be supported through ongoing technical training and development, with opportunities to further your qualifications and progress your career within Imerys.
About the role
We are seeking a Mechanical / Centrifuge Team Chargehand to join our Performance Minerals maintenance team based at Drinnick Stores. This is a hands-on leadership role, responsible for supporting the safe and effective maintenance of critical processing assets across our Cornwall operations. The role focuses on centrifuges, kaolin grinders and associated mechanical plant. You will lead day-to-day maintenance activities, supporting planned preventative maintenance, breakdown response and continuous improvement work, while maintaining high standards of safety, quality and compliance. Working closely with engineering, operations, contractors and apprentices, you will play a key part in maintaining asset reliability and supporting site performance.
Key responsibilities
- Maintenance and fault finding
- Plan and carry out planned preventative, routine, refurbishment and reactive mechanical maintenance
- Diagnose and rectify mechanical faults on centrifuges, grinders and associated equipment
- Support breakdown response to minimise downtime and maintain production targets
- Leadership and coordination
- Provide day-to-day leadership to a specialist mechanical engineering team
- Coordinate maintenance activities with contractors and external suppliers
- Support and guide engineers and apprentices on site
- Continuous improvement and projects
- Support installation of new equipment and process modifications
- Provide engineering input to capital and improvement projects
- Apply continuous improvement principles such as Lean, 5S and structured CI tools
- Systems, safety and compliance
- Create, plan and close maintenance work orders using SAP
- Maintain accurate maintenance and compliance records
- Work in line with Imerys Safe Working Rules, Local Management Rules and site procedures
- Ensure compliance with health, safety and environmental legislation and ISO standards
- Maintain responsibility for engineering areas including workshops, stores and COSHH
- Test items for traces of NORM (naturally occurring radioactive materials) and handle as appropriate
What you will bring
Essential:
- NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in mechanical engineering
- Proven mechanical maintenance experience within an industrial or process environment
- Strong fault-finding and diagnostic skills
- Experience using SAP or a similar maintenance management system
- Strong health, safety and environmental awareness
- Valid license to drive in the UK must be comfortable towing a trailer due to transporting of large centrifuge bowls etc.
Desirable:
- Experience working with centrifuges, grinders or mineral processing equipment
- Previous chargehand or supervisory experience
- Welding experience (MMA and/or TIG)
Why Imerys?
At Imerys, our people are central to how we operate safely and sustainably. We value practical engineering expertise, strong teamwork and continuous improvement. This role offers long-term security, development opportunities and the chance to build a rewarding career within a global industrial organisation.
Position Type: Full time and Permanent
Mechanical / Centrifuge Team Chargehand employer: Imerys
Contact Detail:
Imerys Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Mechanical / Centrifuge Team Chargehand
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research Imerys and its values, especially their commitment to sustainability and innovation. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing a role at Imerys. Personal connections can make a huge difference!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to mechanical engineering and leadership. Think about specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your skills and how you’ve handled challenges in maintenance roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Imerys team. Good luck!
We think you need these skills to ace Mechanical / Centrifuge Team Chargehand
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Mechanical / Centrifuge Team Chargehand role. Highlight your relevant experience, especially in mechanical maintenance and leadership. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role at Imerys and how you can contribute to our team. Keep it concise but impactful – we love a good story!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of how you've improved processes or solved problems in previous roles. This helps us see the value you can bring to our team.
Apply Through Our Website: Remember, the only way to apply is through our website! It ensures your application gets to the right place and is considered fairly. So, don’t forget to hit that 'apply' button on our site!
How to prepare for a job interview at Imerys
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your mechanical engineering knowledge, especially around centrifuges and grinders. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience and how you've tackled maintenance challenges in the past.
✨Show Leadership Skills
As a Chargehand, you'll need to lead a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully coordinated maintenance activities or guided apprentices. Highlight your ability to motivate others and ensure safety compliance.
✨Familiarise Yourself with SAP
Since you'll be using SAP for maintenance management, it’s a good idea to get comfortable with it before the interview. If you have experience with similar systems, be ready to share how you used them effectively.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Imerys values continuous improvement, so think about how you've applied principles like Lean or 5S in your previous roles. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you made a positive impact on efficiency or safety.