At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering strategy, ensuring top-notch equipment reliability and food safety compliance.
- Company: Join a leading food manufacturing company focused on innovation and excellence.
- Benefits: Attractive salary, health benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a culture that champions safety and sustainability.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while driving continuous improvement.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in engineering, with strong leadership and food safety knowledge.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Responsible for developing and executing the engineering strategy, ensuring maximum equipment reliability, factory performance, food safety compliance, and capital project delivery.
Driving continuous improvement, asset reliability, operational excellence, and engineering best practice across growing, production, packaging, utilities, and site infrastructure.
A key role in supporting efficiency, quality, safety, and future growth plans.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Engineering Leadership
- Develop and implement the site's engineering strategy aligned with business objectives.
- Lead, coach, and develop engineering teams to create a high-performance culture.
- Establish succession planning, skills development, and talent management programmes.
- Drive accountability through clear KPIs and performance management.
- Asset Reliability & Maintenance
- Ensure the delivery of preventative, predictive, and condition-based maintenance programmes.
- Improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), uptime, reliability, and asset performance.
- Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective action processes for recurring equipment failures.
- Identify and implement inventory levels, ensuring critical parts are available.
- Manage our CMMS/EAM platform and ensure robust maintenance planning and execution.
- Food Safety & Compliance
- Ensure engineering activities comply with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements, that prevents contamination risks, foreign body hazards, and product quality issues.
- Support and maintain compliance with: BRCGS, HACCP principles, GMP, Health & Safety legislation and Environmental regulations.
- Manage engineering change controls to ensure all modifications are risk assessed and validated from a food safety, quality, and operational perspectives.
- Participate in regulatory, and third-party audits.
- Lead Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Identify opportunities to reduce downtime, waste, energy consumption, and maintenance costs.
- Promote data-driven decision-making and reliability engineering principles.
- Implement best practice maintenance methodologies across the site.
- Work closely with Technical, Growing, Production, and Hygiene teams to drive continuous food safety improvements focused on reducing food safety risks and downtimes through equipment reliability, hygienic design, automation, and preventative maintenance.
- Capital Projects
- Develop and manage annual engineering and capital expenditure budgets.
- Lead capital investment projects from concept through commissioning.
- Manage contractors, suppliers, and external engineering partners.
- Evaluate new technologies, automation opportunities, and process improvements.
- Utilities & Infrastructure
- Ensure reliable operation of site utilities including refrigeration, steam, compressed air, water treatment, heating, ventilation and any other building services.
- Develop energy management initiatives supporting sustainability goals.
- Maintain site infrastructure to support safe and efficient operations.
- Health, Safety & Environmental
- Champion a strong safety culture across engineering and operations.
- LOTO (lock-out/tag-out) procedures are followed, adhering to strict industry standards.
- Ensure compliance with site safe systems of work, permit-to-work processes, and contractor management procedures.
Qualifications
- Minimum 10 years' engineering experience within food manufacturing, high-care, high-risk, chilled, fresh, or ready-to-eat food manufacturing environments.
- At least 5 years in a senior engineering leadership role.
- Proven success managing engineering teams.
- Strong understanding of food manufacturing regulations and quality standards e. g., BRCGS, HACCP, GMP.
- Strong fault-finding skills: Using meters, diagrams, sensors and logic to identify the root cause of issues.
- Knowledge of PLCs, conveyors, motors, sensors.
- Mechanical competent in electrical panels, relays, drivers, sensors.
- Electrical competent in mechanical fitting, pneumatics, hydraulics.
- Familiarity with packaging machinery, refrigeration, steam systems, and/or compressed air systems.
- Continuously seeking ways to improve own knowledge and competencies.
- HNC/HND or equivalent in Engineering.
- City & Guilds 18th Edition wiring regulations.
• Short courses or specialist certificates in
- Pneumatics and hydraulics
- Welding and fabrication
- Mechanical fitting and alignment
- Plumbing
- IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent safety training.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Head of Engineering in Dunstable employer: J. PAO & CO. LIMITED
J. PAO & CO. LIMITED is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Dunstable where innovation and quality are at the forefront of our operations. We prioritise employee growth through continuous training and development opportunities, fostering a collaborative culture that values safety and excellence in food manufacturing. Join us to be part of a team that not only meets but exceeds industry standards, making a meaningful impact in the food sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Engineering in Dunstable
✨Join Engineering Meetups!
Get yourself along to local engineering meetups or tech conferences. These are great places to connect with like-minded folks and industry leaders who might just have a lead on that full-time Head of Engineering role you’re after at J. PAO & CO. LIMITED.
✨Show Off Your Projects!
Don’t be shy about showcasing your engineering projects. Whether it’s a funky app, a mechanical design, or a complex algorithm, having a solid portfolio on platforms like GitHub can really make you stand out. Plus, it gives potential employers at J. PAO & CO. LIMITED a taste of what you can bring to the table!
✨Engage with Online Communities
Dive into engineering forums and online communities, like Reddit or specific engineering Discord channels. Sharing your insights, asking questions, and being active can help you build connections that might lead to job opportunities at J. PAO & CO. LIMITED.
✨Apply Through Company Websites
When you spot a role like Head of Engineering at J. PAO & CO. LIMITED, apply directly through their website. Often, this can show your genuine interest in the company and you might just get noticed quicker than via typical job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Engineering in Dunstable
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Head of Engineering, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at J. PAO & CO. LIMITED a clear picture of the value you can bring.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to J. PAO & CO. LIMITED specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.
How to prepare for a job interview at J. PAO & CO. LIMITED
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with J. PAO & CO. LIMITED, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Relate Your Experience to the Role
In a full-time role, employers like J. PAO & CO. LIMITED want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.
✨Know Your Tools and Software
Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.
