At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead maintenance delivery and ensure equipment reliability in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Company: Join Refresco, the world's largest independent soft drinks manufacturer.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, annual bonus, healthcare, and 28 days holiday.
- Other info: Great career development opportunities in a dynamic and growing international business.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving maintenance excellence and developing high-performing teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in engineering leadership and maintenance within manufacturing is essential.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Great manufacturing performance starts with reliable equipment and exceptional engineering leadership. We're looking for a Maintenance Manager to lead maintenance delivery across a key area of our Bridgwater site, ensuring our assets perform safely, efficiently, and reliably every day. This is an opportunity to take ownership of maintenance strategy and execution, lead high-performing engineering teams, and drive continuous improvement across a fast-paced manufacturing environment. If you're passionate about developing people, improving reliability, and creating a culture of engineering excellence, we'd love to hear from you.
What's in it for you?
- Competitive salary
- 12.5% annual bonus opportunity
- Personal Bupa Healthcare
- 28 days holiday + bank holidays
- Purchase extra holiday scheme
- Enhanced pension
- Life assurance
- Access to employee benefits platform – Cheers, which includes flexible benefits such as healthcare cover, healthcare cash plan, dental insurance, car scheme, activities pass, financial services, will‑writing services, etc.
- Career development opportunities within a growing international manufacturing business
About the Role
Reporting to the Head of Engineering, you will be responsible for the day‑to‑day leadership, coordination, and delivery of maintenance activities across your assigned factory area. This role is focused on ensuring maintenance is delivered through effective planning, disciplined execution, and a strong pipeline of proactive work. You'll oversee planned maintenance, shutdown execution, reactive support activities, contractor management, and asset care programmes, ensuring engineering resources are deployed effectively to support operational performance. You will play a key role in driving maintenance standards, improving equipment reliability, and creating a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement across the engineering function.
Key Responsibilities
- Maintenance Execution & Delivery
- Lead the safe, timely, and effective delivery of planned maintenance activities across the assigned factory area
- Ensure maintenance work is executed to a high standard, delivering maximum value and asset reliability
- Monitor maintenance performance against agreed KPIs and identify opportunities for improvement
- Continuously review maintenance effectiveness and optimise planning, scope, and execution of future interventions
- Work Planning & Asset Management
- Maintain a robust pipeline of planned maintenance activities ready for execution
- Ensure maintenance resources are effectively redeployed when operational access changes
- Manage condition monitoring programmes and ensure corrective actions are identified and completed
- Maintain appropriate levels of serviceable and rotational spare parts to support operational requirements
- Reactive Maintenance & Reliability
- Provide leadership and support during reactive maintenance events and operational breakdowns
- Review reactive maintenance trends and identify opportunities to eliminate recurring failures
- Support root cause analysis activities and implementation of long‑term corrective actions
- Drive improvements in equipment reliability and asset performance
- Shutdown Planning & Delivery
- Lead site shutdown planning and execution activities across multiple functions
- Coordinate internal teams, contractors, and stakeholders to ensure safe and effective shutdown delivery
- Work closely with Health & Safety teams to manage contractor compliance and site safety standards
- Conduct shutdown reviews and implement lessons learned to improve future performance
- Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, coach, and develop Maintenance Team Leaders, Service Engineers, and wider engineering teams
- Create a high‑performing culture focused on accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement
- Manage performance through regular one‑to‑ones, objective setting, appraisals, and development plans
- Develop and maintain engineering skills matrices to improve capability and flexibility across the team
- Promote collaboration and effective communication across Engineering and Operations teams
- Compliance & Asset Care
- Ensure compliance with all relevant statutory engineering requirements including PSSR, PUWER, and LOLER
- Maintain accurate and audit‑ready maintenance records and documentation
- Drive a strong asset care culture across the factory
- Continuous Improvement
- Use maintenance and reliability data to identify trends and improvement opportunities
- Support engineering projects and continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, reliability, and performance
- Drive standardisation and best practice across maintenance processes and systems
About You
We are looking for an experienced engineering leader who is passionate about maintenance excellence and developing high‑performing teams.
- Level 3 qualification or above in an engineering discipline
- Proven experience leading maintenance teams within a manufacturing or FMCG environment
- Strong knowledge of maintenance planning, scheduling, and asset management systems
- Experience delivering planned preventative maintenance and reliability improvement programmes
- Good understanding of statutory engineering compliance requirements including PSSR, PUWER, and LOLER
- Strong leadership, coaching, and people development skills
- Excellent planning, prioritisation, and organisational capability
- Strong problem‑solving and fault‑finding skills
- Effective communication and stakeholder management skills
- A proactive and structured approach to maintenance delivery
- Committed to high standards of safety, compliance, and operational excellence
- Experience working within a continuous improvement environment would be advantageous
About Refresco
Our drinks are on every table. That's the Refresco vision. We're passionate about producing tasty, refreshing drinks and we're thirsty for more. As the world's largest independent soft drinks manufacturer, we produce billions of litres every year for some of the world's biggest retailers and best‑known drinks brands. Our UK business operates multiple manufacturing sites and employs thousands of colleagues across production, engineering, quality, supply chain and support functions. At Refresco, you'll have the opportunity to make an impact, develop your career and be part of a fast‑paced and growing business.
Maintenance Manager in Bridgwater employer: Job Search Place Limited
Refresco is an exceptional employer that prioritises the development of its employees and fosters a culture of engineering excellence. Located in Bridgwater, our Maintenance Manager role offers competitive benefits including a 12.5% annual bonus, personal healthcare, and extensive career development opportunities within a dynamic manufacturing environment. Join us to lead high-performing teams and drive continuous improvement while enjoying a supportive work culture that values accountability and innovation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Maintenance Manager in Bridgwater
✨Join Local Manufacturing Groups
Getting involved in local manufacturing groups or associations can seriously boost your visibility. These groups often have insider info on job openings and networking events, plus they help you connect with like-minded folks in the industry. Check out what's happening in your area!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Practical Spaces
Consider participating in workshops or open days at manufacturing companies. It's a great way to show off your hands-on skills in a real-world environment and can sometimes lead to job offers right on the spot. Keep an eye on announcements from local manufacturers for these opportunities!
✨Leverage the Power of Internships
While you're looking for full-time positions, don't underestimate the power of internships! Even if you don't see a direct role, securing an internship at a company can open doors to future jobs. Many manufacturing firms prefer to hire from their intern pool, so it's definitely worth considering.
✨Apply Directly Through Company Websites
When you find a role at a company you love, like Job Search Place Limited, apply directly on their website. This way, you’re more likely to be noticed by the hiring team. Plus, showing that you took the time to seek out their application process highlights your genuine interest in the firm!
We think you need these skills to ace Maintenance Manager in Bridgwater
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to Job Search Place Limited specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at Job Search Place Limited
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with Job Search Place Limited, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like Job Search Place Limited value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
