Autonomous Maintenance (AM) Leader in Manchester

We are seeking an experienced Autonomous Maintenance (AM) Leader to drive and embed a strong AM culture across our tea manufacturing operations. This role is critical to the successful implementation, execution, and long-term sustainability of Autonomous Maintenance (AM) 7 Steps, aligned to World Class Manufacturing (WCM) / TPM methodology. The AM Leader will lead the AM journey through the Lipton Management System (LMS) – an internal management system designed to ensure continuous improvement - working hands-on with operational teams and cross-functional stakeholders to improve equipment reliability, reduce cleaning and changeover times, and enhance safety, quality, and overall plant performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive Autonomous Maintenance Culture & Engagement
  • Champion Autonomous Maintenance principles and AM 7 Steps across all levels of the production floor.
  • Lead the rollout, execution, and continuous development of the AM program in line with WCM / TPM standards.
  • Coach, mentor, and develop operators, team leaders, and trainers in AM standards, 5S, visual management, and basic equipment care.
  • Conduct regular AM training sessions, audits, assessments, and maturity reviews to ensure sustainable progress.
  • Track, analyse, and challenge waste data, proactively identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Operational Support & AM Execution
  • Support production teams in executing AM activities including cleaning, inspection, lubrication, tightening, and tagging.
  • Facilitate structured root cause analysis and problem-solving related to equipment losses and AM findings.
  • Coordinate and track AM actions, ensuring timely completion, escalation, and documentation through LMS and AM boards.
  • Work closely with Maintenance, Engineering, and Quality teams to deliver measurable improvements in: Equipment reliability, Cleaning and changeover times, Planned vs. unplanned downtime.
  • Identify, prioritise, and deliver AM-driven improvement projects aligned to site performance objectives.
  • Develop and implement standard work, best practices, and AM standards across production lines and departments.
  • Prepare and present clear AM progress updates, KPIs, and improvement outcomes to site and business leadership including LMS audits.
  • Act as a key liaison between Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, and Planning to align AM priorities.
  • Participate in daily and weekly performance meetings, providing AM insights, actions, and follow-up.
  • Facilitate daily morning meetings in the absence of managers, demonstrating strong understanding of site KPIs and ownership of actions.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• AM 7 Step progression by line and department
• Reduction in cleaning and changeover times
• Improvement in planned vs. unplanned downtime ratio
• Operator engagement and AM training completion via LMS
• Number, quality, and sustainability of AM improvement actions

Qualifications & Experience

• Proven experience in a manufacturing or FMCG environment (food, beverage, or tea manufacturing preferred).
• NVQ Level 3 in Engineering or Maintenance Engineering.
• Strong, hands-on knowledge of Autonomous Maintenance (AM) and TPM / WCM methodologies, ideally with direct experience of AM 7 Steps.
• Experience leading or facilitating AM training, coaching, and workshops on the shop floor.
• Solid understanding of continuous improvement tools (5S, Kaizen, Root Cause Analysis).
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to recognise trends and interpret production data of AM KPI’s such as cleaning time, minor stops, and create and execute plan for their reduction.
• Previous experience in a formal AM Leader / TPM / WCM role.
• Technical understanding of production machinery and maintenance fundamentals.
• Experience working with structured management systems (e.g. LMS, WCM pillars).
• Health & Safety qualification (e.g. IOSH Managing Safely).

Personal Attributes

• Proactive, self-motivated, and driven by continuous improvement.
• Confident coach who can influence and engage teams at all levels.
• Analytical and detail-oriented with a practical, hands-on mindset.
• Resilient and adaptable within a dynamic production environment.
• Strong understanding of AM principles in both theory and practice.
• Committed to personal development and continuous learning.

What to expect from us:

We know that the whole recruitment process can be stressful, so we promise to make it as straightforward as possible. Our process is usually 2-3 stages (depending on the seniority of the role) and we are aiming to review every CV within 2 weeks. We are also an equal opportunity employer – we promote diversity and inclusion in our workplace and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, religion, and age.