At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop a high-performing engineering team in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
- Company: Join a leading UK food manufacturer known for quality and innovation.
- Benefits: Ongoing training, competitive salary, and the chance to shape team culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on safety, reliability, and performance in a dynamic setting.
- Qualifications: Experience in mechanical or electrical engineering with strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to work shoulder-to-shoulder with operations.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Do you have proven experience leading engineering teams within a fast-paced manufacturing environment?
Are you confident in balancing hands‑on technical expertise with strong leadership and people development?
Would you like to play a key role in driving safety, reliability, and continuous improvement at a leading food manufacturer?
MacGregor Black are partnering with a Leading UK food Manufacturer with a strong reputation for quality, innovation, and high-performance production. Together we’re looking for a hands‑on Shift Engineering Manager to lead and develop a high-performing engineering team at our Blackpool site.
This role is all about keeping the plant running smoothly : delivering proactive maintenance, solving breakdowns fast, and working shoulder-to-shoulder with Operations to keep production moving. You’ll be the go‑to technical lead on shift, driving standards, building capability in your team, and ensuring engineering is always one step ahead.
If you’re a strong leader with an engineering background (mechanical, electrical, or multi-skilled), and you thrive in a fast-paced, high‑pressure environment, this role puts you at the heart of performance, safety, and reliability.
Key Responsibilities :
- Lead and motivate a team of 5 engineers, ensuring they deliver planned, reactive, and improvement work safely and effectively.
- Take ownership of shift handovers, maintenance records, and engineering updates, keeping communication tight across shifts and with Operations.
- Work closely with Shift Operations Managers, giving them clear technical insight to prioritise engineering tasks and make informed decisions.
- Roll up your sleeves on complex mechanical / electrical tasks, keeping your skills sharp while supporting your team.
- Drive a culture of safety, food compliance, and GMP across the plant and workshop.
- Represent Engineering in short‑interval control meetings, escalating issues where needed and ensuring the plant runs safely and reliably.
- Manage team scheduling, holidays, and return‑to‑work processes fairly and effectively.
- Champion continuous improvement — supporting reliability strategy, upskilling your team, and leveraging technology to improve performance.
What We’re Looking For :
- Time-served in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering (multi-skilled preferred).
- Strong leadership and coordination skills proven experience leading engineering teams in manufacturing (ideally food / FMCG).
- IOSH qualification (Food Safety / Hygiene desirable).
- Confident using planned maintenance systems
- Able to stay calm and decisive under pressure, solving problems logically and preventing repeat issues.
- Safety-first mindset with experience of PTW, isolations, and contractor control.
- A team player who can influence across functions while also rolling up their sleeves when needed.
Why Join?
- Lead a key engineering team in a fast-moving, high‑impact environment.
- Opportunity to shape reliability, safety, and performance at a leading food manufacturer.
- Ongoing training and development to keep your skills at the cutting edge.
- A chance to make your mark by building a team culture that wins together.
Contact Shaun Docherty for more details.
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Shift Engineering Manager employer: MacGregor Black
Contact Detail:
MacGregor Black Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Shift Engineering Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the food and drink industry, especially those who work at MacGregor Black or similar companies. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to job opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical skills and leadership examples. Think of specific situations where you’ve led a team through challenges in a fast-paced environment. We want to hear those stories!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your hands-on experience! During interviews, don’t just talk about your management skills; share how you’ve rolled up your sleeves to solve complex engineering problems. It’s all about proving you can balance leadership with technical expertise.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team at MacGregor Black.
We think you need these skills to ace Shift Engineering Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Engineering Skills: Make sure to highlight your hands-on technical expertise in your application. We want to see how your mechanical or electrical background aligns with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Leadership is Key: Since this role involves leading a team, it’s crucial to demonstrate your leadership skills. Share examples of how you’ve motivated and developed engineering teams in the past. We love seeing how you can balance being a strong leader while also getting stuck into the technical side!
Communicate Clearly: Effective communication is vital in this role, especially when coordinating with Operations. Make sure your application reflects your ability to keep everyone in the loop and manage shift handovers smoothly. We’re looking for clarity and confidence in your written communication.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Don’t miss out on the chance to join our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at MacGregor Black
✨Know Your Engineering Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your mechanical and electrical engineering knowledge. Be ready to discuss specific technical challenges you've faced in the past and how you solved them. This role is all about being hands-on, so showing that you can roll up your sleeves and tackle complex tasks will impress the interviewers.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led and motivated teams in a fast-paced environment. Think about times when you had to balance technical expertise with people development. Highlight your ability to communicate effectively across shifts and with operations, as this is crucial for the Shift Engineering Manager role.
✨Emphasise Safety and Compliance
Since safety is a top priority in this role, be ready to discuss your experience with safety protocols, PTW systems, and contractor control. Share specific instances where you’ve driven a culture of safety and compliance within your team or organisation, as this will show you understand the importance of these aspects in a manufacturing setting.
✨Demonstrate Continuous Improvement Mindset
Talk about your experience with continuous improvement initiatives. Be prepared to share examples of how you've supported reliability strategies or leveraged technology to enhance performance. This shows that you're not just about maintaining the status quo but are also keen on driving innovation and efficiency.