At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to ensure equipment reliability and maximise uptime in a dynamic manufacturing environment.
- Company: Join Magnet, the UK's leading kitchen specialist with over 100 years of heritage.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, fantastic discounts, flexible holidays, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Be part of an exciting transformation with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving continuous improvement and mentoring a talented team.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 in Electrical Engineering and proven leadership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 30708 - 38708 £ per year.
We’re looking for an experienced Maintenance Shift Leader to join our Darlington manufacturing site. In this role, you will lead and manage a team of Maintenance Engineers to ensure equipment reliability, maximise uptime and deliver against safety, performance and cost targets.
You’ll take ownership of both planned and reactive maintenance, driving continuous improvement, developing your team, and maintaining a safe, efficient and high-performing operation aligned with site and business objectives.
What’s in it for you?
- Subsidised canteen
- Fantastic company discounts: Up to 80% off our stylish kitchen ranges and products
- Access to Retail Trust
- Flexible holidays: Buy up to five extra days with our holiday purchase scheme
- Wellbeing support: Access to our virtual GP service and employee assistance platform 24/7
- Lifestyle perks: Cycle to work scheme and savings on hundreds of top brands via our benefits app
- A collaborative culture built on care, inclusion, and continuous improvement
What you’ll be doing:
- Lead and coordinate day-to-day maintenance activities to maximise plant reliability and uptime
- Drive and manage an effective Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) programme, ensuring maintenance is proactive rather than reactive
- Understand and promote the critical importance of PPMs in preventing breakdowns, improving reliability, and extending equipment life
- Lead and embed strong 5S standards across engineering and production areas, driving organisation, cleanliness, and workplace discipline
- Manage planned maintenance schedules and prioritise reactive breakdown support effectively
- Mentor, coach, and develop engineers to strengthen technical capability and team performance
- Drive a strong safety-first culture, ensuring all HSE standards, KPI’s, and legislative requirements are consistently achieved
- Conduct detailed electrical fault finding and root cause analysis, implementing permanent corrective actions
- Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on reliability, efficiency, and waste reduction
- Organise and control contractors, ensuring compliance, safety, and quality standards are maintained
- Build and wire electrical control panels where required
- Lead by example with engineering standards, behaviours, and best practices
- Deliver effective team briefings and communicate maintenance performance clearly to operational stakeholders
- Maintain exceptional housekeeping and engineering standards across all work areas
- Collaborate cross-functionally to achieve production and business objectives
- Remain flexible to support operational demands, including shift or working pattern changes where required
Who we’re looking for:
- NVQ Level 3 (minimum) in Electrical Engineering or a relevant engineering discipline
- Time-served maintenance engineering background within manufacturing or production environments
- Strong electrical fault-finding and diagnostic skills on machinery and automated equipment
- Proven leadership experience with excellent mentoring and people-development capability
- Multi-skilled engineering experience advantageous
- Experience within woodworking, furniture manufacturing, CNC machinery, or similar industries highly desirable
- Strong understanding of Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) systems and reliability-centred maintenance principles
- 5S-driven mindset with a passion for high standards and continuous improvement
- Ability to build, wire, and fault-find electrical panels
- Strong understanding of preventative maintenance and continuous improvement methodologies
- Calm, decisive, and solutions-focused under pressure
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles
- IT literate, including CMMS systems, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Why choose Magnet?
At Magnet, we bring over 100 years of heritage-but our focus is firmly on the future. As the UK’s leading kitchen specialist, our success is driven by the expertise, insight and innovation of our people. We’re in the middle of an exciting transformation, with real opportunity to shape how we work, grow and deliver for our customers. We’re always open to fresh thinking and new perspectives—so even if your experience doesn’t perfectly match, we’d still love to hear from you. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.
Maintenance Shift Leader in Darlington employer: Nobia
At XPO, we pride ourselves on being a supportive and dynamic employer, offering HGV drivers in Leeds a stable work schedule with competitive pay and overtime opportunities. Our inclusive work culture fosters growth and development, ensuring that every team member feels valued and empowered to succeed. Join us and be part of a global team that is committed to innovation and excellence in logistics.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Maintenance Shift Leader in Darlington
✨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 Nobia, 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 Shift Leader in Darlington
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 Nobia 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 Nobia
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with Nobia, 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 Nobia 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.
