At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering operations and ensure the maintenance of port assets.
- Company: Forth Ports, a leader in port management with a focus on safety and efficiency.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, pension scheme, and health support initiatives.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact on port operations.
- Qualifications: HNC in Engineering or relevant experience; strong leadership and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Location: Port of Tilbury London Ltd, Leslie Ford House (Port of Tilbury)
Hours: 35 hours – Monday to Friday
Compensation: Competitive
About The Role
We are seeking an experienced and driven Central Plant Engineering Manager to lead the delivery of engineering operations across the port. This is a key leadership role responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and compliant maintenance, repair, and improvement of a wide range of port assets and infrastructure. You will be accountable for the effective delivery of both planned and reactive maintenance activities, ensuring all statutory and mandatory requirements are met while maintaining high levels of asset availability to support operational demands across the business. The role will provide oversight of engineering projects and third‑party contractor activities, ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, and to the required standards. You will also lead the engineering response to operational incidents and emergencies, playing a critical role in maintaining business continuity and minimising disruption to port operations. As a leader within the engineering function, you will be responsible for developing, motivating, and supporting engineering personnel, ensuring team capability, performance and succession planning are aligned with both current and future business needs. In addition, you will undertake any other duties as required by the line manager in support of departmental and organisational objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & People Management
- Provide direct line management to CPE engineering supervisors, technicians, and support staff, setting priorities and driving performance.
- Develop workforce capability to meet current and future operational requirements (skills, competency, succession).
- Lead a high‑performance culture aligned to operational reliability and efficiency outcomes.
- Engineering Operations & Asset Reliability
- Lead and coordinate all engineering activities across CPE, ensuring effective deployment of resources and timely defect resolution.
- Maintain asset availability through efficient maintenance delivery and rapid response to failures.
- Drive continuous improvement in maintenance practices through structured performance analysis and targeted interventions.
- Provide engineering leadership during port incidents to minimise operational disruption.
- Lead contingency response and operational recovery for critical asset failures.
- Maintenance Delivery & Quality Assurance
- Ensure all engineering works (in‑house and contractor) are delivered on time and to required quality standards.
- Conduct inspections and audits of engineering works to ensure compliance and workmanship standards.
- Ensure work management processes, reporting standards, and asset data integrity are maintained.
- Ensure assets are returned to safe and operational condition following maintenance activities.
- Planning & Work Management
- Develop and implement sustainable maintenance strategies aligned to asset lifecycle requirements.
- Ensure all statutory inspections and maintenance activities are completed within required timeframes.
- Oversee maintenance planning processes, including:
- Continuous optimisation of maintenance plans and job scopes
- Effective material and spares planning
- Prioritisation of planned and reactive work
- Scheduling of access windows for maintenance execution
- Ensure onboarding and integration of new assets into maintenance systems and plans.
- Analyse planned maintenance performance, addressing non‑completion and improving plan adherence.
- Systems, Data & Performance Management
- Establish and maintain robust asset and maintenance data to support decision‑making.
- Systematically analyse performance data (availability, reliability, downtime, compliance) to identify trends, risks and improvement opportunities.
- Translate data insights into actionable maintenance and operational improvements.
- Deliver accurate and timely performance reporting to stakeholders to support operational and strategic decisions.
- Maintain integrity and utilisation of asset management systems (e.g. Ultimo, Integra) and support team capability in their use.
- Ensure insurance inspection records are maintained and all defects are actioned promptly.
- Contractor & Stakeholder Management
- Manage third‑party contractors to ensure safe, compliant and timely delivery of engineering works.
- Liaise with internal stakeholders and external partners to coordinate maintenance and inspection activities.
What We're Looking For
- Professional qualification in Engineering – Minimum HNC.
- Working towards Chartered Engineer level or with relevant experience in an engineering discipline.
- Demonstrable success at applying continuous improvement tools such as Lean, 6 Sigma and Kaizen.
- Experience of working within a regulated environment.
- Strong commercial and people focus.
- Proven ability to control spend.
- Strong organisational and interpersonal skills.
- The ability to inspire and lead change.
- Excellent communication skills including report writing.
- Working knowledge of Dock Regulations, HASAW, PUWER and LOLER regulations.
What Forth Ports Can Offer You
- A competitive salary
- Group Bonus
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Defined contribution pension scheme with up to 16.5% joint contribution plus life assurance at 4x salary
- Health promotion events and employee wellbeing initiatives to support your physical and mental wellbeing
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing free, confidential 24/7 telephone support for you and your family
- On‑site Occupational Health Team with access to professional support and referrals to services such as counselling, physiotherapy and free flu jabs
- An annual Christmas thank you gift of a complimentary turkey or meat‑free alternative for all employees
- GymFlex health club memberships offering discounted access to gyms including Nuffield Health, PureGym, Anytime Fitness, The Gym Group, and selected local gyms
- Cycle to Work scheme to support affordable, sustainable commuting
- On‑site free parking available for all employees
- Attractive family‑friendly policies, including enhanced maternity cover
- Employee discount platform providing savings on UK‑wide restaurants, retail, car rentals, days out and holidays
We value diversity and inclusivity, and we are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and will consider all applications for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability status. We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant and recognise the value serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families bring to our organisation. As a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, we are committed to ensuring that members of the Armed Forces community are treated fairly and are not disadvantaged in their civilian careers because of their service. We welcome applications from veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers, and military spouses/partners, and we actively support flexible and inclusive recruitment practices.
Central Plant Engineering Manager in Tilbury employer: Port of Tilbury London
Forth Ports is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment at the Port of Tilbury where innovation and safety are paramount. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, competitive compensation, and generous benefits including a defined contribution pension scheme and health promotion initiatives, we foster a culture of continuous improvement and professional development. Join us to lead a high-performance engineering team while enjoying a supportive atmosphere that values diversity and inclusivity.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Central Plant Engineering Manager in Tilbury
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the engineering field, especially those who work in similar roles. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its operations. Understand their engineering challenges and think of how you can contribute. This shows you're genuinely interested and ready to hit the ground running!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, drop a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation. It keeps you on their radar and shows your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website for the best chance at landing that Central Plant Engineering Manager role. We love seeing applications directly from motivated candidates like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Central Plant Engineering Manager in Tilbury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Central Plant Engineering Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that match the job description, especially in leadership and engineering operations.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention specific projects or achievements that demonstrate your ability to lead engineering teams and manage maintenance operations.
Showcase Your Qualifications:Don’t forget to mention your professional qualifications, like your HNC in Engineering or any progress towards Chartered Engineer status. This is key for us to see your technical background and commitment to continuous improvement.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at Port of Tilbury London
✨Know Your Engineering Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your engineering principles and relevant regulations like Dock Regulations, HASAW, PUWER, and LOLER. Be ready to discuss how you've applied continuous improvement tools like Lean or 6 Sigma in past roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Central Plant Engineering Manager, you'll need to lead teams effectively. Prepare examples of how you've developed and motivated engineering personnel in the past. Highlight any experience you have in creating a high-performance culture.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions about how you'd handle operational incidents or emergencies. Think through some scenarios where you've had to respond quickly to asset failures or maintenance issues, and be prepared to explain your thought process.
✨Demonstrate Your Stakeholder Management Abilities
You'll be liaising with both internal and external stakeholders, so be ready to discuss how you've managed contractor relationships and coordinated maintenance activities in previous roles. Show that you can communicate effectively and ensure compliance.
