At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering operations in a dynamic chocolate manufacturing facility and drive innovative maintenance strategies.
- Company: Join a global leader in chocolate production with a rich heritage and modern investment plans.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, potential for contract extension, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment with significant career advancement potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by transforming maintenance practices and leading a dedicated engineering team.
- Qualifications: Strong engineering leadership experience in high-volume manufacturing, preferably in Food & Beverage or Automotive.
The predicted salary is between 48.87 - 48.87 £ per hour.
Location: Chirk, Wrexham (Full-time on-site)
Rate: Up to £48.87 per hour, 36 hours per week (Circa £91,500.00 per annum)
Contract: 6 Months initial contract (Potential for extension or Temp-to-Perm transition)
About the Business & Site
This facility is a critical, foundational processing hub within a global chocolate manufacturing network. Responsible for taking raw cocoa bean deliveries and transforming them into cocoa fats, liquors, and drinking powders, this site serves as the crucial first link supplying internal network sites and third-party partners. The site employs circa 300 full-time staff alongside a significant contingent of contractors. It operates a heavy industrial processing line (grinding, roasting, milling, compression, and blending) alongside a newer, highly automated packaging section. The site blends heritage infrastructure with a major upcoming investment roadmap, offering an exceptional opportunity to lead modern engineering change on a foundational site.
Position Overview
Reporting directly to the Site Head, the Engineering Lead will oversee all processing and packing engineering operations. You will lead a dedicated team of 20 technicians across both areas (mix of day-based and shift-based, single and multi-skilled) via two direct-report Engineering Managers. Additionally, you will manage a high volume of infrastructure, specialized engineering, and regular OEM contractors. Your primary objective is to shift site culture from reactive maintenance to a robust preventative and predictive model while steering lean manufacturing practices and delivering extensive CapEx investments alongside project engineers.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & Team Management: Provide leadership to two Engineering Managers overseeing a team of 20 day and shift technicians, upskilling single-skilled techs into multi-skilled capabilities. Direct and oversee a large contingent of OEM and infrastructure contractors on-site. Serve as the senior technical authority across both heavy continuous processing (~2/3 of site operations) and automated packing (~1/3 of site operations).
- Maintenance Transformation & Strategy: Drive the strategic transition from a reactive maintenance model to a structured preventative and predictive maintenance program. Drive utilization of SAP CMMS to optimize maintenance schedules, asset management, and equipment reliability. Champion Lean manufacturing tools (TPM, 5S, Kaizen, Root Cause Analysis) to minimize unplanned downtime and boost operational efficiency. Track and improve core engineering KPIs including GE/OEE, MTBF, and MTTR.
- Capital Expenditure & Project Execution: Partner with project engineers to deliver an ambitious site investment roadmap, helping to upgrade legacy assets (including original roasters) alongside modern automated packaging lines.
Candidate Profile
- Background: Strong engineering leadership experience in heavy process-driven or high-volume manufacturing environments. Candidates from Food & Beverage, Automotive, or Chemical processing are preferred.
- Lean Capability: Proven, hands-on experience implementing Lean tools and transforming reactive maintenance operations into preventative strategies.
- Technical Depth: Deep understanding of continuous heavy process engineering (e.g., grinding, milling, compression, thermal processing) as well as automated packing operations.
- Scale Experience: Prior exposure to larger manufacturing operations is strongly preferred to support the site's ongoing growth and investment strategy.
- Contractor & Asset Management: Demonstrated track record of overseeing complex contractor footprints (OEM & infrastructure) and embedding CMMS systems (SAP preferred).
Engineering Lead in Wrexham employer: Randstad
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Engineering Lead in Wrexham
✨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 Randstad, 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 Engineering Lead in Wrexham
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 Randstad 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 Randstad
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with Randstad, 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 Randstad 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.
