At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead maintenance delivery and improve equipment reliability in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Company: Join Refresco, the world's largest independent soft drinks manufacturer.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, annual bonus, 28 days holiday, and flexible employee benefits.
- Other info: Great career development opportunities in a dynamic and growing business.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving engineering excellence and developing high-performing teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in maintenance leadership and strong technical knowledge required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Great manufacturing performance starts with reliable equipment and exceptional engineering leadership. We're looking for a Maintenance Manager to lead maintenance delivery across a key area of our Bridgwater site, ensuring our assets perform safely, efficiently, and reliably every day. This is an opportunity to take ownership of maintenance strategy and execution, lead high-performing engineering teams, and drive continuous improvement across a fast-paced manufacturing environment. If you're passionate about developing people, improving reliability, and creating a culture of engineering excellence, we'd love to hear from you.
What's in it for you?
- 12.5% annual bonus opportunity
- 28 days holiday + bank holidays
- Enhanced pension
- Life assurance
- Access to employee benefits platform – Cheers which includes flexible benefits such as; healthcare cover, healthcare cash plan, dental insurance, car scheme, activities pass, financial services, will writing services etc.
- Career development opportunities within a growing international manufacturing business
About the Role:
Reporting to the Head of Engineering, you will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership, coordination, and delivery of maintenance activities across your assigned factory area. This role is focused on ensuring maintenance is delivered through effective planning, disciplined execution, and a strong pipeline of proactive work. You'll oversee planned maintenance, shutdown execution, reactive support activities, contractor management, and asset care programmes, ensuring engineering resources are deployed effectively to support operational performance. You will play a key role in driving maintenance standards, improving equipment reliability, and creating a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement across the engineering function.
About You
You will be an experienced maintenance leader with a strong track record of delivering engineering excellence within a manufacturing environment. We're looking for someone who combines strong technical knowledge with exceptional leadership skills and can effectively balance operational priorities with long-term asset reliability objectives. You will be proactive, resilient, and highly organised, with the ability to influence stakeholders, lead teams through change, and continuously challenge standards to drive improvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Maintenance Execution & Delivery
- Lead the safe, timely, and effective delivery of planned maintenance activities across the assigned factory area
- Ensure maintenance work is executed to a high standard, delivering maximum value and asset reliability
- Monitor maintenance performance against agreed KPIs and identify opportunities for improvement
- Continuously review maintenance effectiveness and optimise planning, scope, and execution of future interventions
- Work Planning & Asset Management
- Maintain a robust pipeline of planned maintenance activities ready for execution
- Ensure maintenance resources are effectively redeployed when operational access changes
- Manage condition monitoring programmes and ensure corrective actions are identified and completed
- Maintain appropriate levels of serviceable and rotational spare parts to support operational requirements
- Reactive Maintenance & Reliability
- Provide leadership and support during reactive maintenance events and operational breakdowns
- Review reactive maintenance trends and identify opportunities to eliminate recurring failures
- Support root cause analysis activities and implementation of long-term corrective actions
- Drive improvements in equipment reliability and asset performance
- Shutdown Planning & Delivery
- Lead site shutdown planning and execution activities across multiple functions
- Coordinate internal teams, contractors, and stakeholders to ensure safe and effective shutdown delivery
- Work closely with Health & Safety teams to manage contractor compliance and site safety standards
- Conduct shutdown reviews and implement lessons learned to improve future performance
- Team Development
- Lead, coach, and develop Maintenance Team Leaders, Service Engineers, and wider engineering teams
- Create a high-performing culture focused on accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement
- Manage performance through regular one-to-ones, objective setting, appraisals, and development plans
- Develop and maintain engineering skills matrices to improve capability and flexibility across the team
- Promote collaboration and effective communication across Engineering and Operations teams
- Compliance & Asset Care
- Ensure compliance with all relevant statutory engineering requirements including PSSR, PUWER, and LOLER
- Maintain accurate and audit-ready maintenance records and documentation
- Drive a strong asset care culture across the factory
- Use maintenance and reliability data to identify trends and improvement opportunities
- Support engineering projects and continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, reliability, and performance
- Drive standardisation and best practice across maintenance processes and systems
About You
We are looking for an experienced engineering leader who is passionate about maintenance excellence and developing high-performing teams.
- Level 3 qualification or above in an Engineering discipline
- Proven experience leading maintenance teams within a manufacturing or FMCG environment
- Strong knowledge of maintenance planning, scheduling, and asset management systems
- Experience delivering planned preventative maintenance and reliability improvement programmes
- Good understanding of statutory engineering compliance requirements including PSSR, PUWER, and LOLER
- Strong leadership, coaching, and people development skills
- Excellent planning, prioritisation, and organisational capability
- Strong problem-solving and fault-finding skills
- Effective communication and stakeholder management skills
- A proactive and structured approach to maintenance delivery
- Committed to high standards of safety, compliance, and operational excellence
- Experience working within a continuous improvement environment would be advantageous
About Refresco
Our drinks on every table. That's the Refresco vision. We're passionate about producing tasty, refreshing drinks and we're thirsty for more. As the world's largest independent soft drinks manufacturer, we produce billions of litres every year for some of the world's biggest retailers and best-known drinks brands. Our UK business operates multiple manufacturing sites and employs thousands of colleagues across production, engineering, quality, supply chain and support functions. At Refresco, you'll have the opportunity to make an impact, develop your career and be part of a fast-paced and growing business.
Maintenance Manager employer: Refresco
Refresco is an exceptional employer located in Bridgwater, offering a dynamic work environment where engineering excellence and continuous improvement are at the forefront. With a strong focus on employee development, competitive benefits including a 12.5% annual bonus, enhanced pension, and a comprehensive employee benefits platform, we empower our Maintenance Manager to lead high-performing teams and drive impactful change within a thriving manufacturing setting. Join us to be part of a culture that values accountability, innovation, and personal growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Maintenance Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the engineering and manufacturing sectors. Attend industry events or join relevant online groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their maintenance strategies and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Show them you're not just a fit for the role, but for the team too!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Be ready to share examples of how you've led teams through challenges or improved processes. Highlight your ability to drive continuous improvement and create a culture of accountability—this is key for a Maintenance Manager.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at Refresco. Let's make those drinks happen together!
We think you need these skills to ace Maintenance Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Maintenance Manager role. Highlight your experience in leading maintenance teams and any specific achievements in improving equipment reliability. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to express your passion for engineering excellence and how you can contribute to our culture of continuous improvement. Be genuine and let your personality come through.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading teams, make sure to highlight your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've developed high-performing teams and driven improvements in past roles. We love seeing proactive leaders!
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team at Refresco!
How to prepare for a job interview at Refresco
✨Know Your Maintenance Strategies
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of maintenance strategies and execution. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully led maintenance delivery in previous roles, focusing on specific examples that highlight your ability to improve equipment reliability and drive continuous improvement.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Maintenance Manager, strong leadership is key. Prepare to share experiences where you've developed high-performing teams or led through change. Think about how you can demonstrate your coaching abilities and how you've fostered a culture of accountability and engagement within your teams.
✨Understand Compliance Requirements
Familiarise yourself with statutory engineering compliance requirements like PSSR, PUWER, and LOLER. Be prepared to discuss how you've ensured compliance in past roles and how you would maintain accurate and audit-ready maintenance records at Refresco.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Expect to face questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think of specific instances where you've tackled reactive maintenance issues or improved asset performance. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.
