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- Tasks: Lead engineering and maintenance activities in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
- Company: Join Riverway Foods, a family-owned business producing top-quality sausages.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £70,000, 33 days holiday, and career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on engineering strategy and team performance in a dynamic setting.
- Qualifications: Significant manufacturing experience, leadership skills, and a track record of performance improvements.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive Senior Leadership Team and drive operational excellence.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 84000 £ per year.
We’re looking for an experienced Head of Engineering/Engineering Manager to lead all engineering and maintenance activities across our food manufacturing operation. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role and as such will be part of our Senior Leadership Team. You will be responsible for driving asset reliability, continuous improvement, compliance, and long-term engineering strategy in a fast-paced FMCG environment.
In this critical business role, you will oversee the engineering team to ensure that all KPIs are achieved and that the operation is supported to produce finished products to our customers on time and in full. You’ll lead our multi-disciplinary engineering team, ensuring maximum equipment uptime, and you will play a key role in capital projects, site development, and operational excellence.
Responsibilities include:
- Lead, develop and motivate the engineering and maintenance teams
- Own site engineering strategy, including preventive and predictive maintenance
- Drive improvements in OEE, reliability, and cost control
- Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, H&S, and legal standards
- Manage capital expenditure, projects and contractor relationships
- Work closely with Operations, Technical and Supply Chain teams
- Ensure effective spare parts management and asset lifecycle planning
Behaviours of our ideal candidate include:
- Excellent leadership skills: Able to communicate clear objectives, provide feedback, suggest improvements for individual performance, coach and confirm competency – gains commitment
- Adapts to changing business needs, introduces new ways of thinking and behaving as well as applying new ideas
- Innovative, continually looking at trends and opportunities to improve the business
- Responsive and agile in the way you think, make decisions and handle change
- Builds strong relationships with colleagues, suppliers and contractors
- Can prioritise and work within tight deadlines
Knowledge, skills & experience include:
- Significant manufacturing experience is a must, food manufacturing would be a bonus
- Financial awareness and business acumen
- Demonstrable career progression and looking for that next step
- Track record of leading teams and delivering performance improvements
- Confident communication, influencing and networking skills
- Effective planning, organisational and prioritisation skills
What we can offer you:
Salary up to £70,000, 33 days holiday including...
Head of Engineering/Engineering Manager in Harlow employer: Riverway Foods
Contact Detail:
Riverway Foods Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Engineering/Engineering Manager in Harlow
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the food manufacturing sector and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their products and values, especially since Riverway Foods is all about quality sausages. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during interviews. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've motivated teams and driven performance improvements in previous roles. This will demonstrate that you’re the right fit for a senior leadership position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Engineering/Engineering Manager in Harlow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Engineering role. Highlight your leadership experience, especially in engineering and maintenance within a manufacturing environment. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for our team at Riverway Foods. Share specific examples of how you've driven improvements and led teams in the past.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use metrics where possible to demonstrate how you’ve improved OEE, reliability, or cost control in previous roles. We love numbers that tell a story!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Riverway Foods
✨Know Your Engineering Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your technical knowledge related to food manufacturing and engineering principles. Be ready to discuss specific projects you've led, focusing on how you drove improvements in asset reliability and compliance.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership style and how you've motivated teams in the past. Think about times when you communicated clear objectives or coached team members to success—these stories will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Understand the Business
Familiarise yourself with Riverway Foods and its position within the CPC Group. Knowing their products, especially their sausages, and understanding their market can help you tailor your responses and show genuine interest in the company.
✨Be Ready for Change
In a fast-paced FMCG environment, adaptability is key. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully navigated change in previous roles, whether it’s introducing new ideas or managing tight deadlines. This will demonstrate your agility and responsiveness.
