Senior Engineering Lead

Science In Sport Group is a world leader in sports and performance nutrition. We have two highly regarded brands; SiS, which combines world-class science and innovation to provide optimal performance nutritional solutions for professional athletes, sports and fitness enthusiasts and the active lifestyle community. This includes over 320 professional teams worldwide across a broad range of sports including Football, Rugby, Cycling, Athletics, Basketball, Netball and Swimming. Brand ambassadors include former track cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and Eilish McColgan, who won gold in the 2022 Commonwealth Games 10,000 metres. PhD Nutrition is a premium, active-nutrition brand for the active lifestyle community wanting intelligent nutrition to help them achieve their goals. With over 20 years of research and development, our products are designed to maximise performance in and out of the gym. The two brands sell through the phd.com and scienceinsport.com digital platforms, third-party online marketplaces including Amazon, as well as extensive domestic and international retail distribution. In 2022 the company opened a state of the art 160,000 square foot manufacturing and logistics facility in Blackburn, Lancashire.

The Role

As Senior Engineering Lead, you will control all engineering activities across a world-class sports nutrition manufacturing site. You will ensure our assets operate safely, reliably and efficiently, while driving continuous improvement in equipment performance and engineering standards. Through strength in leadership, strategic oversight, and hands-on involvement, you will build a proactive, high performing engineering team that underpins operational excellence and supports business growth plans. You will be accountable for delivering the engineering strategy, optimizing planned maintenance activity, supporting capital expenditure planning, and ensuring compliance with all statutory, safety, and quality standards. Working collaboratively with Manufacturing, Quality, and Warehouse teams, you will maximize equipment uptime, reduce cost, and drive sustained reliability across site.

Benefits

• On-site gym
• Cycle to work scheme
• Product discount
• Birthday day off
• Pension scheme, employer contribution at 4%

Your 4 most important responsibilities

• Champion safety, compliance, and engineering standards: Ensure all engineering activities meet statutory, safety and company compliance requirements. Maintain systems for risk assessments, permits to work, and contractor control. Lead by example in promoting a safety first culture that protects people and business reputation, while continuously raising engineering standards.
• Drive asset reliability and operational performance: Deliver the maintenance strategy to maximise asset availability and performance stability. Oversee all planned and reactive maintenance, ensuring effective prioritisation and execution. Use data, Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Planned Maintenance (PM) insights to continuously reduce downtime, extend asset lifespan and support efficiency in operations.
• Develop and empower the engineering team: Provide clear leadership and direction to a skilled engineering team. Foster a culture of accountability and professional integrity where individuals take ownership of performance and outcomes. Recognise and celebrate success while proactively addressing underperformance through fair and constructive coaching.
• Lead continuous improvement: Identify and deliver projects that enhance safety, quality, cost and efficiency. Use structured tools when collaborating cross functionally to implement sustained improvements in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), process reliability and safety.

Accountability – what you are responsible for delivering

• Health, safety & compliance: Ensure all engineering activities are conducted safely, meeting statutory and company standards. Maintain robust systems for risk assessments, safe isolation, work permits and contractor control. Ensure compliance with all relevant HSE legislation and applicable insurance requirements, including PUWER, DSEAR, PSSR and LOLER, scheduling inspections and managing completion of corrective actions.
• Maintenance planning & execution: Effectively schedule planned maintenance activities and oversee the team to consistently exceed PMC targets. Lead the team in timely reactive response, returning assets to service with first time fixes, and implementing corrective actions using root cause analysis to prevent recurrence of issues.
• People leadership & management: Lead and motivate the engineering team through clear communication and regular 1-2-1s. Align team priorities with business objectives through quarterly OKRs. Build team capability through coaching, training and personal performance plans.
• Engineering systems & reporting: Guide the team in the consistent and effective use of the CMMS system. Ensure all engineering activity is accurately recorded, tracked, and reported.
• Spare parts & procurement: Implement and maintain a best-in-class spare parts inventory system. Prevent lost time due to stock-outs by monitoring spares usage and availability.
• Cross-functional support: Partner with Manufacturing, Quality and Warehouse teams to deliver shared objectives. Provide technical leadership in trials, adapting production systems to suit new products, materials, and packaging.

Capability - the skills and behaviours required to do this job well

• Proficient leader, able to inspire and motivate, builds trust and communicates effectively across levels.
• Balances short term, tactical delivery with long term objectives and improvement plans.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Accountable, dependable and consistent in leadership and delivery.
• Calm, pragmatic and composed under pressure.
• Hands-on, practical problem solver with a strategic outlook.
• Transparent and fair in communication and decision making.
• Skilled in diagnosing and resolving complex technical issues quickly.
• Uses data from CMMS and performance tracking systems to drive decisions and focus areas for continuous improvement.
• Understands cost drivers and value creation within engineering operations.

Performance – how you will know you are doing a great job

• Feedback will be shared in the moment and in monthly 1-2-1’s with the Manufacturing and Engineering Manager.
• Planned Maintenance Compliance (PMC) exceeds 85% consistently.
• Engineering KPIs, including unplanned downtime and show sustained improvement.
• Zero lost time accidents or compliance breaches within the engineering function.
• Engineering budget is delivered within target.
• Successful delivery of CapEx and CI projects on time and within scope.
• The engineering team are engaged in near miss and safety observation reporting, and exceed department targets.
• Corrective actions are effective in preventing specific issues from reoccurring.
• Internal audits demonstrate department compliance with company health and safety and quality policies.
• The engineering team is growing in confidence and satisfaction, engaged, and high-performing with low turnover.
• Positive stakeholder feedback from operations and cross-functional partners.

Attributes – experience and mindset that will enable you to do well in this role.

• Extensive engineering experience within a fast paced food or FMCG environment, with demonstrable experience in a leadership position leading maintenance or engineering teams.
• Proven record of delivering sustained improvements in asset reliability, performance and cost efficiency.
• Deep understanding of electrical, mechanical, and automation systems in food manufacturing and FMCG environments.
• Experience in managing maintenance budgets, spares inventory control, ensuring cost management while maintaining standards and compliance.
• Broad understanding of HSE legislation, including PUWER, PSSR, DSEAR, LOLER and other statutory engineering requirements.
• Exposure to CapEx project delivery from concept to commissioning, with the ability to justify and influence investment decisions.
• Educated to at least HNC/HND level in Engineering (electrical or multi-skilled discipline).

Science in Sport Group is an equal opportunity employer; we value diversity and strive to cultivate an inclusive workplace. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind in regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We fully support reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process, to provide an inclusive and welcoming recruitment experience.