Maintenance Manager in Thrapston

Are you a Maintenance Manager who can turn engineering challenges into measurable improvements in equipment reliability, plant performance and team capability? We’re recruiting a Maintenance Manager for an established manufacturing business in the Thrapston area, offering the opportunity to take a strategic lead in developing the maintenance function, reducing unplanned downtime and driving continuous improvement across the site. This is a role for someone who can look beyond day-to-day breakdowns, challenge existing practices and build a more proactive, data-driven approach to maintenance. The Role Reporting into senior site management, you will lead the maintenance function, setting the strategy and standards needed to improve equipment reliability, strengthen compliance and develop the engineering team's capabilities. Key responsibilities will include: * Developing and improving preventative and predictive maintenance strategies. * Reducing unplanned downtime through reliability engineering and root cause analysis. * Reviewing maintenance performance data and delivering measurable improvements. * Ensuring engineering-related statutory compliance and safe working practices. * Developing a skills matrix, identifying competency gaps and implementing training plans. * Improving maintenance planning, team accountability and collaboration with Production. About You You will be an engineering or maintenance leader from a manufacturing environment, with a track record of improving equipment performance and developing effective maintenance teams, or potentially a Senior Engineer with the drive and passion needed to step up. You’ll bring: * Strong knowledge of industrial maintenance and preventative maintenance systems. * Experience reducing breakdowns and improving equipment reliability. * An understanding of root cause analysis, reliability improvement and engineering compliance. * The ability to lead, develop and engage an engineering team. * A practical, commercially aware approach, supported by the ability to turn performance data into action. * Experience with maintenance management systems, predictive maintenance and structured skills matrices. Formal engineering qualifications are desirable but not essential. Demonstrable practical expertise, engineering leadership ability and a track record of delivering improvements are what matter most. The Opportunity You’ll have the scope to assess current performance, establish clear priorities and work with your team and wider business to implement sustainable improvements, with an initial focus on reducing breakdown levels. Salary: £60,000–£65,000, with potential flexibility up to £70,000 for an exceptional candidate. If you’re ready to take ownership of maintenance performance and make a lasting impact on a manufacturing operation, we’d like to hear from you. Apply now to find out more