At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead maintenance operations for a high-tech distribution centre, ensuring top performance and efficiency.
- Company: Join Vanderlande, a leader in automated logistics with a focus on innovation and teamwork.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28 days leave, medical cover, career growth, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to safety and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in automated systems and strong leadership skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Vanderlande supports a highly automated distribution centre operating 24/7 at Jet2, Middlewich. The on‑site team delivers operational and maintenance support to ensure maximum system availability and accurate, high‑volume order fulfilment for Sainsbury’s service levels.
Key Responsibilities and Activities
- Service Contract Delivery: Lead the execution of the Jet2 O&M contract, ensuring high system availability and adherence to strict grocery distribution SLAs and KPIs.
- Customer Partnership: Act as the primary senior interface with Jet2’s operational and engineering teams, building a proactive and influential relationship with a highly performance‑driven retail customer.
- Operational Leadership: Manage and develop a site‑based engineering and support organisation, covering maintenance, control room, and operational support, ensuring 24/7 resilience.
- Performance & SLA Management: Own and report on key service metrics including throughput, availability, response times and order fulfilment accuracy via structured dashboards (internal and external).
- Incident & Escalation Management: Lead the response to critical system incidents, ensuring rapid recovery, effective communication and minimal disruption—especially during peak and seasonal flights.
- Continuous Improvement: Drive improvements in maintenance strategies (preventative, predictive), system reliability and operational efficiency aligned to Jet2’s continuous improvement culture.
- Opportunity Development: Identify and support opportunities for contract growth, system enhancements or lifecycle upgrades within the Sainsbury’s operation.
- People Leadership: Lead, coach and develop the site team, including mentoring and developing competencies and fostering a high‑performance culture.
- Health & Safety: Ensure full compliance with UK HSE legislation and both Vanderlande and Sainsbury’s safety standards, promoting a zero‑harm culture.
- Stakeholder Communication: Maintain regular communication with Vanderlande UK leadership, the Netherlands head office and global O&M network, sharing best practices and insights.
- Strategic Contribution: Contribute to Vanderlande’s global service strategy while tailoring delivery to the specific demands of the Sainsbury’s supply chain.
Qualifications and Skills
- Proven experience in service and maintenance of highly automated distribution or logistics systems, ideally within grocery, FMCG or retail supply chains.
- Strong leadership capability with experience managing large, multi‑disciplinary teams in a 24/7 operational environment.
- Demonstrable success in managing high‑profile customer relationships, particularly within retail or logistics sectors.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to lead complex system issue resolution under pressure.
- Sound understanding of Health & Safety legislation and best practice in operational environments.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
- Advanced MS Office skills, particularly Excel for reporting and performance analysis.
- Flexibility to support wider UK or European operations if required.
- A proactive, resilient and customer‑focused leadership style suited to a fast‑paced retail environment.
Benefits
- 28 days annual leave (excluding public holidays)
- Aviva Medical Cover & Pension Scheme
- YuLife wellbeing membership (including GP access, mental health support and rewards)
- Achievers – Internal recognition scheme
- Career development opportunities within a global organisation
- Cycle to Work scheme
Diversity & Inclusion
Vanderlande is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive environment. If you require any adjustments to support your application, we are happy to discuss these.
Maintenance Manager in Middlewich employer: Vanderlande Industries B.V.
Vanderlande is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment at our highly automated distribution centre in Middlewich. With a strong focus on employee development, we provide comprehensive benefits including medical cover, a pension scheme, and career advancement opportunities within a global organisation. Our commitment to a zero-harm culture and a diverse, inclusive workplace ensures that every team member can thrive while contributing to the success of our operations.
Contact Details:
Vanderlande Industries B.V. Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Maintenance Manager in Middlewich
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy to reach out to current employees at Jet2 or Vanderlande. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to job opportunities that aren’t even advertised!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand Jet2’s operations and how they align with your skills. We recommend practising common interview questions and having examples ready that showcase your leadership and problem-solving abilities.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. It’s also a chance to reiterate why you’re a great fit for the Maintenance Manager position and to keep yourself fresh in their minds.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we often have exclusive roles listed there that you won’t find anywhere else. So, keep an eye out and get your application in!
We think you need these skills to ace Maintenance Manager in Middlewich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience in service and maintenance of automated systems, especially in retail or logistics. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Maintenance Manager role. Share specific examples of your leadership and problem-solving skills that relate to our needs at Jet2.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use metrics and examples to demonstrate how you've improved system availability or customer relationships in previous roles. We love seeing results!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vanderlande Industries B.V.
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the ins and outs of automated distribution systems, especially in the grocery sector. Brush up on your knowledge about SLAs, KPIs, and how they impact operations. This will show that you're not just familiar with the role but genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in high-pressure environments. Think about specific situations where you managed incidents or improved performance metrics. This will help demonstrate your capability to lead and develop a site-based engineering team effectively.
✨Communicate Like a Pro
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. You’ll need to influence stakeholders at all levels, so be ready to discuss how you’ve built strong customer relationships in the past. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Be prepared to discuss your approach to driving improvements in maintenance strategies and operational efficiency. Share any relevant experiences where you implemented preventative or predictive maintenance practices, as this aligns perfectly with the role's focus on continuous improvement.
