At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering and maintenance activities to ensure safe and efficient operations.
- Company: Join Smurfit Westrock, a leader in the packaging industry with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Opportunity for continuous improvement and professional growth in a fast-paced manufacturing setting.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by improving equipment reliability and leading a dynamic engineering team.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in engineering leadership and strong knowledge of maintenance strategies.
The predicted salary is between 54450 - 66550 £ per year.
At Smurfit Westrock, we're looking for an experienced and people-focused Maintenance Manager to lead all engineering and maintenance activities across our Bristol site.
This is a key leadership role responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation of production equipment and site infrastructure.
You'll play a critical role in maximising asset availability, improving operational efficiency, reducing downtime, and supporting the site's manufacturing and commercial objectives.
Leading a team of Shift Engineers and an Engineering Assistant, you'll champion a culture of safety, continuous improvement, accountability, and technical excellence.
- What You'll Be Doing
- Safety, Compliance & Engineering Excellence
- Lead and promote a world‑class safety culture across all engineering activities.
- Ensure compliance with all company, statutory, environmental, and health & safety requirements.
- Manage risk assessments, permit‑to‑work systems, contractor management processes, and engineering safety procedures.
- Drive safe working practices and ensure all maintenance work is completed to the highest standards.
- Asset Reliability & Maintenance Strategy
- Develop and implement preventative and predictive maintenance programmes.
- Drive continuous improvements in equipment reliability, plant performance, and uptime.
- Lead root cause analysis activities to identify and eliminate recurring failures.
- Monitor asset performance and implement data‑driven solutions to improve operational efficiency.
- Establish and monitor maintenance KPIs to measure effectiveness and support continuous improvement.
- Cost Management & Continuous Improvement
- Manage maintenance budgets and expenditure to achieve financial targets.
- Optimise spare parts management and supplier performance to balance cost, availability, and operational risk.
- Deliver engineering improvement projects focused on productivity, reliability, sustainability, and safety.
- Support capital investment planning and site engineering projects.
- Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, motivate, coach, and develop the engineering team.
- Manage performance, succession planning, training, and capability development.
- Foster strong collaboration between Engineering, Production, Quality, and Supply Chain functions.
- Provide technical leadership and drive a culture of accountability and continuous learning.
- Operational Support
- Develop maintenance schedules that minimise disruption and maximise equipment availability.
- Coordinate planned shutdowns and major maintenance activities.
- Ensure rapid and effective response to equipment breakdowns and operational issues.
- Support production teams in delivering safety, quality, delivery, and efficiency targets.
- Utilise maintenance management systems to drive planning, reporting, and performance improvements.
- What Success Looks Like
You’ll be accountable for
- Engineering safety performance
- Production asset reliability and availability
- Reduction of unplanned downtime
- Maintenance budget performance
- Effectiveness of preventative maintenance programmes
- Engineering team development and engagement
- Statutory compliance and inspection requirements
- Delivery of continuous improvement and cost reduction initiatives
About You
You’ll be an experienced engineering leader with a proven track record of improving reliability, driving performance, and developing high‑performing teams within a manufacturing environment.
Essential Experience
- Significant experience in a Maintenance Manager, Engineering Manager, or senior engineering leadership role.
- Experience leading engineering teams within a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.
- Strong knowledge of preventative and predictive maintenance methodologies.
- Demonstrated success in reducing downtime and improving equipment reliability.
- Experience managing maintenance budgets and engineering projects.
- Strong knowledge of health, safety, and environmental standards within manufacturing.
- Preferred Qualifications & Experience
- Degree, HNC, HND, or equivalent qualification in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, or Engineering.
- Experience within packaging, paper, corrugated, FMCG, or other high‑volume manufacturing environments.
- Knowledge of CMMS systems and reliability engineering tools.
- IOSH, NEBOSH, or other health and safety qualifications.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Maintenance Manager employer: WestRock Company
At Smurfit Westrock, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises safety and technical excellence. Our Bristol site provides ample opportunities for employee growth and development, alongside competitive benefits that support work-life balance. Join us to be part of a team that values innovation and continuous improvement in the manufacturing sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Maintenance Manager
✨Join Local Manufacturing Groups
Getting involved in local manufacturing groups or associations can seriously boost your visibility. These groups often have insider info on job openings and networking events, plus they help you connect with like-minded folks in the industry. Check out what's happening in your area!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Practical Spaces
Consider participating in workshops or open days at manufacturing companies. It's a great way to show off your hands-on skills in a real-world environment and can sometimes lead to job offers right on the spot. Keep an eye on announcements from local manufacturers for these opportunities!
✨Leverage the Power of Internships
While you're looking for full-time positions, don't underestimate the power of internships! Even if you don't see a direct role, securing an internship at a company can open doors to future jobs. Many manufacturing firms prefer to hire from their intern pool, so it's definitely worth considering.
✨Apply Directly Through Company Websites
When you find a role at a company you love, like WestRock Company, apply directly on their website. This way, you’re more likely to be noticed by the hiring team. Plus, showing that you took the time to seek out their application process highlights your genuine interest in the firm!
We think you need these skills to ace Maintenance Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to WestRock Company specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at WestRock Company
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with WestRock Company, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like WestRock Company value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
