Maintenance Engineering Manager in Stoke-on-Trent

A global manufacturer is looking to appoint a Maintenance Engineering Manager to lead the maintenance function within one of its high-volume manufacturing operations. This role extends beyond managing reactive maintenance; it involves creating the systems, standards, and culture that keep production moving, improve reliability, and ensure maintenance becomes a competitive advantage rather than simply a support function.

You will lead an established maintenance team, drive continuous improvement, influence investment decisions, support new projects, and ensure the plant remains capable of delivering the standards expected by a world-class manufacturing business. If you enjoy creating structure, solving problems properly, and building teams that continuously improve rather than continually react, this is an opportunity to make a genuine impact.

The Role

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will lead the day-to-day maintenance function whilst shaping the longer-term strategy for the department. You will be responsible for ensuring equipment reliability, improving plant performance, and creating an environment where maintenance is planned rather than reactive. You will lead and develop a team of maintenance engineers, creating a culture built around ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Alongside the day-to-day operation, you will drive preventative maintenance and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) activity, ensuring downtime is minimised through structured root cause analysis and robust corrective actions rather than temporary fixes. Working closely with Production Operations, you will play a key role in improving overall operational performance. You will also support the introduction of new equipment and projects, oversee major shutdowns and planned maintenance activity, manage critical spares and contractor performance, and use maintenance KPIs to identify opportunities to improve reliability, efficiency, and equipment availability.

You will also be responsible for ensuring the maintenance function continues to operate to the highest standards of safety, quality, and housekeeping, whilst developing maintenance strategies that support both the immediate needs of the plant and its longer-term operational objectives. This role requires technical credibility, but leadership will ultimately define your success. You will be expected to build capability within the team, create consistency in maintenance standards, and ensure the function continues to evolve alongside the demands of a modern manufacturing operation.

About You

You will already have experience leading maintenance within a fast-paced manufacturing environment where equipment reliability directly influences production performance. You will likely have completed an Electrical or Mechanical apprenticeship and hold recognised engineering qualifications, alongside previous experience managing maintenance teams in a manufacturing environment. You will have a strong understanding of preventative maintenance, TPM, and continuous improvement, with a track record of reducing downtime through structured fault finding and robust root cause analysis.

You are someone who enjoys leading from the front. You know how to develop people, build trust across departments, and create an environment where high standards become the norm rather than the exception. You will be equally comfortable discussing long-term maintenance strategy with senior leadership as you are supporting your team through the operational challenges of the day. You will have experience from within high-volume manufacturing environments and be able to demonstrate the leadership, technical capability, and continuous improvement mindset this role demands.

What's on Offer?

This is an opportunity to join a well-established global manufacturer where maintenance is recognised as a critical function within the business. You will have the opportunity to shape maintenance strategy, develop your team, influence operational performance, and play a key role in delivering continuous improvement across the plant. For someone who enjoys building capability, improving reliability, and leading from the front, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact in a business that continues to invest in its people, technology, and future.

Interested?

If you're looking for a leadership role where you can move beyond simply responding to breakdowns and instead build a maintenance function that drives operational performance, we'd welcome the opportunity to speak with you.