Engineering Manager

This is not a typical Engineering Manager role.You will join the founding leadership team of a brand-new greenfield food-grade rPET facility in Ellesmere Port. The plant will process up to 35,000 tonnes of post-consumer PET bottles and trays every year, turning them into high-quality food-grade rPET pellets.Hot commissioning is scheduled for November/December 2026, with full capacity aimed for the start of 2027. We want you to be a part of this.All equipment is new. You will design, implement and own the full engineering and reliability strategy from day one - taking the plant safely through commissioning into world-class planned maintenance performance.What youll be doing as Engineering ManagerFounding leadership seat with direct access to senior decision-makersOwn the complete transition from construction to stable operationsBuild a true planned-maintenance culture (target 8085% planned / 1520% unplanned) using RCM and TPM principlesPermanent senior standalone role strategy, systems, continuous improvement and build/hire your team around your needs for the plant.Genuine opportunity with the senior management team, to shape how a major UK circular-economy facility operates for years to comeYou will lead the Engineering & Reliability function through hot commissioning and into reliable full-capacity operation while establishing a world-class planned maintenance system.Hot Commissioning, Start-up & Early OperationsLead and coordinate hot commissioning of all new plant equipment (Nov/Dec 2026)Support partial operation and ramp-up to full capacity (early-mid 2027)Establish commissioning procedures, punch-list management, as-built documentation and operator training supportAct as Site Custodian for the Permit to Work system and implement rigorous Lockout-Tagout (LOTO) across all four shiftsPlanned Preventive Maintenance, RCM & TPMDesign and implement a comprehensive PPM programme across all assets and shiftsApply Reliability-Centred Maintenance (RCM) to prioritise critical assets and select the right strategy for eachEmbed Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) principles, including operator autonomous maintenanceDrive and measure a high planned-to-unplanned work ratio (world-class target 8085% planned)Reliability, Systems & Continuous ImprovementSelect, configure and embed a CMMS supporting work planning, scheduling, history, spares and reportingDevelop and use key reliability KPIs (MTBF, MTTR, planned vs unplanned ratio, schedule compliance, backlog health)Lead root-cause analysis and ensure corrective/preventive actions stickManage stores, critical spares strategy and OEM/vendor relationshipsEnsure full compliance with statutory inspections, pressure systems, LOLER, PUWER and UK H&S legislationPeople, Leadership & CultureBuild and develop a lean engineering team that will grow with the operationCreate a culture of ownership, competence and continuous improvementWork closely with Operations so maintenance is planned around production needsBe a visible, hands-on leader during the critical start-up phaseWhat were looking for in an Engineering Manager:Significant experience as Engineering Manager, Maintenance Manager or senior Engineering Lead in manufacturing, process or industrial environments (continuous process, plastics, recycling or similar preferred)Hands-on experience of plant commissioning, start-up or major equipment handover (ideally hot commissioning of new process plant)Proven track record of leading planned preventive maintenance programmes and achieving a high planned-to-unplanned ratioDemonstrable experience managing Permit to Work systems, contractor safety coordination and LOTO in heavy manufacturingPractical experience of RCM and/or TPM, including operator autonomous maintenanceStrong understanding of CMMS systems, work planning & scheduling, spares management and reliability KPIsTo apply for this role, please click apply online and upload an updated copy of your CV.Candidate Source Ltd is an advertising agency. Once you have submitted your application it will be passed to the third party Recruiter who is responsible for processing your application. This will include holding and sharing your personal data, our legal basis for this is legitimate interest subject to your declared interest in a job. Our privacy policy can be found on our website and we can be contacted to confirm who your application has been forwarded to.TPBN1_UKTJ