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Site Engineering Manager - Job Opportunity at Premier Foods

Worksop, GB
Full-time
Senior
Posted: June 21, 2025
On-site
£65,000 - £85,000 per year based on senior engineering management roles in FMCG manufacturing within the East Midlands region, with potential for additional benefits and performance-based compensation given the strategic nature of the position and team size responsibility.

Benefits

Permanent employment contract providing long-term job security and career stability in a well-established FMCG company
Standard Monday-Friday work schedule (37.5 hours per week) offering excellent work-life balance compared to many manufacturing environments
Competitive salary package positioned appropriately for senior management level in the food manufacturing sector
Professional development opportunities through mentoring and coaching responsibilities that enhance leadership credentials
Exposure to world-class engineering excellence programs in partnership with central teams, providing cutting-edge industry knowledge
Strategic leadership role with direct reporting to Factory General Manager, offering significant career advancement potential

Key Responsibilities

Drive strategic engineering excellence by collaborating with Senior Project Engineering Manager to define and execute comprehensive site engineering strategy, directly impacting operational efficiency and long-term business success
Lead transformational change through development and implementation of 5-year proactive maintenance strategy aligned with master plan, positioning the site for sustained competitive advantage
Ensure operational excellence and regulatory compliance by maintaining safe working environments and upholding exceptional standards across quality, food safety, hygiene, and housekeeping in all four centers
Optimize financial performance through strategic management of engineering budgets, cost control, overhead management, and leadership of energy minimization programs that directly impact bottom-line results
Drive performance excellence by monitoring and utilizing KPIs to deliver operational and engineering excellence, embedding data-driven decision making within engineering teams
Build and develop high-performing teams through comprehensive training, development, and performance management of all engineering colleagues, fostering career progression and skill enhancement
Establish continuous improvement culture within engineering operations to sustain operational gains and identify opportunities for equipment upgrades and capital improvements
Lead innovation initiatives by contributing to specification and selection of new equipment, incorporating modern automation thinking and staying current with FMCG industry advancements

Requirements

Education

BEng Degree (Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing) or BEngTech / HCEng / City and Guilds (Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing)

Experience

Proven experience in an FMCG engineering management position with demonstrated ability to manage a team of 50+ individuals

Required Skills

Strong leadership and change management skills Proven experience in a trade union environment Proven track record of improving production equipment availability levels In-depth knowledge and understanding of modern maintenance practices Strong financial acumen, including basic financial awareness, understanding of business drivers, and budgeting processes Ability to analyse data and identify trends

Certifications

NEBOSH qualification (desirable) Prince 2 or other project management qualification (desirable) Formal Continuous Improvement qualification (e.g., Six Sigma Black Belt) (desirable)
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The FMCG sector is experiencing unprecedented automation transformation driven by Industry 4.0 technologies, with companies investing heavily in predictive maintenance, IoT sensors, and AI-driven equipment optimization to maintain competitive advantage in increasingly challenging market conditions. Food manufacturing operations are facing intensified regulatory scrutiny and compliance requirements, particularly around food safety, environmental impact, and workplace safety, requiring engineering leaders who can navigate complex regulatory landscapes while maintaining operational efficiency. Supply chain disruptions and raw material cost volatility are driving FMCG manufacturers to prioritize operational resilience and equipment reliability, making experienced engineering managers with proven track records in availability improvement highly sought after in the current market.

Role Significance

Large team leadership responsibility managing 50+ engineering professionals across Manufacturing and Facilities engineering functions, requiring sophisticated organizational and delegation skills to coordinate complex multi-disciplinary engineering operations.
Senior leadership position with direct strategic influence on site operations and significant autonomy in engineering decision-making, reporting directly to Factory General Manager and responsible for setting long-term engineering vision and strategy for the entire manufacturing facility.

Key Projects

Implementation of comprehensive 5-year proactive maintenance strategies incorporating predictive maintenance technologies and reliability-centered maintenance principles Capital equipment upgrade projects involving specification, selection, and integration of advanced automation systems and modern manufacturing technologies Continuous improvement initiatives focused on equipment availability enhancement, energy efficiency optimization, and operational cost reduction programs

Success Factors

Exceptional leadership and change management capabilities are critical for successfully managing large engineering teams and implementing strategic transformations in complex manufacturing environments with established operational practices and trade union presence. Deep technical expertise in modern maintenance practices combined with strong business acumen enables effective translation of engineering initiatives into measurable business outcomes and financial performance improvements. Strategic thinking and long-term planning abilities are essential for developing and executing 5-year maintenance strategies that align with corporate objectives while adapting to evolving market demands and technological advancements. Strong stakeholder management and communication skills facilitate effective collaboration across multiple organizational levels and functional areas, ensuring engineering initiatives support broader business objectives and operational excellence goals.

Market Demand

High demand for experienced FMCG engineering managers with proven large team leadership capabilities, particularly those with trade union experience and continuous improvement expertise, as manufacturers prioritize operational excellence and automation advancement in competitive markets.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Advanced leadership and change management capabilities are absolutely essential for successfully managing large engineering teams and implementing strategic transformations in established manufacturing environments, where resistance to change and complex stakeholder dynamics require sophisticated management approaches and proven influence skills. Deep technical expertise in modern maintenance practices including predictive maintenance, reliability-centered maintenance, and condition-based monitoring is critical for developing effective long-term strategies and ensuring equipment availability improvements that directly impact operational performance and competitive position. Strong financial acumen and business understanding are essential for effectively managing engineering budgets, justifying capital investments, and translating technical initiatives into measurable business outcomes that support organizational objectives and profitability targets.

Beneficial Skills

Formal project management certification such as Prince 2 or PMP provides structured methodology for managing complex engineering initiatives and capital projects, enhancing ability to deliver strategic improvements on time and within budget constraints. Advanced continuous improvement qualifications like Six Sigma Black Belt certification offer proven methodologies for systematic problem-solving and process optimization, supporting establishment of sustainable improvement culture and measurable operational gains. NEBOSH safety certification demonstrates commitment to safety excellence and provides advanced knowledge for maintaining regulatory compliance and creating safe working environments in complex manufacturing operations.

Unique Aspects

Strategic partnership with Central Engineering Excellence team provides access to cutting-edge industry practices and cross-site knowledge sharing, offering exceptional professional development opportunities and exposure to innovative engineering solutions.
Comprehensive 5-year strategic planning responsibility offers unusual autonomy and long-term strategic influence for an individual site role, providing substantial career development value and demonstrable strategic leadership experience.
Management of four distinct operational centers within a single site presents complex coordination challenges and diverse technical exposure, enhancing leadership capabilities and technical breadth beyond typical single-facility roles.
Trade union environment management requirement develops specialized stakeholder management and negotiation skills that are increasingly valuable in industrial manufacturing settings and enhance overall leadership capabilities.

Career Growth

Typical progression to Factory General Manager or Regional Engineering Director roles within 3-5 years, depending on performance outcomes and strategic initiative success, with potential acceleration based on exceptional results in availability improvement and cost optimization.

Potential Next Roles

Factory General Manager or Plant Manager positions within Premier Foods or other major FMCG manufacturers, leveraging comprehensive operational experience and proven engineering leadership capabilities Regional Engineering Director roles overseeing multiple manufacturing sites, utilizing demonstrated strategic planning and large team management experience to drive engineering excellence across broader organizational scope Technical Director or Chief Engineering Officer positions in mid-sized food manufacturing companies, applying comprehensive engineering expertise and strategic leadership experience to drive organizational transformation

Company Overview

Premier Foods

Premier Foods is one of the UK's largest food manufacturers and a leading supplier of branded and own-label food products, with a diverse portfolio including well-known brands across multiple categories and significant market presence in the British food manufacturing sector.

Established market leader with strong brand recognition and extensive retail partnerships throughout the UK, maintaining competitive position through operational excellence and continuous investment in manufacturing capabilities and efficiency improvements.
The Worksop facility represents a significant manufacturing asset within Premier Foods' operational network, serving as a key production center supporting the company's market position and requiring sophisticated engineering leadership to maintain competitive manufacturing capabilities.
Large corporate environment with established operational procedures and strong emphasis on safety, compliance, and continuous improvement, offering structured career development opportunities and exposure to world-class engineering practices through central excellence programs.
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