About Hydrokem Aerosols Ltd:
Hydrokem Aerosols are located on the Wirral and specialise in the manufacture of aerosol and bag on valve products. We supply to a wide range of market sectors including personal care, healthcare/medical devices, veterinary, household, automotive and technical.
Hydrokem Aerosols is a part of Clinimed Holding Limited, a group of companies founded in 1982 following the acquisition and formation of number of additional companies within the group.
Job Summary:
We are seeking a dynamic and results-driven
Head of Engineering
to oversee a large, multi-disciplinary team across multiple sites. This role is responsible for shaping and executing engineering strategies, driving continuous improvement through Lean Six Sigma, and delivering complex, high-value projects.
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in manufacturing operations, with a focus on enhancing equipment performance, implementing TPM and SMED methodologies, and ensuring full compliance with HSE and ATEX standards. A key part of the role is fostering a culture of excellence, capability building, and innovation to support long-term business growth.
Main Duties & Responsibilities:
* Provide strategic leadership and direction to a large, multi-disciplinary engineering team across multiple functions and geographic locations.
* Champion Lean Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement (CI) initiatives enterprise-wide, leveraging Black Belt certification to drive measurable performance gains.
* Manage the successful delivery of complex, high-value engineering projects with multi-million-pound budgets and significant business impact.
* Define and execute engineering strategies that align with broader organizational goals and support long-term business growth.
* Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement, embedding operational excellence principles across processes, systems, and team dynamics.
* Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with project management, operations, and executive leadership to ensure seamless execution and alignment.
* Build team capability through effective coaching, performance management, and succession planning to ensure long-term leadership and technical strength.
* Drive improvements in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) by applying Lean methodologies and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) principles across manufacturing operations.
* Develop and implement a comprehensive roadmap to enhance manufacturing asset performance, including investment in refurbishment, new production lines, and facility expansion.
* Ensure full compliance with all Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) legislation, including ATEX requirements, in a regulated chemical processing and VOC pressurised filling environment.
* Design and roll out structured Autonomous Maintenance (AM) and Preventive Maintenance (PM) programs to improve equipment reliability and uptime.
* Lead production line optimisation by implementing standardised setup procedures and applying SMED techniques to reduce changeover times and increase productivity.
* Establish and execute a restructured reactive maintenance strategy focused on efficiency, root cause elimination, and a "Right First Time" (RFT) approach to downtime resolution.
Personal Specifications:
* Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification
– essential and non-negotiable.
* A proven record of success in senior engineering leadership roles, with measurable impact on performance and operations.
* Significant experience in managing large-scale, complex projects, consistently delivering on time and within budget.
* Strong leadership capability with a demonstrated ability to build, develop, and inspire high-performing teams while driving cultural and organizational change.
* Solid grounding in project management principles and best practices.
* Deep expertise in Continuous Improvement (CI), Lean methodologies, and embedding a culture of operational excellence.
* An effective communicator, strategic thinker, and hands-on leader with a proactive and solutions-focused mindset.