Thirsk, North Yorkshire | Permanent | Full time | Site-based
We're excited to be recruiting for a Planning Shift Engineering Manager to join our Engineering team at our Thirsk manufacturing site. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced engineering leader, perfect for someone passionate about driving maintenance excellence, leading high-performing teams and ensuring operational reliability within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
You'll be responsible for ensuring maintenance activities are well organised, scheduled and executed efficiently through effective leadership of the Shift Engineering teams and optimisation of our Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS). You'll play a key role in improving asset reliability, reducing unplanned downtime and supporting delivery of site performance targets.
About us
INSPIRED Pet Nutrition is an innovative, well-established, and award-winning pet food manufacturer employing over 1,200 colleagues across the UK and Europe. Our family of brands includes Harringtons, Wagg, Barking Heads & Meowing Heads, AATU, Blink, Butcher's, Classic, Pro-Nutrition, and Ultra Premium Direct, along with a number of partner brands that trust us to produce food on their behalf. Our kitchens in Thirsk, Kinmel, and Crick produce a wide range of dry, wet, and baked foods enjoyed by dogs and cats all over the world. Our ambition is simple: to become a global leader in pet nutrition.
Our Purpose: To create happiness
We're on a mission to set a new standard of workplace happiness within the pet nutrition industry-one that looks like no other and feels like no other. Our culture is built on INSPIRED's unique behaviours and colleague experience, creating an environment that excites, empowers, and puts people and pets at the heart of everything we do.
Responsibilities
Lead and develop the shift engineering team, setting clear expectations, providing feedback and supporting performance and development
Create and manage detailed maintenance schedules for routine, preventative and statutory compliance activities
Prioritise engineering tasks based on safety, operational criticality and production needs
Monitor and control engineering labour, repair and maintenance costs within agreed budgets
Ensure compliance with food safety, health and safety, BRC and statutory requirements
Drive effective use of CMMS to optimise preventative maintenance strategy and improve asset reliability
Analyse breakdown data and engineering performance to reduce unplanned downtime and improve OEE
Manage external contractors and specialist maintenance activities where required
Maintain accurate engineering records, documentation and reporting to support continuous improvement
Contribute to the wider site engineering leadership team, ensuring engineering supports delivery of business plans
About you
Proven experience in an engineering leadership role within a manufacturing environment
Strong knowledge of maintenance planning and preventative maintenance strategies
Experience leading and developing engineering teams
Good understanding of health & safety, food safety and compliance standards
Confident managing engineering budgets and cost control
Experience using CMMS systems (Pirana or similar desirable)
Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving capability
Strong communication skills with the ability to influence across site
At INSPIRED, we want to inspire colleagues to join, stay, develop, and achieve, creating an inclusive and sustainable business fit for growth. One of the enablers of achieving this is to offer competitive pay and benefits to all colleagues.
Our Total Reward Benefits include:
Full time, site-based role at Thirsk
Annual bonus related to personal and company performance 10%
Enhanced pension, life assurance, and enhanced maternity, paternity, sick pay, and holiday buy options
People and Pets First benefits, including paw-reavement and paw-ternity leave and bring your dog to work
Healthcare cashback plan and Hertility at-home fertility testing and Private Medical Insurance
Heavily discounted pet food and lifestyle benefits (Netflix, Spotify, or breakdown cover)
Retail and gym discounts, electric car scheme, and free onsite parking and electric car charging
Onsite canteen, free hot drinks, and modern facilities
See all our INSPIRED benefits here
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
INSPIRED Pet Nutrition is committed to building an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of the colleagues and communities we serve. We believe everyone should feel valued, respected and able to be themselves at work. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. We make hiring decisions based on talent, potential and the experience you bring.
We are also committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and in the workplace, ensuring equitable access and opportunity for all. If you need any adjustments or support to take part in our recruitment process, please let us know by emailing
INDHP