Reliability Lead
McCain Foods is a privately‑owned family company that feeds the world with products ranging from French fries to chilled snacks. With more than 60 years of experience, a presence in over 160 countries and a global team of 22,000 people, we live by our core values of Family, Authentic, Trusted and Quality. We believe in working together with partners to bring sustainable growth and positive change today, tomorrow and for generations to come.
Position Title: Reliability Lead
Position Type: Regular – Full‑Time
Requisition ID: 39682
About The Role
As Reliability Lead you will be at the heart of driving unstoppable plant performance – maximizing uptime, reducing maintenance costs, and elevating food safety standards. Your proactive mindset will keep McCain’s manufacturing assets running at peak performance, powering our commitment to exceptional quality and operational excellence.
By owning routine condition monitoring you’ll detect potential equipment issues before they strike, enabling swift, targeted action that prevents unplanned downtime and boosts asset longevity. Your reliability engineering expertise will drive our evolution from reactive fixes to predictive, data‑driven maintenance, strengthening McCain’s focus on safety, efficiency and cost management.
You will also champion our GB Reliability Vision: “By 2030, while fostering a strong network and inclusive culture, we will achieve zero engineering contamination.” Your leadership will shape a culture of reliability, innovation and continuous improvement across all sites.
Accountabilities
* Data Analysis & Problem‑Solving – Dive into equipment performance data, uncover trends and lead root cause analyses.
* Turn insights from Power BI and SAP into actionable reliability improvements and forward‑thinking strategies.
* Condition Monitoring – Champion our programs, ensuring proactive use of predictive tools such as vibration analysis, thermography, oil analysis, ultrasound and more.
* Maintain and improve the condition monitoring schedule and act on recommendations to safeguard equipment health.
* Search for innovative technologies to push reliability performance further.
* Maintenance Optimisation – Elevate procedures to boost uptime and minimise unexpected breakdowns.
* Refine schedules based on actual asset performance and introduce next‑generation technologies.
* Continuous Improvement & Training – Spot optimisation opportunities, lead improvement projects and deliver engaging training.
* Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement – Partner with production teams to troubleshoot issues, prioritise actions and keep performance on track.
* Collaborate with OEMs and contractors to align support with site reliability ambitions.
* Safety & Compliance – Champion safety at every turn, uphold policies and create a workplace where responsibility comes first.
Qualifications & Skills
* Exceptional analytical mindset with hands‑on experience using Power BI and SAP.
* Proven expertise in root cause analysis and reliability engineering, with a track record of measurable improvements.
* Demonstrated ability to design and implement effective maintenance procedures that enhance reliability.
* Outstanding communication and collaboration skills, enabling influence across multidisciplinary teams.
* Solid understanding of manufacturing operations and asset management best practices.
* Strong commitment to safety, innovation and continuous improvement, always seeking smarter, better ways to keep equipment and people performing at their best.
Location
You will be based at the Whittlesey plant in Peterborough, the plant where we produce our famous French fries and chilled products such as Shake Shake Fries.
The Benefits Of Working For McCain
* An excellent pension – we pay double what you do, up to a maximum of 12% of your pay.
* Flexible holidays – buy & sell up to 5 days holiday per year.
* Optional health cash plan.
* Cycle‑to‑work scheme.
* ‘Chips In’ Volunteering Day Off – to make a positive impact on global communities.
The McCain Experience
We are McCain – a culture that focuses on authenticity and trust. Here, you have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive while being yourself. We bring out the best in our people and create safe spaces that foster trust and empowerment.
McCain Foods is an equal‑opportunity employer and a global accessible employer. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process (e.g., alternate formats or accessible rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree that this will be handled in accordance with McCain’s Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy. You can learn how your personal information is being handled here.
Job Family: Manufacturing
Location(s): GB – United Kingdom – England – Whittlesey
Company: McCain Foods (G.B.) Ltd
Seniority Level
* Mid‑Senior level
Employment Type
* Full‑time
Job Function
* Other
* Food and Beverage Manufacturing
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