Head of engineering

Overview

Warringtonfire, part of Element has a new Head of Engineering role primarily based in the Warrington area. This role reports to the Senior Cluster General Manager and will encompass a broad range of responsibilities within the Fire Testing division of the Built business, requiring occasional travel to sites in High Wycombe and Gent in Belgium. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company and help make tomorrow safer than today.

Responsibilities

Engineering Management

Accountable for the uptime of plant equipment and infrastructure at the Warrington locations, while influencing all lab locations. Ensures a robust program of legal compliance and plant health through inspections and audits, maintaining operational reliability. Delegates effectively so the team balances proactive inspections, third‑party servicing, internal maintenance and reactive tasks to maintain a 95% on‑time delivery target.

Conducts regular team reviews to confirm required internal skills, develops and maintains an optimal blend of internal capability and third‑party support, and maximises impact for the clients’ requirements.

Leads forward‑looking improvements to processes, reviewing business practices and exploring technology adoption to enhance team output.

Operational Excellence

Drives continuous improvement across business programmes in line with schemes, accreditation, and operational requirements. Embeds a strong continuous improvement mindset within laboratory operations, focusing on testing processes, safe operating procedures, test reporting and invoicing. Identifies opportunities across all sites, embeds consistency, and educates the wider workforce to sustain a culture of continuous improvement.

Key skill examples include:

• Production: Capacity modelling (time & motion), Value stream mapping, Process mining, Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), Failure mode & Effects analysis (FMEA)
• Process: Swim‑lane diagrams (As‑is & To‑be), Fishbone (Ishikawa), 5‑S/lean practices, Gemba walks, SIPOC & Kanban boards

Supporting the General Managers / Leadership Team

Supports effective operation at all locations by contributing to annual budget delivery, coordinating key activities, and being a stakeholder in developing and delivering division objectives. Maintains legal compliance, prevents downtime through a robust preventive maintenance system, aligns with 17025 requirements and positively impacts performance and culture through training frameworks and on‑the‑job guidance.

Key Deliverables

• Maintain legal compliance of sites through planning, auditing and corrective action management
• Deliver planned maintenance works with limited impact on the 95% OTD target, coordinating closely with operational teams
• Maintain effective operation of plant equipment during reactive works by robust reporting and KPI adherence, and by modelling available resources and critical spares
• Continuously improve the CMMS to support legal obligations and plant uptime
• Work with SCGM and GMs to identify and deliver strategic and tactical improvements, focusing on client journey and lean operating processes for ROI
• Build strategic roadmaps aligned with BU direction in collaboration with SCGM
• Embed a learning path for all levels in testing and functions to create a CI culture

Skills & Qualifications

• Managing a revenue‑generating business of £10 m
• Managing engineering departments
• Project‑management experience on medium‑to‑large scale projects with successful delivery
• Lean Six Sigma methodology or other continuous improvement tools
• Strong communication skills with proven leadership experience
• Proactive attitude toward innovation and its impact on the business
• People management and development
• Knowledge of operations under compliance with 17025, 17065, 45001
• Mechanical or electrical engineering degree
• Prince2 / Agile or equivalent project experience with demonstrable success
• Lean Six Sigma or equivalent qualification with evidence of live application
• Experience within the TIC industry, manufacturing or construction preferred, with demonstrable end‑to‑end process experience

Benefits of working at Element

33 days annual holiday (25 days annual holiday and 8 public days), Life Assurance via Legal & General, Pension scheme with total contributions up to 12%, Flexible Working, Cycle Scheme, Refer a Friend bonus, Perks at Work discount scheme, Car allowance.

Diversity Statement

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work‑related criteria and without regard to age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant, unless the disclosure meets legal requirements.