Maintenance Manager
Location: Essex
Industry: Manufacturing
Employment Type: Full-time
Salary: £60,000 - 65,000 + Benefits
We are seeking a proactive and technically skilled Maintenance Manager to take the lead on maintenance strategy at our Halstead manufacturing site. This is a key leadership position, responsible for ensuring the reliability, safety, and operational performance of plant equipment and infrastructure.
You will oversee preventive and condition-based maintenance processes, support capital investment and technical upgrade projects, and ensure maximum plant uptime through effective maintenance execution. Your approach to leadership, collaboration, and innovation will help shape the future resilience and efficiency of the site.
Key Responsibilities:
* Develop, implement, and manage the site’s maintenance strategy, budget, and performance metrics.
* Lead both planned and reactive maintenance activities, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
* Ensure maintenance procedures, technical documentation, and policies are up-to-date and aligned with best practice.
* Collaborate with engineering and operations teams on the installation and commissioning of new machinery, ensuring projects are delivered on time and to standard.
* Oversee procurement and resource planning, maintaining an effective balance of in-house and third-party support.
* Drive continuous improvement initiatives through data-led insights, root cause analysis, and KPI tracking.
* Manage relationships with external suppliers, ensuring safety, quality, and performance meet contractual expectations.
* Lead, mentor, and grow the maintenance team through structured training, recruitment, and performance management.
* Work closely with internal stakeholders to support future investment planning and strategic decision-making for equipment and infrastructure.
About You:
* A qualified engineer, ideally with an Electrical or Mechanical background.
* Experience gained in an automated, fast-paced manufacturing environment (food or FMCG experience highly desirable).
* Demonstrable success in maintenance leadership roles, including budgeting, team management, and supplier oversight.
* Strong technical knowledge, with a keen eye for detail, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.
* Excellent communicator and collaborator capable of influencing cross-functional teams.
* Able to thrive in a hands-on role with a solutions-focused mindset and commitment to high standards.
Advocate Group is a leading recruitment partner to the FMCG and consumer product sectors.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. By applying for this role, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy, which can be found on our website. Please note that Advocate Group is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.