Location: Full time - Samlesbury
Title: Maintenance Reliability Manager – Brewing Department
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Maintenance Reliability Manager to take ownership of the maintenance and reliability strategy for our Brewing Department within a high‑performing, fast‑paced brewery environment. This role is responsible for ensuring all brewing assets, utilities interfaces, and supporting infrastructure operate safely, efficiently, and with best‑in‑class reliability. You will combine strategic ownership of maintenance systems with hands‑on operational leadership to drive performance today while building sustainable capability for tomorrow.
Duties & Responsibilities
Maintenance Strategy & Reliability Leadership
* Own and execute the Brewing Department maintenance and reliability strategy.
* Translate production and business needs into robust asset care strategies.
* Lead the Maintenance Pillar within the site management system (VPO – Voyager Plant Optimisation).
* Drive long‑term asset performance, reliability improvement, and cost optimisation.
Execution Excellence
* Ensure effective planning, scheduling, and execution of all Brewing maintenance activities.
* Drive high levels of schedule compliance, backlog management, and maintenance discipline.
* Own key maintenance KPIs including availability, MTBF, downtime, cost, and reliability performance.
* Lead structured response to breakdowns and chronic losses, ensuring RCA and sustainable fixes.
* Ensure accurate CMMS execution (SAP/Sigma), including work order quality and feedback loops.
People Leadership & Capability Development
* Lead, coach, and develop maintenance planners, reliability engineers, and Plant Technical Experts.
* Build strong technical capability in fault finding, condition monitoring, and structured problem solving.
* Develop apprentices and frontline engineers through training plans and hands‑on coaching.
* Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving
* Embed structured tools such as 5 Whys, PDCA, Abnormality Management, and RCA.
* Lead initiatives to eliminate chronic losses and improve overall equipment effectiveness.
* Drive improvements across safety, quality, throughput, energy, and cost.
* Ensure adherence to SOPs, standards, and maintenance best practices.
Asset Care, Compliance & Utilities
* Ensure safe, compliant, and reliable operation of brewing equipment and utilities systems (steam, refrigeration, compressed air, cooling systems).
* Support food safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance requirements including audits and inspections.
* Own engineering inputs into safety and quality compliance standards.
* Support VPO audits and maturity assessments.
Planning, Spares & CAPEX
* Own spare parts strategy including critical spares identification and inventory optimisation.
* Partner with planning teams to ensure robust long‑, medium‑, and short‑term maintenance plans.
* Lead CAPEX projects and new equipment introductions, ensuring maintainability and reliability by design.
* Own Management of Change (MOC) for brewing engineering modifications.
Additional Responsibilities
* Provide hands‑on support during breakdowns and escalations.
* Ensure completion and quality of all maintenance documentation and CMMS updates.
* Support development of SOPs, training materials, and maintenance documentation control.
* Participate in reliability events including PM optimisation, CIL, and SOP reviews.
* Support OEMs and contractors on site to ensure effective execution and knowledge transfer.
* Support 5S implementation and sustainment activities.
* Attend training courses and operational meetings as required.
Qualifications
* Degree (or equivalent experience) in Mechanical, Electrical, or Automation Engineering.
* Significant experience in maintenance and reliability leadership within high‑speed manufacturing or process environments (brewing or FMCG desirable).
* Proven track record of delivering maintenance strategy and reliability improvement at scale.
* Strong leadership experience managing engineering or technical teams.
* Strong knowledge of CMMS systems (SAP preferred) and maintenance data analysis tools.
* Strong fault‑finding capability across mechanical, electrical, and automation systems.
* Experience within World Class Manufacturing / TPM / structured maintenance environments.
* Strong understanding of utilities systems (steam, refrigeration, compressed air, cooling systems).
* Strong analytical capability (e.g. Power BI or similar tools).
Desirable
* Experience in brewing, batch processing, or high‑speed packaging environments.
* Knowledge of refrigeration plant, steam systems, heat exchangers, and compressed air networks.
* Experience delivering CAPEX or large‑scale reliability improvement programmes.
Benefits
* Benefits for you and your family to help your physical and mental health.
* Competitive parental leave and pension double contributions.
* 25 days holidays per year.
* Employee benefits to help your physical and mental health and overall well‑being (travel insurance, gym memberships, discounted services, dental, etc.).
* A beer allowance to enjoy our brands.
* 2 volunteer days a year to support your local community.
* WPA Private Medical Care.
* 26 weeks paid leave for primary caregiver.
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