New Leadership Opportunity: Head of Engineering – Food Manufacturing

We’re excited to be working with a global leader in high-volume food manufacturing, currently seeking a Head of Engineering to take the helm at its flagship site in Bedfordshire, England. This is a career-defining opportunity for a forward-thinking engineering professional ready to lead transformation, elevate performance, and make a lasting impact within a growth-oriented, future-focused organisation.

About the Role:

As Head of Engineering, you’ll lead a high-performing team within a complex, multi-line production facility. Your mission: drive operational excellence, enhance reliability, and implement long-term, sustainable improvements that align with business growth and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

Inspire and Lead – Set the benchmark for engineering and maintenance excellence. Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Drive Performance – Own and improve key metrics such as equipment reliability, uptime, preventative maintenance, and energy efficiency. Ensure Compliance – Maintain world-class standards in health, safety, and food manufacturing compliance. Ensure the site is always audit-ready. Champion Innovation – Lead capital investment initiatives, integrate new technologies, and establish best practices to elevate engineering capability. Collaborate Cross-Functionally – Work closely with production, quality, planning, and supply chain teams to align goals and drive seamless execution. Build Future Talent – Develop, mentor, and grow your team, building a robust pipeline of technical leaders.

What You Bring:

Senior-level engineering leadership experience within food or FMCG manufacturing, ideally in fast-paced, high-volume operations. Strong expertise in asset care, engineering compliance, and operational reliability. A proven ability to lead diverse teams and cultivate a high-performance, accountable culture. Familiarity with CMMS systems, capital projects, and data-led decision making. Comfortable with digital tools (e.g., MS Office, SAP) and enthusiastic about technology-driven optimisation.

What’s On Offer:

A high-impact leadership role with autonomy to shape engineering strategy across people, systems, and processes. The chance to be part of a purpose-driven organisation that prioritises safety, quality, and its people. An opportunity to shape the future of engineering within a growing, progressive food manufacturing organisation.

If you're a seasoned engineering leader ready to take your next step in food manufacturing, we'd love to hear from you!

Apply today or reach out directly for a confidential discussion.