engineering & maintenance manager

UK - Ashford

Permanent contract

Ardo supplies its continuously growing markets around the world with high quality frozen vegetables, herbs, and fruit with 3300 employees and 16 production, packing & distribution sites in 7 different countries. The family business sells in more than 100 countries and has a turnover of more than 1.4 billion euros. The proximity of our factories to our crops is one of our key strengths and ensures that only minutes are lost between harvest and locking in the product's natural goodness in our freezers.

Ardo's mission is to preserve the gift of nature for future generations by providing fresh frozen, plant-based food while minimizing our impact on the planet. Ardo achieves this goal thanks to an integrated network of growing areas, production units, freezing units, packaging equipment, appropriate logistics and thorough quality control. The group's know-how and flexible structure ensure that it can respond quickly to new trends and that innovative product can be brought onto the market quickly.

Your Scope

Main Purpose

Ensure the safe and efficient day to day running of the Ashford facility managing all aspect of compliance /and operational activities as well as amenities.

Health & Safety – to ensure staff are working in a safe and efficient manner.

• Create annual reviewed programs to manage risk assessments & work instructions throughout the department.
• Controlling compliance duties throughout the department such as fixed wiring, PAT testing legionella control, contractor control and confined space control through the permit system.
• Year on year reduction of accidents within the department to be agreed annually with Site Director.

Quality – site standards always adhered to and audit ready at all times whilst contributing to year-on-year reduction in complaints.

• GMP audit actions completed in a timely fashion.
• Reduction of engineering / equipment based internal non-conformances.
• Regular reviews across site identifying to departmental manager quality related issues for improvement.
• System and documentation to be compliant for all auditing purposes.
• Attending monthly Technical and Operations meetings including HACCP and annual GMS reviews.

Continuous Improvement – works to improve flexibility / reliability as well as reduce costs across site.

• Year on year reduction in equipment down time to be agreed annually with Site Director.
• PPM program no less than 85% completion on time.
• Identifying CAPEX funded improvements for in house projects as well delivering R.O.I
• Working with other sites on group wide projects such as energy improvement plans.

Cost control – effectively managing day to day costs within the department working with the Engineering Team Leader to build realistic budgets that are adhered to.

• Ensuring critical spares are controlled and risk assessed i.e., delivery times / cost.
• Building and maintaining the yearly engineering budget.
• Conditional replacement plan to be created to flow into annual CAPEX plan.

Team Development – ensure the team the correct skills which are maintained to the desired standard.

• Staff skills assessment.
• Periodic scheduled 1-2-1s to be scheduled for direct reports.
• Scheduling of relevant training to improve team skills and address weakness and cover compliance requirements.

Your profile

Mechanical Expertise: 5–10+ years in engineering roles, with at least 3–5 years in leadership or management.

Leadership & Communication: Ability to inspire teams, resolve conflicts, and communicate effectively with stakeholders.

Strategic Thinking: Aligning engineering goals with business objectives.

Problem-Solving: Analytical skills to troubleshoot and optimize systems.

Project & Budget Management: Experience managing resources, timelines, and financials.

We offer

Competitive Salary

Private Health Insurance

Enhanced Pension

Company Car