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Description

Operational Excellence and Engineering Manager

 South Wales |  Permanent |  £45,000 – £50,000

We’re working with a forward-thinking manufacturing site in South Wales to find a skilled Operational Excellence and Engineering Manager. This leadership role is perfect for someone who thrives on improving processes, solving technical challenges, and making a real impact on operational performance. If you're passionate about continuous improvement and want to take ownership of engineering functions within a high-performing environment, this could be the ideal next step.

About the Role

In this varied and hands-on position, you’ll lead initiatives to improve efficiency, reliability, and safety across the site. Reporting to the Factory Manager, you'll oversee proactive maintenance planning, rapid fault resolution, and compliance with industry standards and internal processes. You’ll also mentor a small technical team and collaborate with key stakeholders across production, quality, and HSE to ensure smooth and safe operations.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading the site’s continuous improvement strategy using Lean and Six Sigma tools
• Overseeing and optimising preventative and corrective maintenance plans
• Managing site facilities and responding to urgent breakdowns (approx. 20%)
• Coaching technicians in first-line maintenance and root cause analysis
• Ensuring compliance with standards such as ISO9001, ISO45001, ISO14001, and HACCP
• Supporting internal and external audits and driving action plans
• Leading engineering projects and identifying opportunities for upgrades or investment
• Promoting a 5S and safety-first culture throughout the site

What We’re Looking For

• Time-served engineer or qualified to HNC/HND/Degree level in Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering
• Strong background in continuous improvement and lean methodologies
• Hands-on experience in maintenance within a regulated manufacturing environment
• Confident with PPM systems, Lockout/Tagout, risk assessments, and engineering change control
• Experience coaching others and contributing to audits and compliance frameworks
• Calm under pressure, with a proactive, structured approach to solving problems

Salary, Location & Benefits

• Salary: £45,000 – £50,000
• Location: South Wales (on-site)
• Contract: Full-time, permanent
• Benefits: Competitive package with development opportunities (please confirm or add specifics)

Ready to Apply?

If you're a practical leader with a drive for excellence and a background in engineering and process improvement, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now to explore this opportunity further or get in touch for a confidential discussion.