Maintenance Engineer

Site Introduction:

The Wigston site, with a heritage dating back to 1895, is renowned for its long-standing tradition in biscuit production and its evolution through various ownerships, now proudly part of pladis Global. The site is home to a diverse and multicultural workforce, comprising 194 employees. The team is represented by the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Trade Union and is committed to inclusivity and diversity at every level. Wigston’s culture emphasises pride in its people, a collaborative spirit, and a dedication to delivering high-quality products enjoyed nationwide, all while fostering an environment where diversity and long service are celebrated.

Why join the team?

An exciting day shift-based opportunity has arisen at our Wigston site for a Multi Skilled Maintenance Engineer. We would like to hear from dynamic individuals who have previous experience of maintaining and improving process and packaging equipment and are looking for a varied engineering role offering a competitive salary and good long-term career opportunities.

This is an opportunity for a highly responsible and confident individual to take on a highly visible role; providing full Technical Engineering support to production function under the leadership of the Area Engineering Manager and working alongside the production team.

What will this role achieve?

The role plays a vital part of our fast-paced manufacturing operations team in Wigston! Your primary aim will be to understand and contribute to achieving the goals of the Factory by efficiently carrying out any assigned operation or task. We work effectively with others as part of a large team of varying levels of seniority.

We are looking for a highly capable multi-skilled maintenance engineer to provide full Technical Engineering support to the production function as part of the production team. You will be tasked with both proactive maintenance, reactive breakdowns, fault finding and continuously improving plant performance, while maintaining quality and safety standards. You will also take responsibility for continuous improvement of a specific area using good manufacturing and engineering practices.

Occasionally, we may ask you to cover other Engineering Technicians when they are away from work, including those on different shifts.

What will be your key deliverables?

Primarily, to manufacture the company’s product to an agreed specification in a cost effective and safe manner. The company produces a variety of products to meet customer needs. The daily focus for everyone needs to be on achieving the daily requirements right first time, in a safe factory environment at an improved ongoing cost. Other responsibilities include:

• Train, assess competencies, mentor and support ATMs, Apprentices and Team Members with the development of engineering skills
• As an engineering specialist input into team action plans & continuous improvement activities, especially ref OEE, Condition Based Monitoring (CBM), Tiered meetings, focused improvement (speedy kaizens) and workplace organisation (5S).
• Accountability for the mechanical and electrical integrity of equipment by carrying out the following:
• Effective planned maintenance inspections as per plan, reviewing frequencies, parts used, recommending alternative parts/vendors, meantime between failure rates
• Manage and recommend improvements to maintenance schedules
• Overhaul and repair of plant
• Complete stores requisitions for parts and contract services (on the SAP system or equivalent), including expediting deliveries with suppliers
• Continually supervise plant conditions and report defects
• Deliver a consistent and improving plant reliability through the effective management and monitoring of downtime, PPM conformance, engineering planning, use of SAP PM and elements of the engineering budget
• Report and present all performance matters routinely, including trends and breakdown/fault data
• Be a role model as the team champions of good engineering standards
• Carry out safety checks on equipment in line with legislation and standard methodology
• Report plant performance using appropriate company systems and ensure action on/communication of non-conformance issues
• Manage engineering duties and tasks across the factory as deemed vital and suitable to reduce idle time
• Consider and apply sustainability, waste minimisation and Energy consumption where appropriate.

What do you need for this role?

This is a multiskilled role & will require knowledge of both electrical & mechanical disciplines. It will also require an individual who can operate in various situations and environments. You will ideally have gained experience within an FMCG manufacturing environment; however we are open to speaking to engineers from other sectors for this role.

Experience of generic engineering equipment will be crucial, as well as the ability to clearly understand engineering drawings, symbols and notation. Acting efficiently under pressure in a fast paced and dynamic environment and make timely decisions is important. You will be proactive, and solution focussed with a drive to embed continuous improvement activities across the site.

You will need a proven engineering background through formal engineering qualification to at the least City & Guilds level, NVQ level 3 or equivalent in a mechanical and/or electrical subject area, and practical working experience. You will be excellent at working within a team and autonomously when required, with a confident communication style to empower and mentor colleagues to develop their engineering skills.

Additional crucial criteria for candidates:

• Mechanical and Electrical comprehension skills
• Fault finding skills
• Data analysis & interpretation skills
• Risk assessment trained
• Permit to work trained
• Ability to train effectively
• Technical report writing ability
• Full understanding of safe working practices and relevant legislation where applicable
• Numerical ability
• Literacy
• Dexterity
• Ability to follow instructions
• Accuracy/attention to detail
• Knowledge of COSHH
• Basic PC skills
• Problem solving techniques
• Influencing skills
• Sophisticated PLC Skills (highly desirable)

Work patterns:

You will be required to work Monday to Friday on alternate day shifts: (6am-2pm / 2pm-10pm). You will work one Saturday every 5 weeks (8-hour shift as part of a rota), and one night shift every 10 weeks. Flexibility of working hours as required for training, project work or to facilitate cross-shift initiatives. For the avoidance of doubt, changes to shift patterns will be in line with contract of employment.

From time to time, it may be necessary in performing your duties and responsibilities to work additional hours up to an average of a 48-hour week in a 17-week reference period. The Company may vary the normal start or finish times according to business needs. You are entitled to take a paid lunch break of 30-minutes. The times at which lunch may be taken vary from department to department depending on the needs of the business.

You will be expected to be part of an out of hours call out rota covering midweek/weekends and bank holidays where you will be expected to carry a Company mobile phone and be available to attend site in the event of any unforeseen circumstances.

You will also be expected to be part of a rota to cover any shortfall on night shift cover. Your salary is inclusive of providing a suitable handover to the following shift.

Our winning traits and behaviours

• Purpose-Led - Energised by our promise to deliver happiness to the world with every bite
• Agile - Ever evolving, never satisfied and never standing still
• Collaborative - Willing to work collectively for mutual success
• Resilient - Quick to adapt to change, fast learner and persistent in the face of setbacks
• Positive - Self-motivated, optimistic, adventurous, and inspiring

Diversity and inclusivity is central to everything we do and is reflected across our business. pladis brings together brands and people from around the globe – and this diversity is our great strength.

We’re an equal opportunities employer and believe in encouraging an inclusive environment where we celebrate diversity of thinking and respect everyone’s distinctive qualities and perspectives.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform key job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation