Maintenance Manager

Maintenance Manager

Location:

Sunderland
Reporting Line:
Plant Manager

The Maintenance Manager is responsible for leading, managing, and continuously improving all maintenance activities across the manufacturing site. The role ensures the reliability, availability, and optimal performance of all plant and production tuo equipment to support uninterrupted, safe, and cost‑effective manufacturing operations. The post holder will drive preventative maintenance strategies, ensure compliance with statutory and company standards, and contribute to operational excellence in a high‑volume automotive environment.

• Develop, implement, and maintain an effective planned preventative maintenance (PPM features and TPM strategy).
• Ensure timely and effective response to equipment breakdowns, applying structured root cause analysis (RCA) to prevent recurrence.
• Maintain accurate plant asset registers, maintenance records and statutory inspection documentation.
• Oversee maintenance of automated production lines, assembly equipment, test facilities and associated utilities.

• Ensure full compliance with UK health and safety legislation and company policies, including PUWER, COSHH, LOLER and lock‑out/tag‑out procedures.
• Promote and maintain a strong safety culture within the maintenance function.
• Conduct and approve risk assessments, method statements and safe systems of work.

• Lead, manage and develop a multi‑skilled maintenance team (electrical & mechanical technicians).
• Allocate resources to provide effective shift and on‑call cover in line with operational requirements.
• Conduct performance reviews, identify training needs and support technical and professional development.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance equipment reliability, reduce downtime and improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Work collaboratively with Production, Quality and Engineering teams to support manufacturing targets and customer requirements.
• Monitor and report on key maintenance KPIs and implement corrective actions as required.

• Prepare and manage the maintenance budget, ensuring effective control of costs relating to labour, spare parts and external contractors.
• Optimise spare parts inventory and manage supplier and contractor relationships.

• Support capital projects and new equipment installations, ensuring maintenance requirements are considered at all stages.
• Ensure maintenance readiness for new product introductions, including documentation, spares and training.

• Equipment rd availability and uptime.
• Preventative maintenance compliance.
• Breakdown frequency and recovery times.
• Maintenance spends against budget.
• Health and safety performance metrics.

• Proven experience in a Maintenance Manager or Senior Maintenance role within an automotive or high‑volume manufacturing environment.
• Strong technical knowledge across electrical, mechanical and automation disciplines.
• Demonstrable experience leading and developing multi‑skilled teams.
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement practices.
• Sound knowledge of UK health and safety legislation.

• Experience with in a Tier‑1 automotive supplier environment.
• Experience of robotics, PLC‑controlled systems and condition‑based maintenance.
• Project management experience.

• HNC, HND or Degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Mechatronics Engineering (or equivalent).
• IOSH Managing Safely (essential) – NEBOSH qualification desirable wist.
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification desirable.

• Professional, proactive and results‑focused approach.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Analytical and methodical problem‑solver.
• Able to work effectively under pressure in a fast‑ alerts or manufacturing environment.

Full‑time position. Flexibility required to support shift operations and business needs.

Competitive salary and benefits package in Permanently company policy and industry standards.

If this role is ambassadors on interest please apply with an up to date CV.

The NRL Group connects global companies with the right people to bring engineering projects to life. Supporting contracting companies with energy transition plans and working with our clients to create a cleaner, greener future.

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