Maintenance Manager

About Dawn Meats

Dawn Meats, established in 1980, is a leading premium meat processing company supplying numerous supermarkets, foodservice providers, and restaurants. It operates across 13 countries with over 12,000 employees and generates annual revenues exceeding €4.5 billion, exporting to more than 70 countries.

Role Summary

The Maintenance Manager will oversee the engineering function at the Carrolls Cross production facility in County Waterford. This role involves ensuring efficient maintenance operations by implementing site-specific KPIs related to planned and preventative maintenance, prompt response to equipment breakdowns, and cost control measures. The role also requires effective allocation of resources, including managing contractors within budget constraints.

Key Responsibilities

• Communicate and execute key business goals and performance targets for the Maintenance Department established at both Group and site levels.
• Oversee maintenance expenditures to ensure alignment with budgetary limits and follow Group authorization policies.
• Lead the site engineering team, providing coaching during equipment breakdowns and supervising urgent repairs.
• Manage daily Maintenance team activities, including prioritizing repairs and projects to minimize disruption to production.
• Schedule routine maintenance while adapting to unforeseen work demands, ensuring team competency to fulfill these tasks.
• Optimize use of in-house and third-party resources based on capabilities and specializations for site-specific situations.
• Supervise third-party contracts, coordinating with Site Operations and Group Engineering Managers on costs, service levels, and contractor performance.
• Drive facility improvement initiatives aimed at lowering breakdown frequency and enhancing overall reliability of plant operations and workforce.
• Encourage staff motivation, training, and development initiatives within the Maintenance team.
• Manage and ensure uninterrupted service quality of all site utilities, including electricity, water, air, and refrigeration, leveraging both internal teams and external contractors.

Qualifications and Experience

• Trade certification in mechanical or electrical disciplines, a relevant third-level engineering degree, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 5 years of engineering or maintenance experience in an industrial or manufacturing setting, ideally in food manufacturing.
• Proven leadership experience managing engineering or maintenance teams in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities to handle maintenance activities and improvements efficiently.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated people management skills including coaching, mentoring, and team development.
• Willingness to travel between company sites within Ireland and the UK as required.