Plant Engineering Manager

This range is provided by A1 Recruitment. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

A$220,000.00/yr - A$250,000.00/yr

Director | Professional Head Hunter | Meat & Agriculture | A1 Recruitment

We are partnering with a leading Australian food manufacturing business to recruit an experienced Plant Engineering Manager . This is a high-impact role for a strategic leader who thrives on driving plant reliability, optimising maintenance performance, and leading high-performing teams.

The Role:

Reporting to the General Manager Operations, you will lead the engineering department, overseeing maintenance, continuous improvement, and reliability programs across the site. You’ll ensure maximum plant availability, cost-effective operations, and the delivery of safe, high-quality products.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop the engineering and maintenance teams (approx. 30 staff), including the Reliability and Maintenance Manager.
• Drive preventative maintenance strategies and continuous improvement initiatives to reduce downtime, improve task execution, and manage costs.
• Oversee maintenance systems, procurement processes, and capital projects, including budget and CAPEX planning.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, safety, environmental, and food safety standards.
• Implement and optimise CMMS (MEX) systems to enhance asset reliability.
• Collaborate with production and other departments to optimise efficiency and site performance.
• Provide strategic input for long-term maintenance planning and plant replacement feasibility studies.

What We’re Looking For:

• Tertiary engineering qualification (mechanical preferred).
• Minimum 5 years in FMCG/food manufacturing with experience in plant reliability and maintenance management.
• Strong leadership skills with proven ability to develop teams and drive accountability.
• Experience with Lean, RCM, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies.
• Project management experience, budget oversight, and exposure to CAPEX/plant design.
• Proficiency in MS Office; MEX/CAD experience highly desirable.
• Excellent communication skills and a practical, data-driven approach to problem solving.

Why This Role?

• Lead a critical function in a modern, high-performing food manufacturing facility.
• Opportunity to influence site strategy, continuous improvement, and plant reliability.
• Join a collaborative, safety-focused team with opportunities to mentor and develop your people.

This role is being recruited on behalf of a highly reputable company that wishes to remain anonymous.

To Apply:

Click the link below to submit your application or contact us directly for a confidential discussion.