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West Auckland, County Durham
Smurfit Westrock

Join Our Team at Smurfit Westrock!

Drive Reliability. Lead Performance. Shape the Future of Our Site.

Are you searching for a workplace that values you and your growth? At Smurfit Westrock, we re committed to sustainability, employee well-being, and personal development.

About Us

We are a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging. Our focus is on the health and safety of our employees, the well-being of our communities, and delivering exceptional service to our customers. We support our team members to reach their full potential in an inclusive environment that values diversity.

The Role

We re looking for an experienced Engineering Manager to lead our engineering function and ensure our equipment and facilities operate safely, reliably and efficiently. In this pivotal role, you ll minimise downtime, strengthen plant capability, and drive continuous improvement to support uninterrupted production.

What You ll Do

• Lead the development of strong maintenance procedures and support SAP/Reliability Engineer
• Own preventive and predictive maintenance planning, scheduling and performance monitoring
• Build strong collaboration between Production, Shift Management and Engineering
• Manage service contracts to ensure compliance, performance and value for money
• Monitor budgets and KPIs to drive departmental performance and accountability
• Ensure compliance with SOX, financial standards and all company policies.
• Continuously improve maintenance methods, workflows and resource use through Operational Excellence.
• Oversee effective use of parts, materials and contractor services.
• Provide technical expertise on equipment optimisation, reliability and machine care.
• Develop operator maintenance capability through training and coaching.
• Lead root?cause investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability and open communication.
• Coach and develop engineering team members to strengthen capability and succession planning.
• Champion Health & Safety and ensure full statutory and policy compliance.
• Lead or support capital and infrastructure projects from design to delivery.
• Work cross?functionally to embed continuous improvement across the site.

Health & Safety Commitment

Safety sits at the heart of everything we do. You ll lead by example, ensuring safe systems of work, high standards, and a culture where every colleague takes responsibility for their own safety and that of others.

About You

Essential

• Strong technical engineering knowledge
• Skilled in CMMS (ideally SAP)
• Proven ability to lead engineering strategy
• Excellent communication and leadership capability
• Significant engineering leadership experience in manufacturing
• Experience managing maintenance systems and reliability programmes
• Degree/HND in Engineering
• IOSH Managing Safely qualification
• Proactive, solutions?focused and able to lead teams under pressure

Desirable

• Lean/CI qualifications
• OEM technical training
• Experience in FMCG or high?automation environments
• NEBOSH qualification
• Chartered Engineer status
• Ability to build a high?performance culture

What We Offer

• Competitive salary & benefits, including annual leave, pension, and a Cycle to Work scheme
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• 24/7 confidential support for you and your family
• Flexible working options and family-friendly policies
• Guaranteed interview for candidates meeting essential criteria (Disability Confident Employer)

Ready to make an impact? Apply today and help us build a sustainable future together.

Smurfit Westrock reserve the right to only shortlist candidates who meet both the Essential and Desirable Criteria.

We are an equal opportunities employer, and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their sex; religious or similar philosophical belief; political opinion; race; age; sexual orientation; or, whether they are married or are in a civil partnership; or, whether they are disabled; or whether they have undergone, are undergoing or intend to undergo gender reassignment.

We practice equality of opportunity in employment and select the best person for the job.