Automation & Facilities Manager

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop a multi-skilled engineering, automation and facilities team.
• Create a culture focused on safety, accountability, reliability and continuous improvement.
• Set clear performance expectations and support the development of technical capability across the team.
• Manage resource planning to ensure appropriate engineering and facilities coverage.
• Coach and develop managers and team members, supporting succession planning and long-term capability.
• Build strong relationships with operational and senior stakeholders across the business.

• Take ownership of the reliability and availability of automated warehouse systems and associated engineering infrastructure.
• Develop a proactive maintenance strategy focused on preventing failures and reducing operational downtime.
• Oversee planned preventative maintenance programmes and ensure maintenance activities are completed effectively.
• Analyse breakdowns, equipment performance and recurring faults to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Manage the lifecycle of critical automation and engineering assets.
• Coordinate upgrades, modifications and replacement programmes where required.
• Work with specialist engineering partners to diagnose and resolve complex technical issues.
• Support the introduction of new automation technologies and improvements to existing systems.

• Manage the day-to-day operation and maintenance of site facilities and infrastructure.
• Oversee building services, utilities, cleaning, waste management, security and other essential site services.
• Ensure the working environment remains safe, compliant, efficient and fit for purpose.
• Manage planned and reactive facilities works while minimising disruption to operations.
• Maintain effective emergency response and business continuity arrangements.
• Ensure statutory inspections, testing and servicing are completed within required timescales.

• Promote a strong health, safety and environmental culture across the engineering and facilities functions.
• Ensure all activities comply with relevant UK legislation, regulations and company standards.
• Maintain appropriate risk assessments, safe systems of work and operating procedures.
• Ensure contractors and employees work to the required safety standards.
• Support internal and external audits, inspections and compliance reviews.
• Identify risks and ensure appropriate corrective actions are implemented.

• Manage relationships with external contractors, engineering specialists and facilities service providers.
• Ensure suppliers deliver against agreed service levels, quality standards and contractual requirements.
• Monitor supplier performance and address areas where service levels fall below expectations.
• Support tendering, contract negotiations and supplier reviews.
• Ensure external contractors operate safely and comply with site requirements.

• Take responsibility for significant engineering and facilities expenditure across operational and service budgets.
• Ensure resources are deployed effectively and expenditure is appropriately controlled.
• Identify opportunities to improve value, reduce unnecessary costs and increase asset efficiency.
• Support capital investment proposals and business cases for major engineering, automation and facilities projects.
• Maintain appropriate levels of critical spares, materials and engineering resources.
• Work with Procurement to ensure suppliers and contracts deliver value for money.

• Establish and monitor meaningful KPIs covering equipment reliability, downtime, maintenance, facilities performance and compliance.
• Use data and operational insight to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Lead initiatives designed to increase uptime, improve efficiency and reduce operational risk.
• Drive the transition from reactive problem-solving towards planned, preventative and predictive maintenance.
• Ensure the department continually evolves in line with the needs of a growing and increasingly automated operation.

We are looking for a technically capable and commercially minded manager with significant experience within a large-scale warehouse, distribution, logistics, FMCG, manufacturing or similarly automated environment.

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience managing engineering, automation and facilities teams.
• Experience leading multi-skilled technical teams within a high-volume operational…