Head of Engineering

Head of Engineering We are seeking an exceptional Head of Engineering to lead a multi-site engineering function within a world-class manufacturing organisation. This is a high-impact leadership role for a strategic thinker who thrives on driving operational excellence, leading large-scale capital investment, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. As part of the senior leadership team, you will define and execute the long-term engineering strategy, ensuring reliability, efficiency, and sustainability across a global network of facilities. You’ll lead a talented multidisciplinary team and collaborate with senior stakeholders to deliver exceptional performance and value across all aspects of engineering, maintenance, and capital delivery. The Opportunity * Lead strategically: Define and implement a forward-thinking engineering roadmap aligned with organisational goals and future growth. * Drive excellence: Oversee all engineering and maintenance operations to ensure world-class reliability, compliance, and safety. * Deliver transformation: Manage a significant capital investment programme to modernise facilities, expand capacity, and enhance performance. * Inspire teams: Build, mentor, and develop high-performing engineering professionals, fostering a culture of ownership, innovation, and collaboration. * Champion sustainability: Lead initiatives that improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and strengthen environmental performance. Key Accountabilities * Set and deliver the strategic direction for engineering, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory standards. * Oversee the performance, compliance, and optimisation of all assets, utilities, and facilities. * Manage multi-million-pound CAPEX budgets, ensuring strong ROI and continuous improvement in cost efficiency. * Lead the delivery of major engineering and infrastructure projects across manufacturing and distribution sites. * Promote a strong safety culture, ensuring compliance with cGMP and global regulatory standards. * Build strong cross-functional relationships with Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to deliver seamless performance across sites. * Develop engineering subject matter experts and ensure effective succession planning across key roles. About You * A degree-qualified engineer (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or related discipline). * Proven experience leading large-scale engineering or technical operations in a regulated manufacturing environment (pharmaceutical, biotech, or similar). * Strong track record in capital project delivery, asset management, and continuous improvement. * Deep understanding of GMP, validation, and regulatory compliance (FDA, EMA, VMD, or equivalent). * Skilled in developing and leading high-performing teams through change and growth. * Commercially astute with strong financial management and stakeholder engagement skills. * Strategic thinker with hands-on credibility and a passion for operational excellence. Desirable: Chartered Engineer status, Lean Six Sigma certification, or experience leading sustainability programmes