Maintenance & Engineering Team Leader, Arla - Leeds, Stourton Dairy

Are you an ambitious, proven Maintenance Leader, passionate about safety, serving people, who isn’t afraid of challenging the status quo and striving for excellence?

This brand new role brings a fantastic opportunity for the right candidate to shape and lead the vision of the teams’ transformational journey. You will be accountable for growing and delivering results through your team, working with operations to ensure safe, reliable operations in the heart beat of our dairy, the filling hall. This role will deputise for the Dairy Maintenance Manager.

This is a Monday‑Friday days based role that sits within the Maintenance & Engineering function and supports the site’s operational strategy.

About Stourton Dairy

Stourton Dairy is one of Arla’s largest strategic sites, globally and in the UK, with significant investment planned to support sustainability and future growth. For the right individual this role offers clear development and progression opportunities into an Associate Manager position.

How You Will Make An Impact

In this role you will lead a team of front line engineering technicians, responsible for safe operations and equipment availability. You will be accountable for the team and contractor responses, identifying root cause and ensuring first‑time corrective action, continuous improvement and preventive action. You will grow a culture founded on integrity, a continuous improvement mindset and technical excellence. You will play a key part in shaping the department’s digital and Lean transformation and fostering a culture where people thrive.

Your Key Responsibilities Will Include

• Create a shared vision, priorities and roadmap for the team. Implement measures that drive daily and long‑term improvement for individuals and teams.
• Bring, identify, build and implement new capabilities, processes and ways of working that create a competitive advantage for Stourton and Arla.
• Hire, develop and retain the right talent.
  • Bring to life performance and development discussions and plans.
  • Own the training matrix and standards, maintain and improve to grow talent.
• Own and ensure daily safety, quality and equipment availability.
  • Cross‑functional prioritisation and assignment of resources to maximise uptime and equipment readiness.
• Own the backlog of remedial work, plan, schedule and execute remedial and follow‑up work through shift technicians.
• Process confirm governance is followed by the team, work close‑out and quality workmanship by the team.
• Work cross‑functionally across the other departments and lead through change.
• Zonal ownership of maintenance workshop, shared areas, tools and equipment. Ensure GMP standards are excellent at all times, 5S and audited.
• Work cross‑functionally with other department leaders to improve service and effectiveness, for example continuous improvement of work plans, scheduling, equipment uptime, costs and spare parts.

What Will Make You Successful

You bring a strong technical foundation – apprentice trained, problem‑solving experience within maintenance or engineering, apprentice background, within a continuous, complex, fast‑paced manufacturing environment.

You will have proven people and leadership capability, with more than 5 direct reports (technician level FMCG). Experience leading through and initiating change and improvement.

You will be qualified to HND or foundation degree alongside an engineering apprenticeship. Proficient in handling data and Microsoft Office applications.

IOSH Managing Safely and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt are desirable.

In terms of personal qualities, you bring a safety‑first, inclusive and people‑focused mindset. You will be an effective and confident communicator at all levels, able to influence decisions, overcome negative outcomes and present your case.

What do we offer?

We’re committed to your growth and development, offering internal and external training opportunities. You’ll enjoy a competitive salary, 26 days holiday, matched pension contributions up to 6%, life assurance, and flexible benefits. At Stourton, you’ll join a team proud of its high job satisfaction and steep learning curve, with plenty of challenges and support to help you succeed.

Would you like to join us?

If you want to make an impact and help shape the future of dairy, apply as soon as possible. We process applications on a continuous basis and will close recruitment once the right candidate is found.

For additional information, please contact Chris Wakefield at chwak@arlafoods.com.

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with natural, sustainable nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.

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