JOB TITLE: HEAD OF ENGINEERING (DAIRY PROCESSING PLANT)

NATURE OF JOB: FULL TIME

INDUSTRY: DAIRY MANUFACTURING / FMCG

SALARY: COMPETITIVE

JOB LOCATION: KIAMBU COUNTY

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Engineering & Plant Operations

Lead all engineering and maintenance activities across dairy processing, packaging, cold chain, and utilities operations.
Ensure optimal performance and uptime of Tetra Pak processing and aseptic filling lines.
Drive equipment reliability and operational excellence through preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
Develop and implement engineering strategies aligned with production and business objectives.
Oversee troubleshooting and resolution of critical equipment failures to minimize downtime.
Ensure efficient operation of utilities including boilers, chillers, compressors, refrigeration systems, water treatment, steam, and power systems.
Monitor and improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), plant efficiency, and energy utilization.

Maintenance Management

Establish robust preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance systems.
Develop maintenance schedules and ensure adherence to maintenance KPIs.
Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and continuous improvement initiatives for recurring breakdowns.
Ensure proper spare parts planning, inventory optimization, and maintenance cost control.
Implement CMMS-driven maintenance management practices where applicable.
Ensure engineering documentation, SOPs, manuals, and maintenance records are properly maintained.

Projects & Capital Expenditure (CAPEX)

Lead engineering projects from concept through commissioning and handover.
Manage plant expansion, equipment upgrades, automation initiatives, and process optimization projects.
Prepare and manage CAPEX budgets, project timelines, and contractor performance.
Coordinate installation and commissioning of new processing and packaging equipment.
Ensure all projects comply with safety, food safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

Food Safety, Quality & Compliance

Ensure engineering operations comply with HACCP, GMP, ISO 22000/FSSC 22000, and dairy industry regulatory standards.
Support internal and external audits related to engineering, maintenance, utilities, and plant infrastructure.
Ensure hygienic engineering practices are maintained across all production systems.
Drive compliance with occupational health and safety standards and environmental regulations.
Collaborate with Quality Assurance and Production teams to maintain product integrity and food safety standards.

Leadership & Team Management

Lead, mentor, and develop engineering and maintenance teams to achieve high performance.
Build strong succession planning and technical capability within the department.
Manage departmental budgets and optimize engineering expenditure.
Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, safety, and operational discipline.
Coordinate effectively with Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Procurement, and EHS departments.

KEY REQUIREMENT SKILLS AND QUALIFICATION

Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Process Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
Registration with the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) is mandatory.
Minimum 7 years’ engineering experience within dairy manufacturing or FMCG processing environments.
At least 3 years in a senior engineering leadership or management role.
Direct dairy industry experience is mandatory.
Proven hands-on experience with Tetra Pak processing and aseptic filling systems is essential.
Strong experience managing utilities, maintenance systems, and capital projects in a processing plant environment.

HOW TO APPLY

If you meet the above qualifications, skills and experience share CV on recruitment@britesmanagement.com
Interviews will be carried out on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

HEAD OF ENGINEERING (DAIRY PROCESSING PLANT)

Brites Management Services Limited