Engineering and Capital Projects Manager

The Group Engineering and Capital Projects Manager is a key member of the Thomas Foods International (TFI) leadership team and plays a critical role in supporting the continued growth and development of the Group both in the USA and globally.

Working with Plant and Business Unit Managers the role has overall responsibility for the engineering and maintenance functions across all TFI facilities in order to ensure they continue to operate efficiently and reliably.

Duties & Responsibilities

Innovation

• Lead the Group’s innovation strategy working with peak industry bodies and OEMs to deliver operational efficiencies and competitive advantage through the uptake of the latest technological industry advancements.
• Work with the Group’s Senior Executive and Operational management teams to lead the development of robust and commercially appropriate short and long term capital improvement plans.
• Lead the continuous improvement strategy across all operations by identifying opportunities to leverage technology to automate and improve the quality, timeliness and relevance of information for better management decision making at both an operating business and Group Level.
• Actively engage at an industry level as the key contact for relevant external regulatory agencies and bodies to foster strong and effective relationships.

Project Management & Delivery

• Provide project management leadership across the Group and effective project delivery for major projects.
• Ensure that the Group has robust project management and delivery policies and processes in place.
• Work with the Group’s Senior Executive and Operational management teams to ensure we have appropriate resources and capabilities in place (both internal and external) to successfully deliver projects across the various business units.

Functional Capability

• Working closely and collaboratively with the GM Operations, Plant Managers and site Maintenance Managers ensure we have the optimal Engineering and Maintenance organization structure and capability in place to effectively support each individual business unit.
• Review and work on addressing any identified gaps in terms of technical, troubleshooting and technology skills required to support our current business needs and future plans.
• Managing a maintenance reporting structure and cadence for the businesses and work with them to improve operating performance.
• Reliability
• Working closely with the Group Reliability Manager ensuring all businesses across the Group have robust and appropriate preventative maintenance programs and support ongoing delivery of these.
• Development and delivery of comprehensive asset reliability management and monitoring plans on a timely and consistent basis.
• Ensure we are developing reliability best practices across the maintenance function and training our teams to effectively and proactively integrate the standards and approaches into their day to day functions.
• Working closely with the respective plant managers ensuring we have robust annual R&M budgets taking into account potential end of life assets or major scheduled replacements (e.g. s/f chain replacements).
• Evaluate cost of ownership of equipment to feed into R&M budgets.
• Monitor weekly downtime and work with the plants on addressing key issues and actions including review of root cause analysis of major equipment failures
• Identify and implement preventative and predictive asset management technologies.
• Identify service agreement opportunities to reduce R&M costs/improve asset performance/reliability.
• Ensure each business is standardizing and optimizing spare part holdings and related Service Level Agreements.
• Work with the team to ensure we are continuing to develop effective monitoring programs for key equipment to identify potential failures prior to them occurring.

Plant Improvement

• Take a lead in driving the reduction in R&M costs along with facility downtime to meet business Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Working closely with the GM Operations and Plant Managers develop and implement 1- 5 year capital plans based on current infrastructure, opportunities to improve plant efficiency/performance and identified end of life assets.
• Working with the GM Operations and Plant Managers contribute to the continuous improvement of plant related processes, personnel, training programs to support the effective operation of each site as required.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve plant efficiency, capability and capacity. Where supported prepare and submit for approval commercially justified capital expenditure requests following Group guidelines.
• Once approved oversee the delivery of those capital improvement plans on time and on budget utilizing both the internal engineering teams and external vendors/suppliers as appropriate.

Supervisory & Management Responsibilities

People and Culture

• Leads by example; sets achievable goals and has realistic expectations; provides constructive feedback, guidance, support and encouragement; is responsible and accountable; holds others accountable for their actions and behavior.
• Takes ownership and pride in work; shows initiative; strives for quality and excellence; celebrates our wins and successes.
• Is receptive to feedback, willing to learn and open to new ideas; embraces change.
• Is punctual and manages time effectively; works efficiently and is respectful of company resources; thinks of better ways to do things.
• Is a team player; is honest, positive and helpful; treats others with courtesy and respect.
• Work Health Safety & Injury Management (WHS&IM)
• Ensures the health, safety and wellbeing of workers and other persons under their management and control in the workplace.
• Identifies and controls hazards in the workplace; ensures safe work practices are applied; is actively involved and supports the recovery and return to work of injured workers.
• Complies with TFI WHS&IM policies and procedures and any reasonable instruction given by TFI to comply with the WHS Act, Regulations and Codes of Practice, the RTW Act, and the Code of Conduct for Self-Insured Employers.
• Takes reasonable care for own health, safety and well-being.
• Quality Assurance (QA) Activities and Compliance
• Practices and promotes our ‘Learn-Commit-Do-Review’ Company Philosophy for achieving quality and excellence in all that we do.
• Ensures quality standards are met for business activities and processes under their management and control.
• Actively monitors and keeps under review quality standards and compliance; applies corrective action (as directed or required) to address quality issues or non-compliance.
• Provides instruction, training, coaching, supervision and support to workers under their management and control to ensure quality standards are met and compliance is achieved.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Management or other related discipline.
• Experience
• 15 years’ maintenance experience working within FMCG industry.
• 15 years’ experience operating and maintaining a CMMS.
• 5 year’s leadership experience in a large and complex environment.
• Experience with developing, implementing, and communicating business processes.
• Desirable
• Experience
• Lean or Six Sigma – Green Belt or higher.
• Red Meat Processing industry experience.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and plan workflow, set priorities and meet deadlines in a project and contract management context.
• Well-developed communication skills, both verbal and written in negotiation, facilitation, report preparation and conflict resolution.
• Demonstrated resource and contractor management experience combined with understanding of regulations, guidelines and Acts relevant to the position.