DS Smith
Area Engineering Manager
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Kemsley Paper Mill
We have an exciting opportunity for an Area Engineering Manager to join our Kemsley Paper Mill and play a key role in driving performance within one of the UK’s largest and most complex manufacturing sites.
In this role, you’ll take full ownership of engineering delivery within your designated area—leading a multi-skilled team to maximise reliability, performance, and continuous improvement. Working in close partnership with Production and other operational teams, you’ll ensure that engineering excellence underpins everything we do.
This is a high-impact leadership position where you’ll combine technical expertise, people leadership, and strategic thinking to deliver safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead all engineering activities within your area, covering both planned and reactive maintenance
- Drive improvements in asset reliability, availability, and performance
- Ensure full compliance with Health, Safety, and Environmental standards, embedding a strong safety culture
- Own and deliver against engineering KPIs, working closely with the Area Production Manager to optimise machine performance
- Identify, scope, and deliver engineering improvement projects
- Manage budgets effectively, ensuring cost-efficient delivery of all activities
- Analyse performance data to eliminate repeat and single-point failures
- Embed a proactive maintenance approach, with a strong focus on condition-based monitoring
- Lead the planning and execution of 7-day maintenance plans and major shutdowns
- Ensure effective breakdown response through strong coordination with shift teams
- Develop your team through regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and structured development plans
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📞 Callout rota: This role includes participation in a callout rota (1 week in every 8), supporting escalated issues as required.
About You
- Significant experience in mechanical engineering, ideally within paper, process, or heavy industry
- Working knowledge of Electrical & Instrumentation (E&I) disciplines
- Proven experience leading and developing multi-skilled engineering teams
- Strong understanding of maintenance strategies, including planned and condition-based maintenance
- Data-driven mindset, with the ability to turn insights into tangible improvements
- Highly organised, structured, and able to manage competing priorities
- A proactive, ownership-driven leader who thrives on continuous improvement
- Committed to building and sustaining a high-performing, collaborative team culture
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What We Can Offer You
- Competitive salary
- Qualifying Sick Pay scheme
- Pension scheme & Life insurance
- Share Save scheme
- Income Protection
- 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Virtual GP, Occupational Health & free Flu vaccine
- Cycle to Work and shopping discounts
We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!
Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.
#DSENG
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