Engineering Manager

Engineering Manager

Integrated Agribusiness Operations  |  Site-Based Roles

A growing agribusiness group is expanding its internal engineering capability and is looking for a hands-on engineering leader to take full ownership of the physical assets that keep its production sites running.

This is a broad, site-based mandate. You will sit at the centre of everything the company builds, operates, and maintains — from new facility construction and site development through to the day-to-day reliability of utilities, automated production equipment, and environmental systems. The role suits someone equally comfortable reviewing structural drawings, negotiating with contractors, troubleshooting a control system, and coaching a maintenance crew.

Where You Fit

You will report into senior operations leadership and lead a multi-disciplinary team of engineers and technicians. You are the group's technical authority on infrastructure: production teams come to you when something needs to be built, fixed, upgraded, or brought into compliance.

What You Will Own

Capital Projects and Site Development

·       Take new facilities from concept to commissioning — scoping, design review, budgeting, tendering, and construction supervision.

·       Hold contractors, consultants, and equipment suppliers to agreed technical specifications, timelines, cost, and safety standards.

·       Manage site works: earthworks, structures, drainage, water supply, roads, and utility distribution.

·       Build the technical case for future expansion and equipment investment, and support leadership in capital planning.

Asset Reliability and Maintenance

·       Design and run the preventive and corrective maintenance programme across all buildings, equipment, and utility systems.

·       Keep mechanical, electrical, and structural assets available and performing, with uptime, cost, and failure trends tracked and acted on.

·       Maintain spare parts strategy, maintenance records, and equipment history in a way that supports decisions rather than just filing them.

Automation and Production Support

·       Oversee installation, calibration, and upkeep of automated production equipment — environmental and climate control, automated feed and material delivery, conveying and handling systems, sensors, and controls.

·       Partner with production teams to remove technical bottlenecks and improve throughput, consistency, and energy efficiency.

·       Evaluate and introduce new technology where it demonstrably improves output, cost, or working conditions.

Utilities, Waste, and Renewable Energy Systems

·       Manage the operation and integrity of on-site effluent treatment and renewable energy recovery facilities.

·       Ensure water, power, and waste systems are engineered and operated to environmental permit conditions.

·       Drive efficiency and sustainability improvements in resource use and waste handling.

Hygiene, Safety, and Regulatory Compliance

·       Embed engineering controls that support the site's strict hygiene, access control, and contamination-prevention protocols.

·       Ensure designs and works comply with national building codes, environmental regulations, and occupational safety law.

·       Coordinate with government agencies, consultants, and third-party inspectors on permits, clearances, and audits.

Team, Budget, and Coordination

·       Lead, develop, and hold accountable a team of engineers, technicians, and maintenance personnel; build technical depth and succession within the group.

·       Prepare and control the engineering budget, and deploy manpower, equipment, and materials where they generate the most value.

·       Work closely with production, quality, and environmental functions so engineering support lands where the operation actually needs it.

What We Are Looking For

Essential

·       License: Registered / licensed Civil Engineer.

·       Experience: At least seven years in engineering roles, including five or more leading a team or function.

·       Sector exposure: Track record delivering and maintaining industrial, agricultural, or food and feed production infrastructure.

·       Technical breadth: Working command of civil works, plus practical familiarity with mechanical and electrical systems, process utilities, effluent treatment, and automated equipment.

·       Tools: Competent with engineering design and project scheduling software (CAD and equivalent planning platforms).

·       Leadership: Proven ability to run projects and people at the same time, decide with incomplete information, and communicate clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Advantageous

·       Postgraduate qualification in agricultural, mechanical, industrial, or engineering management disciplines.

·       Experience with renewable energy recovery or biogas installations.

·       Exposure to controlled-environment or high-hygiene production settings.

·       Background in commissioning automation or control systems from scratch.

Why This Role Is Worth a Conversation

·       Genuine ownership — this is the senior engineering seat, not a support function.

·       A build-and-run mandate: you deliver the asset, then you are accountable for how it performs.

·       An organisation actively investing in automation, capacity, and sustainability rather than simply maintaining what exists.