Job Description

About Hydrokem Aerosols Ltd:

Hydrokem Aerosols are located on the Wirral and specialise in the manufacture of aerosol and bag on valve products. We supply to a wide range of market sectors including personal care, healthcare/medical devices, veterinary, household, automotive and technical.

Hydrokem Aerosols is a part of Clinimed Holding Limited, a group of companies founded in 1982 following the acquisition and formation of number of additional companies within the group.

Job Summary:

We are seeking a dynamic and results-driven

Head of Engineering

to oversee a large, multi-disciplinary team across multiple sites. This role is responsible for shaping and executing engineering strategies, driving continuous improvement through Lean Six Sigma, and delivering complex, high-value projects.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in manufacturing operations, with a focus on enhancing equipment performance, implementing TPM and SMED methodologies, and ensuring full compliance with HSE and ATEX standards. A key part of the role is fostering a culture of excellence, capability building, and innovation to support long-term business growth.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Provide strategic leadership and direction to a large, multi-disciplinary engineering team across multiple functions and geographic locations. Champion Lean Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement (CI) initiatives enterprise-wide, leveraging Black Belt certification to drive measurable performance gains. Manage the successful delivery of complex, high-value engineering projects with multi-million-pound budgets and significant business impact. Define and execute engineering strategies that align with broader organizational goals and support long-term business growth. Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement, embedding operational excellence principles across processes, systems, and team dynamics. Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with project management, operations, and executive leadership to ensure seamless execution and alignment. Build team capability through effective coaching, performance management, and succession planning to ensure long-term leadership and technical strength. Drive improvements in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) by applying Lean methodologies and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) principles across manufacturing operations. Develop and implement a comprehensive roadmap to enhance manufacturing asset performance, including investment in refurbishment, new production lines, and facility expansion. Ensure full compliance with all Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) legislation, including ATEX requirements, in a regulated chemical processing and VOC pressurised filling environment. Design and roll out structured Autonomous Maintenance (AM) and Preventive Maintenance (PM) programs to improve equipment reliability and uptime. Lead production line optimisation by implementing standardised setup procedures and applying SMED techniques to reduce changeover times and increase productivity. Establish and execute a restructured reactive maintenance strategy focused on efficiency, root cause elimination, and a "Right First Time" (RFT) approach to downtime resolution.

Personal Specifications:

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification

- essential and non-negotiable. A proven record of success in senior engineering leadership roles, with measurable impact on performance and operations. Significant experience in managing large-scale, complex projects, consistently delivering on time and within budget. Strong leadership capability with a demonstrated ability to build, develop, and inspire high-performing teams while driving cultural and organizational change. Solid grounding in project management principles and best practices. Deep expertise in Continuous Improvement (CI), Lean methodologies, and embedding a culture of operational excellence. An effective communicator, strategic thinker, and hands-on leader with a proactive and solutions-focused mindset.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Additional pay:

Performance bonus
Benefits:

Additional leave Bereavement leave Company pension Cycle to work scheme Free flu jabs Free parking Health & wellbeing programme Life insurance On-site parking Private medical insurance Referral programme Sick pay
Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Ability to commute/relocate:

Birkenhead CH41 1JH: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):

Will you now or in the future require sponsorship to work in the UK?
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person

Reference ID: HK-202507-04