OverviewThis is a key leadership role on the Site Leadership Team (SLT), responsible for supervising and directing all Maintenance and Automation engineering activities at the Carrigaline plant—one of the most automated and regulated sites in the PepsiCo Global Concentrate Solutions (PGCS) network. The role covers improvement, corrective, preventive, and predictive maintenance for production equipment, utilities, and facilities.In this role, you will develop and implement world-class maintenance and reliability strategies to meet PGCS targets for quality, service, cost, and inventory, while ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements. The position also owns budgetary management, people development, and organisational objectives for the Maintenance and Automation Engineering function—leading, coaching, and mentoring the team to deliver performance objectives and build leadership capability.ResponsibilitiesMaintenance & ReliabilityDevelop and implement maintenance and reliability strategies for a highly automated, regulated site.Lead preventive and predictive maintenance programs to ensure equipment and infrastructure deliver the highest quality product and achieve productivity and uptime targets.Lead reliability initiatives for electrical and instrumentation systems, including shutdowns, asset replacement, and continuous improvement projects.Manage and oversee Utilities and Facilities Maintenance, including leading electrical and mechanical shutdowns.Drive root cause analysis (RCA's) and engineer long-term solutions for repetitive failures.Manage budgets, contractors, utilities, and critical spares; define Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and conduct Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs).Provide technical input to capital projects and continuous improvement initiatives.Act as technical expert for site utilities: Treated Water, Steam Generation, Compressed Air, and Chilled Water.Owner of Energy metrics and lead energy-saving projects/initiatives to meet corporate Resource Conservation (ReCon) targets.Ensure calibration compliance and drive productivity improvements.AutomationLead automation activities, process improvements, RCA's etc. as well as management of the automation team and contractor support.Oversee and optimise PLC systems, SCADA, InBatch applications, and Recipe management.Proactively identify and introduce applicable new technologies to PepsiCo.Compliance & AuditsSupport all plant audits (FDA, COMAH, AIBI, HSA, GEHSMS, FM Global) and ensure compliance with Irish & European directives.Ensure compliance with PGCS Technical, EHS, and Quality standards.Promote responsible use of resources (electricity, water, fuel oil) and execute sustainability projects.Cybersecurity & Change LeadershipAct as Cybersecurity Champion, Reliability Lead, and Energy Lead.Serve as a Change Champion for new processes and technologies.Lead contract negotiations and manage external service providers effectively.People & LeadershipDevelop bench strength for all key positions—building team capability and ensuring business continuity.Foster a positive and engaging work environment that improves organisational health.Coach, motivate, and develop team members to build a high-performing maintenance team.Identify training needs and plan career development for direct reports.Conduct timely performance reviews and provide constructive feedback.QualificationsDegree in Engineering (Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical or equivalent.10+ years of relevant experience in maintenance and reliability within a regulated, automated environmentExperience with People Management Strong knowledge of HV/LV electrical systems highly desirableProject management experienceAdvanced knowledge of PLC systems, SCADA, and automationExcellent communication, strategic thinking, and results orientationAbility to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities