We are looking for a Maintenance Manager to join our Engineering team at the Charleville cheese processing plant, home to the iconic Cheestrings brand. In this role, you will be key to maintaining reliability and efficiency across our 24/7 operation, while driving continuous improvement initiatives. You will lead a skilled team and collaborate closely with colleagues across the business to ensure critical assets perform at their best.
This is a full-time, permanent and onsite position.
Key responsibilities
* Lead and develop the maintenance team, fostering a strong people management culture and technical capability.
* Foster a strong health & safety culture across the team.
* Drive continuous improvement initiatives and embed Lean principles across maintenance processes.
* Develop and implement strategies for engineering execution and asset life‑cycle management.
* Introduce and promote knowledge‑sharing systems, ensuring active engagement from all team members.
* Design and deliver training and development plans for the maintenance team.
* Collaborate with internal stakeholders, external engineering experts, and third‑party service providers.
* Establish and manage Service Level Agreements for plant and utilities maintenance.
* Ensure robust contingency plans for out‑of‑hours and critical failures.
* Oversee permit‑to‑work processes, including contractor control.
* Guarantee compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements, particularly regarding hazardous materials.
Qualifications and skills
* Degree in Engineering or a relevant trade qualification.
* Proven experience in a process‑driven industry, with practical application of continuous improvement and Lean methodologies (food, pharmaceutical, or medical devices preferred).
* Strong leadership, communication and people management skills with a hands‑on approach.
* Good problem‑solving ability and engineering mindset.
* Practical application of engineering principles in operational settings.
* Solid business acumen and ability to collaborate effectively with manufacturing teams.
What we offer?
* A dynamic, innovative workplace with an entrepreneurial mindset.
* Competitive compensation aligned with industry standards + benefits package.
* High visibility and strategic exposure: You will lead maintenance in one of our most critical production facilities, giving you direct interaction with senior leadership and influence over key business outcomes.
* Diverse career development opportunities, both within this site and across nearby locations.
* A collaborative culture where your ideas and leadership matter.
About Kerry Dairy Ireland
Kerry Dairy Ireland is a vertically integrated farm‑to‑fork business with a very substantial consumer foods presence and a leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division, delivering high‑quality dairy solutions with a focus on sustainability and innovation. From partnering with local family farms to producing world‑class dairy products, we ensure every step of our value chain reflects our commitment to excellence.
With over 50 years’ experience in milk processing, dairy and nutritional technology advancement, and product innovation, we are a key stakeholder in the global food industry and creators of a strong portfolio of market leading dairy brands including Cheestrings, Charleville and Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow and our new SMUG range. Our from food, for food culture and deep‑rooted connection to our 2,800 milk suppliers differentiates our business and offers captivating opportunities for our customers and consumers.
Our dairy comes from some of the world’s richest grazing land and is produced by a network of Irish family farms that have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. Through a combination of expertise, innovation, and sustainability, Kerry Dairy Ireland is proud to shape the future of dairy while meeting the diverse needs of our farmers, customers, and communities.
Globally, Kerry Dairy Ireland employs over 1,600 dedicated professionals across Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China. In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, reflecting our commitment to excellence and growth.
Our Safety purpose
“we work together in a caring culture where everybody goes home safe every day”. We are committed to providing a safe working environment and ensuring that all safety protocols are strictly followed. Join us in creating a workplace where safety is everyone's responsibility.
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