Mechanical Maintenance Engineer | Westbury

Who are we, and what do we do?

You may not have heard of us, but there’s a good chance you’ve enjoyed our products. Avara Foods is one of the UK’s leading food businesses, supplying chicken and turkey to the country’s major supermarkets and well-known restaurants.

We own and manage our entire supply chain, from farms to factory and all the way to the customer door – meaning we have careers that cover a whole range of functions. We have major processing sites across England and Wales, and an agricultural network of over 350 farms, spanning from North Yorkshire to the South Coast and Wales.

A little about our Westbury Mill Site:

The Westbury site is a feed mill producing feed for our chicken and breeder farms. It produces about 3,400 tonnes of feed per week and current employs 41 people. A Feed manufacturing environment which may be noisy and dusty in some areas, manufacturing chicken feed where hygiene standards are critical. The role is predominantly mill based.

About the Role:

Are you passionate about engineering? Looking for a new challenge? Have you completed and apprenticeship within Engineering?

As an inclusive, forward-thinking business, we take pride in our approach to investing in our engineering team across Avara Foods and are looking for a highly competent and motivated Mechanical Maintenance Engineer to join our Engineering Team, based at our Westbury Mill site.

As a Mechanical Maintenance Engineer, you’ll be working –

What will you be doing as a Mechanical Maintenance Engineer at Avara?

As a Mechanical Maintenance Engineer you’ll operating from a well-established chicken feed mill, you will optimise machinery output and product quality, and minimise plant downtime through effective preventative maintenance and efficient breakdown response whilst maintaining a safe and healthy environment and promoting good engineering practices.

What will your key responsibilities as a  Mechanical Maintenance Engineer include?

• Assist in building an up-to-date PPM system and ensuring planned maintenance is carried out professionally and promptly.
• Ensure the Engineering maintenance carried out in line with the current schedule and effective and efficient corrective action is taken.
• Quick and effective response to breakdowns, where possible identifying root cause and suggesting possible improvements to prevent further breakdowns occurring.
• Communicate unscheduled breakdowns to the Shift Supervisor / Mill Manager and work with the operations department to minimise plant disruption.
• Reporting and tracking lost time, cause of breakdowns, record parts used/required.
• Follow good engineering standards and good hygiene practice for the department.
• Ensure all activities are carried out within company and legislative health and safety and environmental guidelines reporting any issues.
• Assist in PUWER, LOLER, Risk Assessments and fall out work associated. Ensure compliance through regular process weigher and Liquid meter calibrations (weights and measures Act)
• Proficient in engineering operations whilst working in hazardous environments (Confined Space Entry, Hot working in confined spaces, WAH)
• Proficient in site services work procedures.
• Participate in Mechanical projects and installations – Elevators, conveyors, machine installs, machine refurbishment.
• Participate in Electrical projects and installations – Panel manufacture and installation, PLC upgrades, PAT testing, thermographic surveying.
• Follow the communicated escalation route for unscheduled plant downtime and minimise downtime by following a good engineering practice.
• Demonstrate understanding of environmental impacts – DSEAR, Dust controls and Explosion mitigation.
• Raise spares stock and non-stock request forms/emails.

What you’ll need to be successful:

• It is essential that you are qualified in a relevant engineering trade with engineering experience and an Advanced Apprenticeship in Engineering
• You will have a full understanding of mechanical processes and assemblies including Electrical or welding/fabrication experience.
• Self-motivated attitude with the ability to multi-task and thrive in a timeline-driven environment.
• Interpersonal communication skills
• Flexibility with a positive attitude and the ability to work well within a team.
• Basic computer skills for typing handovers, ordering spares etc. (Microsoft Excel, Word, emails)
• Food manufacture experience desirable
• IEE 17th or 18th Edition desirable
• PLC experience desirable
• Air and pneumatics trained desirable.
• Boiler Operator Accreditation Scheme (BOAS) certification desirable

The benefits of working for Avara Foods:

As a Mechanical Maintenance Engineer you will enjoy a secure, supportive, and progressive working environment, where your contribution and achievements will be recognised and rewarded.

We offer comprehensive training as well as continuous development as you build your long-term career with us. You can also look forward to benefits that amongst other things include the following:

• £33459.40 per annum
• Additional £3250 call out premium per annum
• 31 days holiday allowance
• 5% pension
• Life assurance
• Various lifestyle benefits, such as cashback perks, exclusive shopping discounts from well-known retailers, and discounted cinema tickets!
• Wellbeing resources, including free online health advice & support, and wellbeing assessments.
• Free staff parking

What happens after you apply for this role?

After you’ve applied, you’ll be contacted in due course by a Resourcing Officer at our Hereford site, to discuss your application and CV further. There’ll also be a chance for you to ask us any questions you may have about the role.

If you’re ready to work in a dynamic environment alongside talented people who take pride in delivering great results, apply today!

Due to Bird Welfare, it is essential that you do not own any Avian Pets, Poultry or Porcine.

We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.