Service & Reliability Manager UK & Ireland

We have a fantastic (hybrid) opportunity for an experienced Service & Reliability Manager to join our UK Sales & Aftermarket team who are based at our Trafford Park site in Manchester on a full-time (permanent) basis.

Reporting to the Sales Director UK & Ireland, you will be responsible for the Service and Reliability department, you will be working with Senior management to implement a culture of operational excellence, manage and improve current processes and reporting, lead, and manage problem solving activities and projects across the site.

You will lead a team of senior managers coordinating a network of circa 30 people across 8 different locations (2 service centers and various refineries), guiding them toward achievement of business objectives in line with the divisional business plan.

You will have a real passion for everything manufacturing and engineering and would relish the opportunity to work collaboratively with various stakeholders to drive continuous improvement initiatives. You will have the opportunity to drive improvements in productivity implementing strategies to address inefficiencies, address quality drivers and identify opportunities to reduce costs on key projects. There will also be a requirement to travel circa 30% of the time to meet with customers and other sites located across the UK and Ireland.

This opportunity would be ideally suited for someone who has a credible record of successfully building cohesive and high performing teams through the development of people, creating opportunities for growth which ultimately maximise overall productivity.

Finally, it is important to note, you’ll be joining a team of experts, who are focused on adding real value to every aspect of our operations, you will have lots of opportunity to get involved in several continuous improvement initiatives with our manufacturing and engineering operations, assist our teams to achieve business KPI, financial performance whilst engaging and empowering the workforce to take ownership and fix problems at a site level.

• Lead, guide, evaluate, and develop a team of senior managers with operational responsibilities to ensure that the organization achieves its business objectives and complies with all relevant regulations and laws.
• People development: review the performance of the team, identify training needs, drive the use of Individual Personal Development plan.
• Stock reduction: support company goals with accurate analysis to reduce current Safety stock levels in accordance with equipment lists provided by Sales/Reliability Team. Suggest obsolete or low turning components, reduce WIP levels.
• Sales focus: provide strong technical and service support to all customers, collaborate with Sales Managers in achieving Sales target objectives.
• Drive year on year efficiency improvement plans. Ensure implementation of the global Standard operations within the Service center network to improve quality and service levels.
• Direct the preparation of operating budgets and proposals for capital expenditure and investments in infrastructure, technology, equipment, systems, or other assets and resources.
• Global Services and CBM contracts: support Contract managers during contracts execution, monitoring delivery performances and other contractual KPI, assure adequate stock levels are held in the Service centre network to meet SLA.
• Continuous Improvement: to be an active change agent driving improvement in process and procedure. Support organizational and operational changes in line with company guidelines, implement best practices and new standards.
• Deliver the financial and headcount targets in line with UK Sales & Aftermarket annual Business plan and medium-term Strategic growth plans.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

• Education/Training: University Degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar field
• Experience: 5+ years of managerial experience in Operations, Service Center Management.
• Techno/Commercial profile with strong experience within rotating equipment (pumps, turbomachinery, mechanical seals, etc.)
• Previous experience working in Service/aftermarket business
• In depth “on the ground” experience specific to the Oil & Gas/Petrochemical industry
• Project Management skills, including effective and professional Customer interface
• Ability to influence and establish new relationships as well as strengthen existing relationships
• Experience of working in multinational and multicultural environment is an advantage.
• Intermediate knowledge of Office suite (Excel is a must)
• Lean six sigma green belt (or equivalent) is a plus
• Fluency in English (spoken/written)
• SAP knowledge (nice to have)

At Smiths we apply leading-edge technology to design, manufacture and deliver market-leading innovative solutions that meet our customers' evolving needs, and touch the lives of millions of people every day. We are a FTSE100, global business of around 14,600 colleagues, based in 50+ countries. Our solutions have a real impact on lives across the planet, enabling industry, improving healthcare, enhancing security, advancing connectivity and supporting new homes. Our products and services are often critical to our customer s’ operations, while our proprietary technology and high service levels help create competitive advantage. We welcome colleagues with a curious mind, who are happy with responsibility, enjoy a challenge and are attracted by the idea of working at a business with a 170+ year history of innovation, and five global divisions, all experts in their field.

John Crane (www.johncrane.com) is a global leader in rotating equipment solutions, supplying engineered technologies and services to process industries. The company designs and manufactures a variety of products including mechanical seals and systems, couplings, bearings, filtration systems and predictive digital monitoring technologies. John Crane customer service is accessed through a global network of more than 200 sales and service facilities in over 50 countries. Fiscal year 2016 revenue was greater than 1 Billion USD (£830m). John Crane is part of Smiths Group (www.smiths.com), a global leader in applying advanced technologies for markets in threat and contraband detection, energy, medical devices, communications, and engineered components.