Dairy Engineering Director Job Description

This Dairy Engineering Director job description sets out the main duties, qualifications, skills and measures of success for the role, which is also known as Head of Engineering, Group Engineering Director, VP Engineering or Technical Services Director. Download it free as a Word or PDF template and adapt it for your own vacancy.

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Job title	Dairy Engineering Director
Also known as	Head of Engineering, Group Engineering Director, VP Engineering, Technical Services Director
Department	Dairy leadership and board
Reports to	Chief Executive Officer or Chief Operating Officer
Direct reports	Site engineering managers, the head of capital projects, and energy and utilities managers

What does a Dairy Engineering Director do?

Leads engineering across all of a dairy business's sites, so that plant is safe, reliable, efficient and ready for future growth. Sets the asset and capital investment strategy, manages utilities and energy, and builds the engineering capability the business needs.

Dairy Engineering Director duties and responsibilities

Engineering strategy and leadership

Set the engineering strategy and standards for all sites in line with the business plan
Lead site engineering managers and hold them to account for safety, reliability and cost
Standardise engineering practice, spare parts and maintenance systems across the group
Advise the executive team and the Board on asset condition, risk and investment needs

Capital investment and projects

Build and maintain a multi-year capital plan linked to milk supply forecasts and market demand
Prepare investment cases for new capacity, replacement plant and efficiency projects
Lead major projects from feasibility and design through to commissioning and handover
Control project budgets, timelines and contractor performance
Review completed projects to confirm the promised benefits were delivered

Asset management and reliability

Set the asset management strategy, including asset registers, condition monitoring and lifecycle planning
Drive planned and predictive maintenance to reduce breakdowns and lost production
Make sure plant is designed and maintained to hygienic design and food safety standards
Ensure statutory inspections of pressure systems, lifting equipment and refrigeration plant are completed on time

Utilities, energy and environment

Manage steam, refrigeration, compressed air, water and effluent systems across all sites
Lead energy reduction and decarbonisation projects, including heat recovery and fuel switching
Set targets and report progress on energy use, water use and emissions
Work with procurement on energy contracts and long-term supply arrangements
Make sure effluent treatment and emissions meet environmental permit conditions

Engineering safety and talent

Lead safe systems of work for engineering activities, including permits, isolation and contractor control
Build engineering capability through recruitment, apprenticeships and graduate programmes
Plan succession for key engineering roles and develop future leaders
Promote a culture of engineering excellence and continuous improvement

Dairy Engineering Director qualifications and experience

Essential

Degree in mechanical, electrical, chemical or process engineering
Extensive senior engineering leadership experience in dairy, food, beverage or a similar process industry
Track record of delivering large capital projects across more than one site
Strong knowledge of asset management, reliability engineering and maintenance systems
Experience of managing utilities, energy and environmental compliance
Sound knowledge of engineering safety, including permits to work and process safety

Desirable

Chartered or professionally registered engineer
Experience of evaporators, spray dryers, UHT or cheese-making plant
Experience of decarbonisation projects such as heat pumps, electrification or biomass boilers
Formal project management qualification

Skills and attributes

Strategic and long-term planning
Investment appraisal and financial acumen
Leadership of multi-site teams
Project and contractor management
Technical problem solving
Clear communication with the Board and non-engineers
Negotiation with suppliers and contractors

How success is measured

Lost-time injuries and process safety incidents in engineering activities
Plant availability and overall equipment effectiveness
Capital projects delivered on time, on budget and with the agreed benefits
Maintenance cost against budget
Energy and water use per tonne of product, and emissions reduction against target
Engineering staff retention and succession cover for key roles

Working conditions and safety

Based at a head office or main site, with frequent travel to plants and project sites and PPE worn in production areas. Some out-of-hours availability is needed for major breakdowns or incidents.

Lead by example on health, safety, food safety and animal welfare
Uphold the code of conduct and all legal and compliance requirements
Raise concerns and report incidents promptly

Dairy Engineering Director interview questions

Use these questions to assess candidates for a Dairy Engineering Director role. Each one includes what a good answer shows.

How would you build a multi-year capital plan when future milk volumes are uncertain?
What a good answer shows: Uses scenarios, links investment to supply and demand forecasts, phases spending and keeps options flexible.
What would your asset management strategy include for a group of ageing dairy plants?
What a good answer shows: Covers asset registers, condition assessment, criticality, lifecycle costs and a risk-based replacement plan.
How would you reduce emissions from steam and refrigeration across several sites?
What a good answer shows: Discusses heat recovery, heat pumps, fuel switching and efficiency projects within a credible, costed roadmap.
How do you make sure new plant meets hygienic design and food safety standards?
What a good answer shows: Involves the technical team early, specifies hygienic design and cleanability, and checks and validates during commissioning.
A spray dryer fails during peak milk season. Talk me through your response.
What a good answer shows: Puts safety first, organises the repair, diverts milk to other sites or buyers, and keeps supply and sales informed.
A major capital project is running 20% over budget halfway through. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Finds the causes, reviews scope and options, reports honestly to the Board and agrees a recovery plan.
How do you make sure contractors work safely on your sites?
What a good answer shows: Uses pre-qualification, permits, isolation, induction, supervision and audits, and stops work when standards slip.
How do you present investment risk to the Board so it can make a sound decision?
What a good answer shows: Gives clear options, costs, benefits, sensitivities and risks, and is open about assumptions and uncertainty.
Engineering skills are hard to find. How would you build the team the business needs?
What a good answer shows: Uses apprenticeships, graduate schemes, training, clear career paths and succession planning, and works to improve retention.
How do you get site engineering managers to adopt common standards across the group?
What a good answer shows: Involves them in setting standards, explains the benefits, shares good practice and holds them to account fairly.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a Dairy Engineering Director do?

What qualifications does a Dairy Engineering Director need?

Employers usually look for: degree in mechanical, electrical, chemical or process engineering; extensive senior engineering leadership experience in dairy, food, beverage or a similar process industry; track record of delivering large capital projects across more than one site.

Who does a Dairy Engineering Director report to?

A Dairy Engineering Director usually reports to the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Operating Officer. Direct reports typically include site engineering managers, the head of capital projects, and energy and utilities managers.

Can I use this Dairy Engineering Director job description for my own vacancy?

Yes. Download the free Word template, add your location, contract and salary details, and adapt the duties to your site. You can then advertise the role on Dairy Jobs.