Maintenance Engineer Leader

Join Essity’s Kawerau team as our new Maintenance Leader, where you’ll play a key role in driving equipment reliability, continuous improvement, and a positive team culture. As a global leader in hygiene and health, Essity is committed to breaking barriers to well-being and creating workplaces where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow. You will lead our Converting maintenance team to deliver safe, high-quality, cost-effective, and reliable performance across key manufacturing assets. This is a hands-on leadership role, not hands on tools, where success comes from building a capable, accountable, and engaged team to consistently deliver strong operational outcomes. You’ll shape a practical, long-term maintenance strategy, embed world-class engineering practices, develop a high performing team, and help us consistently meet production and improvement goals.

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, and hold accountable a multi-disciplinary maintenance team, building a high-performing, engaged culture aligned to safety, reliability, and continuous improvement; Establish clear expectations, drive performance management, and build capability through structured coaching, feedback, and development planning; Lead proactive maintenance strategies that increase equipment availability and reliability, delivering results through strong team execution; Implement TPM Zero to 100 and Asset Maintenance Management approaches to reduce repeat failures and enhance asset care; Model and reinforce a zero-harm safety culture, including effective risk assessment, permits, and LOTO processes; Apply sound engineering standards, root-cause analysis, and accurate documentation aligned with OEM and site procedures; Plan and control maintenance costs through efficient scheduling, smart resource use, and improved spare-parts management; Use CMMS and data insights to prioritise work, improve MTBF, reduce MTTR, and prevent recurrence of issues; Partner with Production, Engineering, RST, and external vendors to align priorities and uplift asset reliability; Contribute to delivery of the annual production plan and OEE targets while driving continuous improvement through strong team leadership and execution

Requirements

Proven experience leading and developing teams in a 24/7 manufacturing environment, with a track record of improving team performance, engagement, and capability; Strong people leadership skills, including performance management, coaching, and building inclusive, high-performing teams; Qualifications in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or equivalent knowledge and skills gained through experience in high-volume production (FMCG and/or 24/7 operations welcomed); Skill in both planned and responsive maintenance and confident using CMMS (e.g., SAP/IFS/Maximo/Infor); Proficient with root-cause tools (e.g., 5-Why, Fishbone) and comfortable making decisions using data and evidence; Clear, respectful communicator who collaborates effectively across teams and with external partners

Nice to have

Familiarity with SAP enterprise programs; HSE&R ISO standards; paper manufacturing; condition monitoring; CMRP certification; CI/Lean methodologies

Benefits

A dynamic team environment built on the foundations of authenticity, respect, and a passion for what we do; Fully funded Wellbeing One Southern Cross medical insurance, with free annual health checks and doctor's appointments; Free income protection, permanent disability, and life insurance; Free Annual Flu Vaccinations, Annual Wellness Day and free onsite parking