CASE STUDY 
Maintenance Manager

Brief

Our client, a family-owned business specializing in the manufacturing of poultry parts, was in need of a Maintenance Manager to oversee the maintenance of critical machinery at their UK site. The company held large regional contracts and needed to ensure that their operations ran smoothly and efficiently. However, finding a candidate with the right combination of machinery expertise and a willingness to work in a family-owned, specialized manufacturing environment proved challenging. The role required not only technical proficiency but also an ability to adapt to a smaller, hands-on business culture.

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Our Process

We launched a detailed search, focusing on candidates with:

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• Machinery experience relevant to the poultry or food processing industry, where hygiene, speed, and reliability are critical.

• A proven track record of preventive and reactive maintenance, along with the ability to manage maintenance teams in an environment with high production demands.

• Willingness to embrace the working environment of a family-run business, where the role required a combination of hands-on involvement and strategic oversight.

We tapped into our network of candidates with experience in food processing and similar manufacturing industries, focusing on individuals with strong experience maintaining specialized production machinery.

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Challenges

The key challenge was the unique machinery involved in poultry part manufacturing, which required a specific skill set. Many experienced Maintenance Managers were unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the poultry processing equipment, or they were more accustomed to working in larger, corporate environments and were hesitant about transitioning to a family-run business with a more personal, tight-knit culture.

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In addition, the need for someone who could fit in with the company's values while bringing strong technical skills made this search more complex. The role required a candidate who could work closely with both senior management and production teams while maintaining the company's commitment to quality and contract fulfillment.

Result

We successfully placed a seasoned Maintenance Manager who had relevant experience in the food processing industry and had previously worked with similar machinery, making them a perfect technical fit. More importantly, they were drawn to the family-oriented work environment and demonstrated a strong ability to engage with both the leadership team and shop-floor employees.

The new Maintenance Manager quickly implemented preventive maintenance schedules and process improvements that significantly reduced downtime and ensured that machinery operated at peak efficiency. The candidate’s willingness to embrace the company's values and work within a close-knit team helped foster a collaborative environment, ultimately contributing to improved operational performance and greater reliability in fulfilling regional contracts.

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The placement not only resolved the technical gap but also strengthened the company's culture by bringing in a leader who was committed to both the success of the business and the well-being of the team.

Candidate