Maintenance Manager

About the role

Our client, a leading global automotive manufacturer, is seeking a Maintenance Manager to lead the maintenance function at a key plant in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The role focuses on improving machine availability, reducing unplanned downtime, and establishing robust preventative and predictive maintenance strategies.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage the plant‑wide maintenance team.
• Develop and implement preventative and predictive maintenance programmes.
• Reduce unplanned downtime and drive improvements in OEE and overall plant performance.
• Monitor and report maintenance KPIs such as downtime, response times, spare‑parts usage, costs and equipment reliability.
• Coach, develop and ensure technical capability of the maintenance workforce.
• Collaborate with production, engineering, quality and EHS teams to support daily operations.
• Oversee safe, efficient execution of maintenance activities aligned with production schedules.
• Support troubleshooting, root‑cause analysis and continuous‑improvement initiatives.
• Manage spare‑parts strategy, availability and cost control.
• Participate in equipment upgrades, installations and commissioning projects.

Required profile

• Degree or technical qualification in Mechanical, Electrical, Maintenance or Industrial Engineering.
• Significant experience leading maintenance teams in manufacturing, preferably automotive.
• Proven track record of reducing unplanned downtime and improving machine availability.
• Strong understanding of OEE, maintenance KPIs and continuous‑improvement tools.
• Experience with welding, assembly, stamping or similar industrial processes is desirable.

Required skills

• Preventative maintenance
• Predictive maintenance
• OEE analysis
• Root‑cause analysis
• Continuous‑improvement methodologies
• Mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems
• Automated production equipment
• Equipment installation, upgrade and commissioning