Head of Maintenance & Reliability Engineering

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Denmark, Türkiye, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, South Africa, Slovakia, Russia, Portugal, Poland, Norway, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Italy, Hungary, Germany, France, Finland

Engineering & Technology

Publié le 07-08-2025

About Umicore

Umicore is a global player in materials technology. A stable international group and at the same time a top Belgian company with four branches in our country. We develop technologies and produce materials for high-performance solar cells used in satellites, rechargeable batteries, LED applications, catalysts... Through recycling, we extract precious metals from laptops and mobile phones, among other things.

About Cobalt and Speciality Materials (CSM)

Mastering the cobalt value chain. Umicore's expertise covers the procurement, production and distribution of cobalt and nickel products. Umicore's materials are important in everyday things, such as rechargeable batteries, tools, paint and tires. Our recycling and refining processes give new life to cobalt and other metals and reduce their impact on the environment. In order to continue to meet the demands of our customers, we must not stand still. We need to discover new methods, come up with new solutions, and develop new ideas. And then you come into the picture.

What you will do

The Head of Maintenance & Reliability Engineering organizes and oversees the optimal functioning of the maintenance and the reliability engineering team and their activities.

He/she ensures the smooth running of the planned and the breakdown maintenance work for an efficient operation of the production assets. He/she drives the maintenance organization to increase the maintainability and reliability of all the production assets, the low voltage electrical installations and the energy & utilities facilities to an economically responsible cost. 

Manages the maintenance & reliability department
Responsible for achieving departmental objectives through policy plans, budgets and KPIs by:

• Executing maintenance concepts, preventive inspections & compliance programs to ensure production availability at optimal cost.

• Preparing, planning and executing both schedulable and non-schedulable (breakdown) maintenance in line with safety, environmental, technical, quality and cost standards.

• Managing and reporting technical & financial KPIs to improve maintenance systems.

• Increasing installation availability and/or reducing maintenance costs with reliability engineering.

• Introducing and implementing new reliability methods & techniques.

• Managing electrical low voltage assets at CSM Olen.

• Designing, maintaining and ensuring correct use of SAP-PM and other asset management software.

• Managing and archiving technical documentation and procedures; providing related training.

• Negotiating long-term maintenance contracts together with purchasing.

• Overseeing training & development within the asset management team.

• Managing external contractors: selecting, monitoring and improving their performance.

2. Leads and develops employees

• Setting direction, monitoring and improving team performance.

• Coaching and supporting training & development of direct reports.

• Creating a work environment that encourages ownership, commitment and motivation.

• Fostering a culture of responsibility for safety, health and wellbeing.

3. Defines & deploys maintenance strategy
Develops and implements a proactive maintenance strategy balancing agility and operational excellence, aligned with business objectives and changing market conditions.

Who we are looking for

Education:

• Master in Engineering or equivalent

Experience:

• More than 15 years industrial experience of which 10 years in an engineering, technical or production environment in the process industry.
• At least 10 years of experience in a supervisory role
• You have relevant experience within a production environment.

Technical skills:

• Good polyvalent technical knowledge (electricity; automatization; electro mechanics; hydraulics; pneumatics;..),
• Good knowledge of maintenance organisation & maintenance techniques
• Good knowledge of reliability engineering
• Good knowledge of work order management (job processing). Good knowledge of the SAP-PM and MM module.
• Fluent in Dutch and English, speaking and reading French and German is a plus
• Acquainted with the applicable safety, quality and environmental regulations.

Managerial skills:

• Good organizer, leader and people manager
• Delivering results and meeting internal customer/partner expectations
• Able to take decisions and to initiate actions
• Familiar with project management & management of change and the impact of change on safety, production and the organization
• Know how to communicate with all levels in the organization
• Can translate maintenance & reliability concepts into a workable organisation
• Can translate business goals into an action plan.
• Change management skills

• Strong leadership and people management skills:

  • Bridge builder
  • Can build a team spirit and to support/coach his/her team
  • Can support/coach and develop each individual in the different teams to increase personal effectiveness and personal work satisfaction
  • Strong in dealing with conflicts and interpersonal relationships
  • Team player but also a decision maker
  • Can work with deadlines and stress resistant
  • Open minded & creative but pragmatic and result driven

What we offer

To shape the future, we are already showing the way today. As a company and as an employer. Our company culture ensures that everyone can exchange ideas and build expertise, regardless of gender, background or origin. We offer a competitive salary and all benefits such as meal vouchers, group insurance, hospitalisation insurance,... that you can expect from a top employer.