Head of Engineering

Location: Netherlands
Sector: Waste, Energy, Heavy Process Industries
Contract: Permanent

About the Role

We are seeking a highly capable Head of Engineering to lead our clients Operational Engineering function and drive measurable improvements across safety, reliability, and long-term plant performance.

This role is critical in strengthening engineering governance, stabilising plant operations, and ensuring maintenance budgets are structured, optimised, and tightly controlled - all while reducing asset downtime and improving overall efficiency across our operational sites.

The ideal candidate will be dynamic, pragmatic, and trustworthy, with a proven track record of delivering engineering and operational improvements within waste, energy, or heavy process environments.

Key Responsibilities

You will lead the group-wide Operational Engineering department - encompassing Reliability, Project Delivery, and Asset Operations - and provide expert support to all plant management teams.

Your impact will include:

• Leading reliability and project functions while working closely with plant managers to enhance site maintenance performance.
• Strengthening engineering safety governance, compliance, and culture.
• Stabilising existing operations and embedding structured, long-term reliability improvements across all engineering functions.
• Enhancing asset health monitoring, engineering KPIs, and maintenance cost control versus CARV.
• Establishing robust strategic spare parts structures that are controlled, cost-effective, and aligned to asset health strategies.
• Working collaboratively with plant and maintenance managers to plan, forecast, and budget in a disciplined and transparent way.
• Introducing structured Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Overseeing capital project delivery and ensuring alignment with operational priorities.
• Influencing design stages to ensure upgrades incorporate effective layouts and Asset Lifecycle Management (ALM) requirements.

About You - Skills & Experience

We're looking for someone who brings:

• Proven leadership experience in waste, energy, or industrial processing environments.
• Strong technical expertise across maintenance, reliability, and capital projects.
• Working knowledge of CMMS systems, P&L oversight, and maintenance cost control.
• Experience embedding reliability principles and driving a continuous improvement culture.
• Strong understanding of engineering compliance, asset lifecycle management, and safety governance.

Why Join Us?

This is a senior leadership role where your decisions will directly shape operational performance, reliability culture, and long-term business success. You'll have the autonomy to build structure, influence strategy, and drive tangible improvements across a complex and vital asset base.

To be considered for this outstanding opportunity, send a cv to or call 353080 quoting reference M9615.