Location
HQ - Blagdon
Position
Engineering
Advertising Salary
Level 7
Advert Closing Date
28 Sep 2025

So, what will I be doing?

Are you passionate about automation, control systems, and driving the future of manufacturing technology? We’re looking for an Electrical Controls Systems Manager to lead our business-wide automation and controls strategy—helping us strengthen our capabilities, improve performance, and build future-ready engineering teams.

The Role

As our subject matter expert in automation and controls, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping and executing strategies that support operational excellence across our sites. You’ll provide expert guidance on capital projects, ensure compliance with electrical regulations, and drive adoption of cutting-edge technologies including machine data and AI integration.

You’ll also mentor engineers and apprentices, sharing your expertise to build skills and knowledge across the business, while acting as the Electrical Duty Holder and Responsible Person for compliance and safety.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead the development and implementation of the Automation & Controls strategy.

  • Ensure all electrical installation and maintenance standards comply with legal and regulatory requirements.

  • Support major capital projects through hardware/software selection and system integration.

  • Introduce and develop AI and machine data solutions for improved performance and maintenance.

  • Provide advanced fault-finding expertise and coach others in best practice diagnostic techniques.

  • Mentor engineering teams and apprentices to build capability in modern manufacturing technology.

  • Act as Technical Author for electrical controls policies and procedures.

Sounds interesting, what do I need?

We need someone with:

  • A higher-level qualification in Automation or Electrical Engineering (HND or Degree).

  • Proven experience with automated equipment in FMCG.

  • Advanced fault-finding expertise and the ability to share knowledge with others.

  • Experience managing electrical controls and standards.

Desirable:

  • Project management experience.

  • Strong background in automation & control systems.

  • Coaching, mentoring, or leadership experience.

Why should I join the family?

We’re independent, British and proud to be making the highest quality yogurts, desserts and ice cream under the Yeo Valley brand and for many of the UK’s major retailers. Operating from four dairies and two logistics centres in Somerset and Devon, we employ over 1700 staff and produce more than 25% of the UK’s packaged yogurt.

We’re sure you don’t need convincing, but there’s a whole host of benefits that we offer including:

  • competitive holiday allowance
  • 7% non-contributory pension scheme
  • life cover
  • healthcare cash back plan
  • cycle to work scheme
  • subsidised Yeo Valley products and services
  • preferential rates with our partners
  • annual bonus (as part of the Employee Benefit Trust, based on company performance for the year)
  • learning and development opportunities; we’re committed to ensuring all of our employees have the chance to grow
 
Amongst other things, co-ownership at Yeo Valley means:
  • We all have an equal stake in our company, sharing in the success we achieve
  • We support one another in connecting to our purpose and vision
  • We have structures and ways of working that support us in influencing the direction of our company
  • We are transparent about our plans
  • We work together to make things better

co-ownership invites us all to:

  • Want to understand Yeo Valley's purpose and connect with it
  • Be interested in how our company is developing, our future plans and the culture of co-ownership
  • Take part in conversations and share your opinions on how to make Yeo Valley Production a great place to work
  • Understand or question decisions that do not seem to fit with our purpose, goals and culture
  • Represent our company as a proud, valued and influential co-owner
 

Our closing dates are a guide for when the application window should close, although we may close the advert sooner if we can. So, we recommend you get your application in straight away – and don’t miss the opportunity to join us!

Unfortunately, we’re not able to provide employment sponsorship to candidates at this moment in time.

Please note that Yeo Valley do not accept speculative agency applications; we will only accept applications from preferred suppliers that have been submitted to us via our recruitment portal at the point of instruction.

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