Sonoco
From Sonoco's careers page
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Reporting directly to the Maintenance Manager, the role holds full strategic and operational responsibility.
Reporting directly to the Maintenance Manager, the role holds full strategic and operational responsibility. The Senior Utilities & Facility Engineer will ensure the operational continuity, utilities optimization, and regulatory compliance across two industrial manufacturing plants located in Parma and in the province of Reggio Emilia.
They will coordinate two in‑house operators (one per plant), handling ordinary maintenance activities on the systems while interacting with internal electrical and mechanical workshops. The role also includes full management and supervision of a network of external collaborators, consultants, and suppliers for specialized maintenance, inspections, and continuous improvement activities.
Mission
The ideal candidate is a professional with a strong technical background and proven experience in industrial utilities management and facility maintenance within complex manufacturing environments. The main objective is to ensure maximum operational continuity, lead advanced energy‑efficiency and decarbonization projects, guarantee full regulatory compliance of the plants, and optimize operating costs.
One of the main responsibilities for the role is the update and maintenance of all technical and legal documentation related to environmental and safety matters (HSE) linked to their area of responsibility. Additionally, the Senior Utilities & Facility Engineer will be a champion for the paperless system digitalization plan for utilities and facility maintenance, driving the transition toward integrated HSE and maintenance platforms.
The daily tasks will be carried out evenly across both industrial plants. Main duties include:
Utilities Governance & Process Equipment Optimization — Strategic overview, operational and performance optimization of service systems: thermal power plants, compressed air systems, fluid/gas distribution networks, and cooling water generation/distribution systems. Advanced technical management of critical assets such as chillers and industrial burners, maximizing reliability (MTBF) and minimizing downtime.
Strategic Facility Management — Definition and supervision of extraordinary and conservative maintenance plans for buildings, yards, auxiliary structures, and plant roofing, including budget management.
Energy Management, Sustainability & Decarbonization — Advanced analysis of energy carriers (electricity, gas, water), implementation of consumption‑monitoring systems, and design/execution of energy‑efficiency projects aimed at sustainability and carbon‑footprint reduction.
Supplier Management & Technical Procurement — Negotiation and management of maintenance contracts (SLA/KPI), supervision of complex on‑site works, rigorous verification of work progress (SAL), and full economic cycle management from offer approval to final invoice validation.
Legislative Compliance, Safety & HSE — Ensuring full legal compliance of all systems (mandatory inspections, fire‑safety regulations, PED directive). Active collaboration with the HSE Manager (RSPP) for drafting and applying safety documentation (DUVRI, POS, site safety plans) for all external contractors.
Digitalization Leadership — Design, implementation, and roll‑out of an integrated paperless system for digitalizing registers, certifications, and technical documentation related to utilities and facility management, making it fully accessible online for HSE and Maintenance departments.
Required Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Industrial Management, or Civil/Environmental Engineering.
Proven experience (minimum 5–8 years) as Facility/Utilities Engineer or Manager, preferably within complex and structured industrial manufacturing environments (metalworking or food industry is a strong plus).
Technical Skills
Deep technical knowledge of thermal systems, compressed air systems, refrigeration plants, and industrial burners.
Proficiency in reading P&ID diagrams, electrical schematics, and CAD layouts.
Solid understanding of the PED Directive, fire‑safety regulations, and Energy Management frameworks (e.g., ISO 50001).
Excellent command of Microsoft Office Suite.
Language Skills
Proficient English level, both spoken and written, for documentation management and to liaise with international partners and vendors.
Logistics & Soft Skills
Valid driving license (Category B) and availability for regular commute between Parma and Reggio Emilia sites.
Strong leadership, people‑management attitude, excellent negotiation skills, strategic vision, advanced problem‑solving capabilities, and proactivity.
Environment & Growth: Opportunity to operate with high autonomy and responsibility within a market‑leading organization. The role offers strategic visibility across plant operations and serves as a key pillar for operational efficiency and ecological transition, with concrete prospects for professional development.
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We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.
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