Purpose of the Role
Facilities & Utilities Lead
The role is located in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, and requires full on‑site presence.
Shape the Future of Sustainable Energy
Agratas is a global battery business within the Tata Group, designing, developing and manufacturing high-performance, sustainable battery technologies that will power the future of mobility and clean energy.
As we build one of Europe's most advanced battery manufacturing facilities, we are seeking an experienced Facilities Utilities Lead to play a critical leadership role in ensuring the safe, compliant and reliable operation of the site's utility infrastructure and critical process systems.
This is a unique opportunity to join a pioneering Gigafactory project and lead the maintenance and performance of essential engineering systems that support world-class battery manufacturing operations.
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Facilities Manager, the Facilities Utilities Lead will be responsible for the safe, compliant and efficient operation and maintenance of all facility utility systems across the site.
Leading a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technicians, you will oversee mechanical, electrical and process utility infrastructure, ensuring all preventative maintenance, statutory inspections, asset management and corrective maintenance activities are delivered to the highest standards.
You will drive a proactive maintenance culture, maximise asset availability, ensure regulatory compliance and champion continuous improvement initiatives that support operational excellence across the facility.
This role is ideally suited to a strong engineering leader with experience managing complex utility systems within highly regulated industrial environments.
Key Responsibility Areas
What You'll Be Doing
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, coach and develop a multidisciplinary team of Utilities Engineers, Utilities Technicians, Electrical Technicians, Mechanical Technicians and Maintenance Planners.
- Build a high-performing team through effective training, competency development and succession planning.
- Establish clear performance expectations, objectives and development plans.
- Promote a strong health, safety and compliance culture across all activities.
- Manage specialist contractors and service partners, ensuring delivery against KPIs and service agreements.
- Lead the utilities training programme and support long-term workforce capability development.
Maintenance & Asset Management
- Ensure all maintenance activities are managed through the CAFM system.
- Develop and optimise preventative maintenance programmes aligned to SFG20 and OEM recommendations.
- Monitor PPM compliance and statutory inspection completion.
- Manage maintenance backlogs and implement recovery plans where required.
- Drive root cause analysis and reliability improvement initiatives.
- Introduce predictive and condition-based maintenance strategies to maximise asset performance.
- Support asset lifecycle planning and maintenance budget control.
Utilities & Infrastructure Management
You'll be accountable for the operation and maintenance of critical utility and infrastructure systems including:
Mechanical Systems
- Dehumidification systems
- HVAC systems
- Chillers and cooling towers
- Boilers and steam systems
- Compressed air systems
- Nitrogen systems
- Process cooling water systems
- Purified and domestic water systems
- Drainage systems
- Pumps, pipework and associated infrastructure
- Dust extraction and industrial ventilation systems
- Process exhaust and abatement systems
Electrical Systems
- HV/LV distribution systems
- Transformers and switchgear
- UPS systems
- Standby generators
- Emergency lighting systems
- Building electrical services
- Power monitoring and energy management systems
- Earthing and lightning protection systems
Building Services & Controls
- Building Management Systems (BMS)
- Energy Management Systems (EMS)
- Utility SCADA systems
- Fire alarm and life safety interfaces
- Utility metering systems
Critical Process Utility Systems
- Electrolyte manufacturing, storage and transfer systems
- Electrolyte blending and dispensing infrastructure
- Solvent storage and distribution systems
- NMP recovery and distillation systems
- Solvent extraction and recovery equipment
- VOC treatment and abatement systems
- Process gas distribution systems
- Nitrogen generation and distribution systems
- Dry room support utilities
- Process vacuum systems
- Safety-critical process monitoring systems
Compliance, Governance & Process Safety
- Ensure compliance with all applicable legislation, standards and engineering best practice.
- Manage statutory inspections and remediation activities.
- Act as Responsible Person or Duty Holder delegate where applicable.
- Lead investigations into utility failures, incidents and process safety events.
- Participate in HAZOP, PHA, LOPA and Management of Change (MoC) processes.
- Support emergency preparedness and response planning for utility and process system failures.
Qualifications and Experience
What We're Looking For
Essential
- HNC/HND or Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Building Services Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Completed a recognised engineering apprenticeship.
- IOSH Managing Safely (or equivalent).
- Proven experience leading engineering, utilities, or facilities maintenance teams in an industrial environment.
- Strong knowledge of critical utilities, building services, and infrastructure systems.
- Experience using CAFM systems and developing maintenance strategies aligned to SFG20.
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams, contractors, and service providers within a safety-critical environment.
Desirable
- NEBOSH General Certificate.
- AP/CP qualifications (Electrical, Pressure Systems, Water Hygiene, etc.).
- Membership of IWFM, CIBSE, or a relevant professional body.
- Experience within battery manufacturing, chemical processing, energy, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, or other highly regulated industries.
- Knowledge of COMAH and major hazard environments.
Key Skills
- Strong leadership, coaching, and people management capability.
- Excellent planning, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
- Technical expertise in maintenance, reliability, and asset management.
- Experience driving continuous improvement and operational performance.
- Strong stakeholder and contractor management skills.
- Confident communicating and presenting technical information at all levels.
- Effective decision-making and a proactive, safety-first mindset.
Working Environment
- Based within a high tech R&D environment, including cleanrooms and dry rooms with strict environmental controls.
- Regular interaction with utility infrastructure, process systems, and chemical storage facilities.
- Combination of hands-on engineering leadership, technical analysis, and operational oversight.
- Occasional out-of-hours support during shutdowns, critical maintenance activities, or operational incidents.
What you’ll get…
Why Join Agratas?
Joining Agratas means being part of a pioneering business that's building the future of sustainable battery technology. You'll work on one of the UK's largest and most exciting industrial projects, helping to create the infrastructure that powers the next generation of electric mobility and clean energy solutions.
If you're an experienced utilities and engineering leader looking to make a significant impact in a fast-growing, purpose-driven organisation, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today and help power tomorrow with Agratas.
As a new company, our reward scheme is constantly evolving. We continue to review the market to deliver a competitive benefits package, which currently includes private healthcare, company bonus, enhanced parental leave policy and a cash allowance to boost your benefits. We are a flexible business that is committed to promoting work-life balance, partnering with Yulife to provide our team members with total wellbeing support.
You’ll work in a rapidly scaling-up environment as a subsidiary of the multinational corporation, Tata Sons, to help build the UK’s biggest battery manufacturing facility and make your mark in a new organisation.
Agratas is a place to be authentically you.
At Agratas we strongly believe that people are at their best when they feel supported and happy in their workplace. To that end we continue to cultivate a diverse workforce which protects the individuality of each team member. We therefore warmly welcome applicants from any race, gender, sexuality, and ability. Should you have a preference in how your suitability is assessed for this role or require any reasonable adjustments please let the Talent Acquisition team know.
