Chief Engineer

About the role

This role is responsible for leading and overseeing all maintenance operations within the plant, ensuring the safe, efficient, and reliable functioning of equipment, machinery, and facility infrastructure. This role manages a team of maintenance professionals and works cross-functionally with other departments to support continuous production, utility systems, and facility upkeep.

Responsibilities

• Directs and coordinates the work of employees involved in the repair, maintenance, and installation of machinery, tools, and equipment, as well as the maintenance of buildings and grounds.
• Oversees the preventive maintenance program, including its development, scheduling, and completion.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable safety rules and company policies; sets a positive example for safety leadership.
• Reviews and prioritizes work orders to ensure timely and effective completion.
• Responsible for the development and management of the annual repair and maintenance budget, including monthly performance tracking.
• Led capital projects from start to finish – including bid collection, capital request submissions, project tracking, and completion timelines.
• Maintains the maintenance shop, parts storage, and support equipment areas in a clean, organized, and safe condition.
• Covers repair, maintenance, and installation activities to ensure minimal disruption to production operations.
• Oversees maintenance of utility systems to provide consistent and safe delivery of heat, steam, power, gas, and compressed air.
• Leads continuous improvement initiatives related to maintenance, reliability, and equipment optimization.
• Actively supports waste reduction efforts, including decreasing machine downtime and improving throughput.
• Facilitate cross-shift and departmental communication through shift handoffs, in-person pass-downs, and routine shift meetings.
• Requisitions necessary tools, equipment, and supplies to support operational needs.
• Participates in plant and operational performance reviews and metric-driven evaluations.
• Must be available on-call to respond to maintenance emergencies during off-shifts, including weekends and holidays.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or Equivalent.
• Technical Degree Preferred.
• Associates or Undergraduate Degree Preferred.
• Experience in dairy processing technologies and food safety standards preferred.
• Experience in NH3 (Ammonia) refrigeration and wastewater pretreatment preferred.
• Minimum 8 years experience in maintenance, equipment repair, or a related field.
• Minimum 6 years of supervisory or leadership experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 5 years experience with Preventative Maintenance Programs and CMMS Systems.
• Minimum 5 years of experience troubleshooting and repairing PLCs, VFDs, and industrial electrical systems preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of advanced Microsoft Excel experience, including reporting, KPI tracking, data analysis, and budgeting preferred.

Qualifications

• Communication: Communicate clearly and effectively through multiple channels – oral, written, visual, and non-verbal – ensuring our messages are understood and delivered appropriately, whether in-person or digitally.
• Accountability: Take responsibility for actions and anticipate challenges before they arise. Solve problems both within and outside of departments, proactively addressing issues as they occur.
• Customer Focused: Prioritize understanding and meeting both internal and external customer needs. Ensure high levels of satisfaction and loyalty by anticipating customer requirements and striving for exceptional service.
• Initiative: Proactive in identifying opportunities and addressing potential threats. Act independently and decisively, rather than waiting for situations to demand action.
• Problem-Solving: Possess the ability to identify and address complex issues with minimal guidance. Skilled at analyzing challenges and finding practical, effective solutions.
• Collaboration: Take responsibility for deliverables while also supporting others to ensure that collective goals are met. Able to work harmoniously with others toward a common goal, recognizing and valuing each person’s contributions, is fundamental to successful collaboration.

Skills

• Leadership: Ability to lead and manage a team of maintenance professionals.
• Technical Proficiency: Experience with dairy processing technologies, food safety standards, NH3 (Ammonia) refrigeration, and wastewater pretreatment.
• Project Management: Experience with capital project planning, bid collection, and CMMS Systems.
• Electrical Systems: Experience with troubleshooting and repairing PLCs, VFDs, and industrial electrical systems.
• Financial Management: Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including reporting, KPI tracking, data analysis, and budgeting.

Benefits

We prioritize your well-being with competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with employer match, Life Insurance, paid time off, and more—available within your first month.

Pay

Starting Annual Salary: $90,000

Schedule

Details on the schedule will be provided upon hire.