Maintenance Engineering Manager

About the role

Sunset Farm Foods is a fourth-generation, family-owned meat processing and sausage company serving Valdosta and the surrounding region since 1918. We are seeking a hands-on Maintenance Engineering Manager to take pride in maintaining a safe, efficient, and reliable plant operation.

Responsibilities

• Direct maintenance strategy across the plant to maximize production efficiency while protecting equipment longevity and product quality.
• Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives across departments.
• Partner closely with the Plant Manager and other department leaders, presenting a united front on strategy and direction.
• Maintain regulatory compliance with ammonia refrigeration and electrical safety programs, and champion safety initiatives plant-wide.
• Develop capital expenditure recommendations and coordinate capital projects with plant departments.
• Build and manage the maintenance department's operating plan and budget.
• Establish and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering maintenance, parts, inventory, energy management, and related functions.
• Build strong working relationships with employees, supervisors, and the public.
• Address performance issues promptly, consistently, and confidentially, while coaching and mentoring your team.
• Foster a culture of respect, cooperation, and open communication.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory product safety requirements.

Requirements

• A high school diploma or GED required; a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field is preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive experience managing a maintenance department, including supervisory responsibility.
• Experience managing facility and manufacturing maintenance; food industry experience strongly preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in construction, maintenance, or repair of production equipment, ideally in food manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of project management, safety programs, and production operations.
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills paired with sharp problem-solving abilities.
• Experience developing and managing preventive maintenance (PM) programs.
• Ammonia Refrigeration Management (ARM) certification or knowledge is a plus.
• Comfortable collaborating across teams and departments at every level of the company.

Qualifications

• A clear, confident communicator who builds trust with employees, supervisors, and the public.
• Intermediate computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• A true team player who works well with staff at every level of the organization.
• Able to manage multiple projects, shifting priorities, and deadline pressure with flexibility.
• Strong time-management skills and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Skills That Set You Up for Success

• Clear, confident communicator who builds trust with employees, supervisors, and the public.
• Intermediate computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• A true team player who works well with staff at every level of the organization.
• Able to manage multiple projects, shifting priorities, and deadline pressure with flexibility.
• Strong time-management skills and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Benefits

None specified.

Pay

None specified.

Schedule & Physical Requirements

This role requires availability for weekend and off-shift on-call work, with occasional travel. Successful completion of pre-employment drug testing is required.

Working Environment

• Office: Individual workspace with desk and computer. Office areas may not be temperature controlled and can have loud background noise. Work may require entering the production facility and walking on uneven or slippery surfaces near forklift traffic, along with occasional stooping, bending, crouching, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Production Floor: A working plant environment that can be crowded with equipment, noisy, and wet in some areas, with hot and cold temperature extremes depending on location. The role requires standing and walking for full shifts on uneven, slippery surfaces, along with stooping, bending, crouching, climbing ladders, repetitive hand motion, and lifting up to 55 pounds.

Company Information

Sunset Farm Foods, Inc. is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disabled/Veterans