Maintenance Manager

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, direction, and accountability for all maintenance, electrical, millwright, fabrication, and utility personnel.
• Recruit, develop, train, coach, and retain a highly skilled maintenance workforce, including tradespeople, technicians, apprentices, and supervisors.
• Foster a culture of safety, teamwork, continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Conduct performance evaluations, establish development plans, and identify succession planning opportunities.
• Promote employee engagement and professional growth through ongoing training and certification programs.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance programs.
• Lead maintenance planning and scheduling activities to maximize equipment uptime and production efficiency.
• Manage work order, asset management, and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS).
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) related to uptime, downtime, maintenance costs, equipment reliability, and workforce productivity.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for equipment failures and recurring operational issues.
• Ensure optimal operation of all plant systems, including production equipment, refrigeration systems, utilities, electrical systems, motors, pumps, conveyors, and facility infrastructure.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Manufacturing leadership to support production goals and strategic initiatives.
• Lead continuous improvement projects that enhance efficiency, equipment reliability, product quality, and cost performance.
• Support capital improvement projects from concept through implementation, including budgeting, equipment selection, installation, and startup.
• Coordinate plant shutdowns, major repairs, and maintenance projects to minimize production disruption.
• Utilize data and performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement and implement sustainable solutions.
• Develop, manage, and control annual maintenance operating and capital budgets.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records, equipment histories, and regulatory documentation.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, PSM, GMP, HACCP, SQF, and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Lead plant maintenance safety initiatives and maintain a strong safety culture throughout the organization.
• Support and participate in safety audits, risk assessments, and incident investigations.
• Ensure all maintenance activities support food safety, product quality, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices, Standard Operating Procedures, and Safety Regulations consistently.
• Communicate regularly and effectively with Operations, Engineering, Safety, Sanitation, Quality Assurance, and executive leadership teams.
• Provide routine updates regarding maintenance performance, capital projects, equipment reliability, and operational risks.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve production challenges and implement process improvements.
• Serve as the technical leader for maintenance and facility operations.
• Respond to critical plant issues and emergencies as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, Maintenance Management, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive industrial maintenance experience in a manufacturing or food processing environment.
• Minimum 5 years of maintenance leadership or management experience overseeing multi-disciplinary maintenance teams.
• Strong knowledge of maintenance management systems (CMMS), reliability programs, and asset management principles.
• Demonstrated experience managing maintenance budgets, capital projects, and contractor relationships.
• Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, refrigeration, and utility systems.
• Strong understanding of engineering principles, industrial controls, and PLC troubleshooting.
• Proven leadership, team-building, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to lead a 24/7 maintenance operation in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering.
• Food processing or frozen food manufacturing experience.
• Licensed Electrician or equivalent electrical certification.
• RETA Certification, CARO, CIRO, or equivalent ammonia refrigeration certification.
• Experience with Process Safety Management (PSM) and ammonia refrigeration systems.
• Experience implementing Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM), TPM, Lean Manufacturing, or Six Sigma methodologies.
• Advanced knowledge of PLC programming and industrial automation systems.
• Experience managing maintenance teams in union and non-union environments.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) preferred.