Maintenance Planner

U.S. Sugar is one of the nation’s largest fully integrated producers of sugarcane, a leading provider of fresh vegetables and citrus products, and a regional short-line railroad operator. Headquartered in Clewiston, Florida, the company farms more than 200,000 acres and employs approximately 3,000 people, including many high-skilled, high-wage roles in automated environments. The company produces 650,000–700,000 tons of cane sugar annually, supplying nearly 8% of the nation’s sugar production.

About the role

This is a salaried-exempt position reporting to the Central Warehouse Manager. The incumbent will create a maintenance control function capable of identifying and correcting maintenance problems prior to equipment failure. Responsibilities include planning and scheduling maintenance work—labor, materials, equipment, tools, drawings, safety requirements—and coordinating with contractors and other corporate services. The role aims to reduce maintenance costs by minimizing downtime, improving equipment reliability, increasing equipment capacity, and enhancing product quality.

Responsibilities

• Abide by all Company policies outlined in the Employee Handbook and comply with all Company, Local, State, and Federal regulations relating to Health, Safety, Operations, etc.
• Successfully participate in and complete all safety training, supervisory and management skills training, and/or certifications related to the position.
• Plan and schedule all department routine maintenance, overhauls, and outages using Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), MS Project, MS Excel, and CAD.
• Regularly develop, build, populate, and arrange spreadsheet reports for management use.
• Develop, monitor, and manage the preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Coordinate with Department Management, contractors, material handlers, purchasing, engineering, and safety to develop job plans using effective communication and positive teamwork.
• Use metrics to track personnel performance, unscheduled and emergency work, identify plan discrepancies, and update future job plans.
• Routinely monitor, analyze, and perform root-cause analysis with corrective action plans to reduce or eliminate problems.
• Regularly communicate with vendors and purchasing on price and availability of materials.
• Demonstrate a sound working knowledge of maintenance cost control programs (labor, material, and contractors).

Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent; post-secondary education highly preferred.
• Preference given to candidates with Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) certification or similar industry certifications.
• Must have 5 or more recent years’ experience performing industrial work as a skilled tradesperson (e.g., electrician, machinist, mechanic, heavy equipment operator).
• Proficiency in SAP, MS Office, and project management software highly desired.
• Must demonstrate physical ability to perform the essential functions of the job, including working in both office and outdoor environments.
• Must be in good health and physically able to perform all phases of the work, including climbing stairs or ladders, kneeling, crawling, bending, stooping, squatting, reaching overhead, and walking on uneven ground.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak English to comprehend instructions, communicate via radio, write and interpret policies and procedures, and ensure personal and co-worker safety.
• New hires must pass a drug test and other pre-employment background screening and successfully complete any required training or orientation.

Working Conditions

• 80% of work is conducted in an environmentally controlled office using computerized equipment with colored flashing lights and sound indicators, involving repetitive hand and eye movements. Routine communication and mediation with Department Managers, vendors, contractors, and purchasing staff to make maintenance decisions and allocate parts or labor.
• 20% of work is conducted in an open, outdoor environment exposed to extreme temperatures, loud noise, and low lighting while wearing PPE. Includes climbing stairs or ladders, kneeling, crawling, bending, stooping, squatting, reaching overhead, and walking on uneven ground with slip and trip hazards. May involve resolving disputes through conflict resolution.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), providing an ownership stake in the privately held business.
• Opportunities for learning, growth, and challenging work.
• Supportive work environment with safety as the top priority.