Sr. Director, Engineering and Facilities

Essential Functions

• Provide strategic leadership for engineering, capital planning, and process improvements across multiple facilities.
• As needed, lead engineering due diligence, design, build, and commissioning for greenfield site start-ups, including site readiness planning, ramp-up support, and post-start stabilization.
• Establish and standardize engineering project delivery processes including scope development, front-end loading, cost estimating, scheduling, change control, risk management, construction management, and project closeout.
• Partner with Operations, FSQ, Maintenance, EHS, Procurement, and Finance to develop multi-year capital plans aligned to business growth, safety, quality, and productivity goals.
• Assess infrastructure and equipment needs across plants (utilities, refrigeration, HVAC, compressed air, steam/hot water, wastewater, process lines, packaging lines, material handling, and building systems) and prioritize investments based on risk, capacity, and ROI.
• Lead selection, implementation, and scaling of new technologies and processes, including automation, PLC/SCADA, CMMS/EAM integration, predictive maintenance, digital performance monitoring, and energy management initiatives.
• Sponsor and govern engineering standards (design criteria, equipment standards, hygienic design, utilities standards, controls standards) to improve consistency, maintainability, and compliance.
• Ensure projects and site modifications meet regulatory and company requirements (food safety, hygienic zoning, OSHA/EHS, electrical/code compliance, environmental permitting).
• Oversee external engineering resources (A/E firms, contractors, integrators, OEMs) including selection, contracting, performance management, and safety expectations.
• Develop and lead a high-performing engineering organization, including talent development, succession planning, and training for project management and technical competencies.
• Drive continuous improvement through value engineering, lifecycle cost analysis, root cause problem solving, and reliability-centered design.
• Provide executive-level reporting on capital performance, project status, risks/issues, and realized benefits.

Key Qualifications

• Planning and organizing work: Proven success leading large-scale capital programs, multi-site portfolios, and complex project schedules.
• Start-up / site commissioning: Demonstrated experience launching new manufacturing or distribution facilities, including commissioning/qualification and ramp-up.
• Technology & process implementation: Track record implementing automation, controls, and process upgrades that improve safety, throughput, quality, and cost. Understanding of AI and its changing landscape.
• Infrastructure assessment: Strong capability to evaluate facility utilities and critical systems, identify risks/constraints, and translate findings into prioritized capital plans.
• Leadership: Ability to set direction, build teams, and influence without authority across Operations, Maintenance, FSQ, EHS, and Supply Chain.
• Communication: Executive-ready written and verbal communication; able to communicate technical information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Financial acumen: Experience building business cases, managing capital budgets, and delivering projects within approved cost and timeline.
• Supplier/contractor management: Strong contracting, vendor negotiation, and contractor safety management skills.
• Continuous improvement mindset: Lean / Six Sigma familiarity and a bias toward standardization, simplification, and measurable outcomes.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Industrial, or related) required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 12–15+ years progressive engineering experience in food/beverage, CPG, pharmaceutical, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Minimum 7+ years leading engineering teams and/or capital portfolios (multi-site preferred).
• Demonstrated experience with:
• Greenfield/brownfield expansions and start-up sites
• Hygienic design principles and sanitary equipment/utility design
• Process/packaging line design and automation (PLC/SCADA), controls integration
• Facilities utilities and infrastructure planning (power distribution, refrigeration, steam, compressed air, wastewater)
• Capital governance and project management methodologies

Physical / Travel Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 30–50% to company facilities, project sites, and vendor locations, with occasional extended stays during major start-ups.
• Ability to work in manufacturing environments and comply with all PPE and safety requirements.

Location

• Forrest City, AR
• Holland, MI
• New Castle, IN
• Petersburg, VA
• Sarasota, FL

Time Type

• Full time

Department

• Engineering