Industrial Maintenance Manager

Maintenance Manager

Location: Onsite Reports To: Mill Manager

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Maintenance Manager to lead maintenance and reliability operations within an established industrial manufacturing facility.

This is a key leadership opportunity for someone who enjoys solving complex equipment challenges, developing skilled maintenance teams, and building proactive maintenance programs that improve plant performance.

Reporting directly to the Mill Manager, the Maintenance Manager will oversee mechanical maintenance, electrical and instrumentation support, steam plant operations, and outside contractors. The successful candidate will play an important role in improving equipment reliability, reducing unplanned downtime, managing maintenance costs, and supporting long-term capital improvements.

The ideal candidate is a practical, solutions-oriented leader who can balance day-to-day operational demands with a long-term vision for maintenance excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Maintenance & Reliability

• Lead daily maintenance activities across mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and steam plant operations.
• Develop and improve preventive and predictive maintenance programs to reduce equipment failures and unplanned downtime.
• Drive improvements in equipment reliability, production efficiency, and overall asset performance.
• Plan and oversee major shutdowns, scheduled outages, and equipment repairs.
• Identify recurring equipment issues and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Partner with Operations and Engineering to prioritize maintenance work and minimize production disruptions.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop maintenance mechanics, skilled trades, maintenance leads, and steam plant personnel.
• Establish clear performance expectations, promote accountability, and encourage a strong safety culture.
• Coordinate staffing, work assignments, and resources to meet maintenance priorities.
• Build productive relationships with Operations, Engineering, and other plant leadership teams.
• Foster a collaborative, hands-on environment focused on continuous improvement.

Planning, Projects & Budget Management

• Oversee maintenance planning, work orders, scheduling, and backlog management.
• Manage an annual Maintenance Department budget of approximately $2.7 million and support oversight of a Steam Plant budget of approximately $5.9 million.
• Develop and execute capital improvement projects, equipment upgrades, and long-range maintenance initiatives.
• Monitor repair expenses, evaluate cost-saving opportunities, and optimize maintenance spending.
• Prepare project estimates, coordinate resources, and manage contractors through successful project completion.

Materials, Inventory & Vendor Management

• Ensure availability of critical spare parts, maintenance materials, and tools.
• Partner with Purchasing and Stores to improve MRO inventory management and materials planning.
• Maintain accurate equipment histories, maintenance records, and Bills of Materials.
• Develop contractor scopes of work, evaluate outside service providers, and negotiate service agreements.
• Coordinate vendor and contractor activities to support plant production schedules.

Safety & Compliance

• Promote a safety-first maintenance culture and ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and company requirements.
• Identify and address unsafe equipment conditions and maintenance practices.
• Ensure contractors follow established plant safety procedures.
• Incorporate safety and regulatory requirements into maintenance planning, shutdowns, and capital projects.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Facility Management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 8 to 12 years of progressive mechanical maintenance experience within an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Previous leadership experience supervising maintenance teams and skilled trades.
• Strong mechanical aptitude with a working understanding of electrical and instrumentation systems.
• Demonstrated experience improving preventive maintenance, equipment reliability and maintenance performance.
• Experience managing capital projects, maintenance budgets, and equipment upgrades.
• Ability to interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and technical documentation.
• Strong organizational, communication, troubleshooting, and decision-making skills.
• Willingness to work flexible hours as needed during shutdowns, equipment emergencies, and major maintenance activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in pulp and paper, paper manufacturing, paper converting, or other heavy industrial operations.
• Experience leading reliability improvement initiatives and transitioning facilities from reactive to proactive maintenance.
• Knowledge of maintenance planning, scheduled shutdowns, and predictive maintenance practices.
• Experience overseeing multiple maintenance disciplines, production areas, or facilities.
• Familiarity with MRO inventory, critical spare parts, purchasing and storeroom operations.
• Experience managing outside contractors, equipment vendors, and specialized service providers.
• Strong capital planning, project management, and cost-control experience.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a leader who is just as comfortable on the plant floor troubleshooting an equipment issue as they are developing budgets, reviewing maintenance plans, or meeting with senior leadership.

The successful candidate will bring a strong work ethic, sound judgment, and the ability to earn the respect of experienced maintenance professionals.

Above all, we're seeking someone who can take ownership of maintenance performance, develop a dependable team, and create lasting improvements in safety, reliability, and operational efficiency.