Lead Maintenance Tech

The Lead Maintenance Technician is responsible for performing advanced maintenance and repair activities while providing day-to-day leadership and technical guidance to the maintenance team. This position serves as the primary point of contact for technicians during assigned shifts, coordinates daily maintenance activities, assists with work assignments, and ensures maintenance tasks are completed safely, efficiently, and with minimal impact to production. The Lead Maintenance Technician works closely with the Maintenance Foreman, Maintenance Planner, and Production personnel to support equipment reliability, maximize uptime, and maintain a safe working environment. Duties and Responsibilities Perform all duties of the Maintenance Technician, including preventative, predictive, and corrective maintenance on production and facility equipment. Assist the Maintenance Foreman in coordinating daily maintenance activities to ensure maintenance goals are met and production downtime is minimized. Provide day-to-day direction, technical support, and mentorship to maintenance technicians, promoting teamwork and continuous development. Assign and prioritize daily work assignments as directed by the Maintenance Foreman, based on employee skills, workload, and production priorities. Serve as the lead technician during assigned shifts and assist in troubleshooting complex mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, steam, gas, water, and air system issues. Perform immediate analysis of equipment failures and coordinate repairs while ensuring all Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) requirements are followed. Assist with planned maintenance activities, plant shutdowns, equipment installations, and process improvements to improve safety, quality, and equipment reliability. Troubleshoot, disassemble, repair, and rebuild plant equipment including but not limited to: Pumps, Heat exchangers, Conveyors, slides, and spouts, Vehicles, Grain processing equipment, Agitators, Valves, Blowers, compressors, and fans. Make necessary equipment adjustments including alignment, balancing, vibration analysis, and lubrication to maintain process specifications. Ensure maintenance work orders, repairs, inspections, and equipment history are accurately documented within the CMMS. Participate in the facility’s on-call rotation, serving as a maintenance contact for approximately one week every eight weeks to support operational needs outside of normal working hours. Identify maintenance concerns, equipment deficiencies, and opportunities for continuous improvement, communicating recommendations to the Maintenance Foreman and Maintenance Manager. Assist in training technicians and operators on maintenance procedures, safe work practices, and basic equipment care. Promote and enforce compliance with all company safety policies, lockout/tagout procedures, and housekeeping standards. Coordinate with Production, Engineering, contractors, and other departments to support maintenance activities and maximize equipment availability. Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area, ensuring tools and equipment remain in good working condition. Serve as the acting maintenance lead in the absence of the Maintenance Foreman, escalating personnel or operational issues as appropriate. Qualifications Minimum of 4 years of industrial mechanical maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably chemical or food manufacturing. Previous experience providing work direction, mentoring, or informal leadership to maintenance personnel preferred. Certification or degree from a trade school preferred; equivalent mechanical maintenance experience considered. Welding and fabrication experience and certification (as applicable). Experience working with conveyors, pumps, valves, compressors, gearboxes, and other industrial processing equipment. Ability to read and interpret mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic drawings and schematics. Working knowledge of Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) and Microsoft Office applications. Forklift certification or ability to obtain certification. Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills. Demonstrated leadership, teamwork, and decision-making abilities. Strong commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement. Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced manufacturing environment while maintaining attention to detail. Work Environment & Physical Demands Noise level in the work environment is moderate. Occasional exposure to high noise levels Employee may be exposed to work near moving mechanical parts Occasional exposure to chemicals used in the process Humid conditions and outdoor weather conditions including extreme heat and cold Personal Protective Equipment such as safety glasses, steel-toed boots, flame-resistant clothing, and hearing protection will regularly be required (or may be required) Regularly required to walk, sit, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and may occasionally be required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will be required to do some walking/climbing stairs and occasional use of ladders The employee must be able to climb ladders. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. #J-18808-Ljbffr