Maintenance Manager

Maintenance Manager

The Maintenance Manager is responsible for the planning, coordination, execution, and continuous improvement of all maintenance activities within the production facility. This role ensures the reliable operation of plant equipment, utilities, refrigeration systems, and building infrastructure to support production, quality, food safety, and cost goals. The manager leads the maintenance team, drives preventive and predictive maintenance programs, minimizes equipment downtime, and ensures full compliance with regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Preventive & Predictive Maintenance: Develop and execute a robust PM/PdM program covering production machinery, automated conveyors, motors, refrigeration/freezer systems, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical utilities.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and manage maintenance technicians, support staff, and third-party contractors, including hiring, training, performance management, and shift scheduling.
• Troubleshooting & Emergency Response: Direct root-cause failure analysis (RCFA) and rapid troubleshooting for breakdowns to minimize operational downtime.
• CMMS & Asset Management: Utilize and maintain a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to track work orders, spare parts inventory, equipment history, maintenance KPIs, and downtime metrics.
• Regulatory & Food Safety Compliance: Ensure all maintenance operations comply with OSHA, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), USDA/FSIS, FDA, SQF/BRC, and GMP standards.
• Capital Projects & Upgrades: Oversee facility expansions, equipment installations, commissioning, and continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, TPM, 5S).
• Budget & Financial Control: Manage maintenance operating budgets, spare parts inventory costs, contractor spending, and capital expenditures (CapEx).
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Production, Quality Assurance, Sanitation, and Safety teams to align maintenance schedules with operational priorities.

Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum 5 years of maintenance management or supervisory experience in food processing, CPG, or refrigerated manufacturing environments.
• Technical Expertise: Strong background in mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, automated systems, and industrial refrigeration/cold-storage equipment.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering preferred (or equivalent practical/technical experience).
• Systems Knowledge: Hands-on experience implementing and managing a CMMS and utilizing predictive diagnostic tools (vibration analysis, infrared thermography, lubrication testing).
• Methodologies: Familiarity with continuous improvement frameworks (Lean, TPM, Six Sigma, Reliability Centered Maintenance) is highly desirable.
• Certifications/Compliance: Practical understanding of OSHA safety standards, LOTO protocols, and food safety regulations (SQF, BRC, USDA, GMP).

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Operations take place within an active food processing plant, including cold-storage and freezer environments with heavy machinery and industrial refrigeration.
• Must be able to navigate the plant floor, climb ladders, inspect machinery, and occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.