Maintenance Manager

Position Title: Maintenance Manager

Location: Oak Creek, WI

Summary:

Our Client, a privately held and high growth Milwaukee area company, is seeking a Maintenance Manager - a key member of the maintenance team responsible for ensuring maximum uptime, safety, and efficiency of production equipment within their food manufacturing facility. This position provides advanced technical expertise, supports troubleshooting and root-cause analysis, leads improvements to preventative maintenance programs, and assists in training and mentoring junior technicians. The Maintenance Manager will perform complex diagnostics, repairs, equipment setups, and facility maintenance to ensure all equipment meets operational, regulatory, and safety standards.

Responsibilities:

Equipment & Systems Maintenance

• Perform advanced troubleshooting, repair, adjustment, and preventative maintenance on a wide range of food processing and packaging equipment
• Lead root-cause analysis (RCA) on chronic equipment failures and recommend corrective actions
• Inspect buildings, equipment, utilities, and systems to proactively identify issues or potential risks
• Perform complex repairs of electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and control systems
• Manage and maintain facility heating, ventilation, and plumbing infrastructure
• Conduct periodic performance and safety checks to ensure compliance with food manufacturing standards (GMP, OSHA, and company policies)

Preventative Maintenance & Continuous Improvement

• Develop, refine, and implement preventative maintenance (PM) procedures and schedules
• Assist in planning, prioritizing, and coordinating maintenance projects to minimize downtime
• Identify opportunities for equipment upgrades, reliability improvements, and process optimizations
• Maintain accurate maintenance records, logs, and equipment documentation

General Facility Maintenance

• Perform facility maintenance tasks including electrical repairs, carpentry, painting, plumbing, and groundskeeping as needed
• Design, implement, and maintain Maintenance Tool Shed, ensuring proper inventory management of tools, spare parts, and supplies

Maintenance Department Collaboration

• Mentor, train, and guide Maintenance Technicians on troubleshooting techniques, PM tasks, and safety best practices
• Collaborate closely with production, sanitation, and quality teams to support operational goals
• Support budget development by providing input on parts, inventory needs, and capital improvement projects
• Communicate effectively with employees, vendors, and contractors to ensure timely completion of maintenance work

Skills & Requirements
Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent; technical or vocational certification in HVAC, mechanical, electrical, or industrial maintenance preferred
• Minimum 3-5 years of maintenance experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment; food manufacturing or CPG experience strongly preferred
• Advanced knowledge of mechanical systems, electrical systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, and PLC-controlled equipment
• Demonstrated ability to diagnose complex technical problems and implement long-term solutions
• Strong mechanical aptitude, process knowledge, and basic math competencies
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and lead technical activities
• Proficiency with basic computer applications and maintenance software (CMMS)
• Physical ability to work overtime, weekends, evenings, and holidays as required
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks effectively

Additional Requirements & Performance Expectations:

• Superior quality, accuracy, timeliness, reliability, and thoroughness of work performed
• Ability to communicate effectively and develop good working relationships with employees, customers, vendors, lenders, investors, and the community at large; ability to work with and through others is essential to accomplish goals and objectives of the company
• Exercise good, fair, well-rounded judgment when dealing with employees, customers, and vendors; address problems and issues quickly for resolution; generally, work well with others
• Plan, organize, direct, and control work effectively; work effectively under pressure and time deadlines; analyze problems, propose reasonable solutions, make logical decisions, carry out decisions made, and follow up with feedback where appropriate
• Demonstrate high capacity for problem solving, organizational and analytical skills
• Manage several projects and tasks simultaneously
• Write clearly and understandably, communicating professionally
• Efficiently and accurately maintain data; show competence using a variety of computer software, technology, and media to produce reports and correspondence, making presentations to management and other stakeholders

Behavioral Requirements:

As part of a team-based work environment, the Maintenance Manager must be able to demonstrate the following competencies:

• Team Orientation - Shows skill and ease at working in groups; works with others to achieve better results and forges close working relationships and alliances to get things done; is quick to cooperate versus expecting others to bend to his/her wishes; supports joint ownership and shared recognition for results; recognizes advantages of group participation in planning and problem solving
• Attention to Detail - Committed to exactness and precision in task completion; identifies, pays attention to, and works to understand details; thorough and consistent in following up at detail level; seeks to become expert in disciplines related to adopted career path to ensure quality and precision in work; takes pride in knowledge base and level of expertise
• Takes Personal Responsibility in Individual Contributor Role - Demonstrates attitude and commitment to take personal responsibility for results, even when in team environment with no authority over others; will step up to fill gaps so results can be assured; avoids excuses as explanations or defending/justifying negative but preventable outcomes
• Practical Intelligence - Absorbs new information quickly and is comfortable dealing with abstract concepts and relationships; relates new information to previously acquired knowledge to expand and refine frame of reference; enjoys learning and expanding breadth and depth of understanding on a variety of subjects
• Reliability/Dependability - Responds to internal customer needs, questions, and concerns in accurate and timely manner; follows through on commitments, assignments, and tasks; is at work when scheduled; takes timely breaks/lunches; uses work time wisely
• Adaptability - Has ability to focus on the benefits of change and see it as positive; approaches change or newness in constructive, objective manner; views change as learning opportunity; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events
• Positive Working Relationships - Listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control; remains open to others' ideas and tries new things; shares information and knowledge; demonstrates a high level of integrity and honesty

Environmental / Physical Demands:

• Loud machinery
• Cold temperatures in coolers (30-35°F) and freezers (-10°F)
• Hot ovens
• Hearing, seeing, talking
• Standing/being on feet regularly throughout shift and movement throughout the production floor, warehouse, research and development lab, and office areas
• Ability to push/pull/lift up to 75 lbs.
• Ability to work in food allergen areas (Nuts, Dairy, Egg, Soy, Tree Nuts, etc.)

Qualifications