Maintenance Lead

Maintenance Lead

The Maintenance Lead is responsible for ensuring a safe and compliant work environment while coordinating and performing maintenance activities to keep production equipment and plant infrastructure operating at peak efficiency. This role provides hands-on technical support, leads maintenance technicians, and drives adherence to safety and quality standards. The Maintenance Lead plays a critical role in minimizing downtime, supporting continuous improvement, and maintaining operational reliability.

Compliance & Safety

• Enforce OSHA, HACCP, SQF, and FDA standards for food safety and workplace safety.
• Ensure proper use of PPE and adherence to lockout/tagout procedures.

Team Leadership

• Foster a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Assign tasks and monitor performance of maintenance technicians.
• Train team members on SOPs, safety protocols, and equipment operation.

Coordination & Communication

• Collaborate with production, QA, and warehouse teams to resolve equipment issues quickly.
• Communicate maintenance schedules and priorities to minimize production impact.
• Support capital projects and equipment installations as needed.

Equipment Maintenance & Repair

• Oversee preventive and corrective maintenance for production machinery, refrigeration systems, and utilities.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic issues to minimize downtime.
• Ensure proper documentation of maintenance activities and equipment history.

Position Specifications/Qualifications

Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent; technical certification preferred.
• AA degree in mechanical, electrical, industrial maintenance, or another related field preferred.

Experience:

• 3+ years of industrial maintenance experience, preferably in food manufacturing. Industrial electrical experience.
• Experience with prior preventative maintenance systems. Experience with sanitary TIG welding.
• Centrifugal pump maintenance experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and refrigeration systems.
• Ability to read technical manuals, schematics, and blueprints.
• Excellent problem-solving skills: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner and gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
• Ability to inspire, guide, and empower teams to deliver exceptional results through collaboration and accountability.
• Proficiency in or knowledge of using a variety of computer software applications, especially Excel, Microsoft Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint software.
• Good written and verbal communication skills. Effective prioritizing, organizing, and time management skills.
• Ability to be flexible, execute plans and strategies, and achieve desired results.
• Ability to work collaboratively to achieve defined goals on time.
• Adept at solving problems, analyzing information, highlighting relevant information, and suggesting appropriate actions.
• Adapts to changes in the work environment while managing competing demands and the ability to deal with frequent changes, delays or unexpected events.

Physical Requirements:

• Environmental exposure to warehouses stored at ambient (60-70° F), refrigerated (35° F), and frozen (minus 20° F) temperatures. Environmental exposure to extreme heat: Temperatures above 100 degrees.
• Must possess strength, stamina and mobility to regularly perform heavy physical work outdoors in all weather conditions and with exposure to potentially hazardous conditions.
• Excessive ascending and/or descending of ladders and stairs using feet and legs and/or hands and arms on a regular basis. Body agility is emphasized.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances on a continuous basis.
• Repetitive motions: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers on a continuous basis
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist on a regular basis.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Crouching: Regularly bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine continuously.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Includes activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Lifting: Able to lift up to 100lbs occasionally, up to 50lbs regularly.

Machinery Used:

• Ability to drive a motor vehicle and/or heavy construction equipment
• Use of a computer, mechanical hand tools, welders, lifts, multi-meter, ammeter and megohmmeter, drill press, grinders, saws, cutting, torches, and pipe threaders.
• Use a variety of hand and power tools, electric meters and material handling equipment in performing duties.