Director of Maintenance and Engineering

POSITION TITLE: Director of Maintenance and Engineering POSITION STATUS: Full-Time, Permanent LOCATION: Hazelwood, MO DEPARTMENT: Operations REPORT TO: VP of Operations EFFECTIVE DATE: May 2026
Position Profile Cérélia's newly established Frozen Breakfast Business Unit is driving an ambitious growth strategy, backed by two manufacturing facilities: US Waffle in Liberty, SC, and US Waffle in Hazelwood, MO. To effectively support the rapid scaling of operations at our state-of-the-art Hazelwood facility, Cérélia is seeking a dynamic and skilled Director of Maintenance and Engineering to join our team in Hazelwood, MO.

The Director of Maintenance and Engineering will lead and manage small to large-scale, complex engineering projects, oversee the Maintenance Department and Facilities. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in engineering principles, advanced project management skills, budgeting skills, technical skills, continuous improvement and thorough knowledge of food production processes.

This role is critical for the development of both the team, processes, and the plant by ensuring that maintenance activities, engineering projects, regardless of scale or complexity, are executed efficiently, meet rigorous quality standards, and align with the company’s strategic goals and plant success criteria.

This strategic position will report directly to the VP of Operations of US Waffle, ensuring alignment and seamless collaboration across financial and operational functions.

  Primary Responsibilities  

• Provide overall leadership for the Maintenance, Engineering and Facilities, ensuring alignment with plant and company objectives.
• Lead, develop, and manage the engineering team, establishing clear priorities, accountability, and execution discipline across all capital and improvement initiatives.
• Oversee all maintenance operations, ensuring equipment reliability, uptime, and effective execution of daily and long-term maintenance strategies.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve a comprehensive Preventive Maintenance (PM) program to drive asset reliability and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Establish and manage a structured spare parts program, including critical spare identification, inventory optimization, and cost control, to mitigate operational risk.
• Own facility management, ensuring building systems, utilities, and infrastructure are maintained to support safe and efficient operations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define comprehensive project scopes and develop accurate cost estimates.
• Develop and manage detailed project timelines (Gantt charts), adapting to complex project requirements.
• Lead and oversee large and complex capital projects, ensuring all technical, budgetary, and timeline objectives are met.
• Lead and coordinate cross-functional project teams and external contractors, ensuring clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability throughout the project lifecycle.
• Upon successful project startup and operator training, ensure effective handoff to operations and provide support during transition to stable production.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet or exceed safety, quality, and operational performance expectations.
• Develop, own, and actively manage detailed project schedules, with daily and weekly tracking to ensure alignment with business priorities; identify and escalate risks early, and implement recovery plans proactively.
• Drive structured risk management, including change control and contingency planning, to minimize project disruptions and ensure timely decision-making.
• Oversee procurement timelines, maintaining consistent follow-up with vendors to ensure on-time delivery of materials, equipment, and services in line with project milestones.
• Hold suppliers and contractors accountable for scope, quality, safety, and schedule performance through proactive communication, contract enforcement, and strong field oversight.
• Maintain a consistent on-site presence to ensure effective coordination between engineering plans and field execution, resolve issues in real time, and support team alignment.
• Lead commissioning and startup efforts, providing hands-on troubleshooting and problem-solving support to ensure a smooth transition to operational ownership.
• Drive continuous improvement across assets and systems by partnering with operations and maintenance teams to eliminate root causes of downtime and improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

  Core Competencies  

• Drive High Performance: Establishes clear accountability for outcomes. Demonstrates focus and discipline in planning and execution. Acts with speed, agility, and a strong sense of urgency.
• Collaborate: Builds and maintains strong relationships, communicates openly, and ensures alignment across functions. Supports and executes decisions once made.
• Can-do attitude: Demonstrates a proactive, solution-oriented mindset, with resilience and ownership in addressing challenges.
• Innovate: Challenges the status quo by identifying opportunities for improvement and encouraging creativity and continuous learning.
• Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Maintains high standards of precision and quality, ensuring reliable execution and compliance.
• Build Capability: Develops strong teams through coaching, mentoring, and setting clear expectations, driving both individual and organizational growth.

Qualifications  

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, or related field).
• 8–12+ years of experience in engineering, maintenance, or technical services leadership within food manufacturing or a related industry.
• Proven experience leading maintenance and facilities functions, including reliability programs and asset management.
• Strong experience developing and implementing Preventive Maintenance (PM) systems and spare parts management programs.
• Experience managing capital projects from concept through commissioning and startup.
• Solid understanding of industrial electrical systems, automation, mechanical systems, pneumatics, and fluid handling.
• Experience interpreting P&IDs, electrical schematics, and mechanical drawings.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, equipment reliability, and continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, TPM preferred).
• Familiarity with food safety regulations and quality standards (e.g., FDA, USDA, SQF, GMP).
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage external vendors, and drive results in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.

  Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• This is a Full Time, permanent position
• Exempt position 40 hours per week, and it may require working additional hours depending on business need requirements.
• This is an on-site position and not a candidate for remote work.

  Travel 
This position may require minimal 10% travel.