Director of Facilities & Maintenance

Chefler Foods is looking for a hands-on facilities and maintenance leader to keep our four New Jersey facilities running safely, efficiently, and reliably. You’ll own everything from preventive maintenance and repairs to major capital projects — leading a small in-house team and managing outside contractors along the way. This is not a desk job. You should be just as comfortable reviewing a project budget in the morning as you are troubleshooting a down HVAC unit in the afternoon or walking a roof, warehouse floor, or parking lot before the day ends. If you see something broken and immediately start figuring out how to fix it, we want to talk to you. What You’ll Do Facility Operations & Maintenance Run the day-to-day operation and upkeep of four facilities — buildings, grounds, equipment, and infrastructure. Build and manage preventive maintenance programs for all building systems. Coordinate repairs across HVAC, electrical, plumbing, roofing, lighting, doors, loading docks, fire protection, security, generators, and compressed air systems. Maintain grounds, parking lots, sidewalks, walkways, landscaping, snow removal, fencing, exterior lighting, and pest control. Walk the sites regularly to catch maintenance needs, safety issues, and improvement opportunities before they become problems. Manage rental and specialty equipment (scissor/boom lifts, pumps, temporary AC and generators) plus waste and recycling services. Serve on the company’s safety and audit committees. Source, negotiate, and manage contractors, vendors, and service providers. Get competitive bids and hold vendors accountable for cost, quality, and timelines. Oversee all third-party work — construction, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, paving, painting, tree removal, cleaning, and security. Make sure contractors follow company safety policies, in partnership with the Director of Safety & EHS. Cleaning & Facility Standards Set and enforce cleaning, housekeeping, and inspection standards across every site. Write and maintain SOPs for maintenance, housekeeping, and contractor management. Run regular audits and drive corrective actions to completion. Manage janitorial staff and keep all facilities looking professional. Budgeting & Capital Projects Build and manage the annual facilities and maintenance budgets, and find cost savings without cutting corners on safety or reliability. Track assets, warranties, maintenance history, rental equipment, and service schedules. Lead improvement, renovation, and expansion projects from planning through completion — owning scope, budget, schedule, and results. Support long-term capital planning and look for ways to improve efficiency, workflow, safety, and space utilization. Leadership Lead the in-house maintenance team and coordinate outside contractors across multiple sites and concurrent projects. Set priorities, partner with department leaders on operational needs, and build a culture of accountability, responsiveness, and continuous improvement. What You Bring Required 5+ years in facilities management, maintenance, engineering, industrial operations, or property management. Experience managing multiple manufacturing, warehouse, distribution, or industrial facilities. Strong hands‑on knowledge of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and general building systems. A track record leading construction, renovation, and capital projects. Solid project management, organizational, and problem‑solving skills, plus vendor and contract management experience. Ability to read construction drawings, equipment manuals, and technical documents. Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to travel between sites during the workday. Able to lift up to 75 lbs and work indoors and outdoors in varying conditions. Preferred Experience in food manufacturing, warehousing, or industrial operations. OSHA 30 certification or equivalent safety training. Hands‑on experience with power tools, shop equipment, forklifts, and lifts. Experience with a CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System). Bilingual (English/Spanish). Who Thrives in This Role You’ll do well here if you: Notice problems before anyone else does — and take ownership until they’re fixed. Are happy in an office, a warehouse, on a rooftop, or on a construction site. Aren’t afraid to grab a set of tools and knock out a small job yourself. Communicate clearly with executives, employees, contractors, inspectors, and vendors. Thrive in a fast‑paced environment where priorities shift and no two days look the same. Chefler Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr