Director Engineering Services

Makers Pride•Downers Grove, IL

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Director Engineering Services partners closely with engineering project management teams and manufacturing/packaging sites to ensure capital projects are executed effectively and meet or exceed expectations. This role leads asset management, engineering standards, and equipment reliability programs, ensuring regulatory compliance and consistent adoption of best practices across the organization. The position also oversees all aspects of E‑Z Pak manufacturing, including design, sourcing, assembly, testing, and deployment, while driving continuous improvement in reliability, asset utilization, and engineering capabilities across facilities. Travel for the role will average 40%-60% annually. Position is remote, but to be home based in the Chicagoland area.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Industrial, Mechanical, or related field) or equivalent experience
10+ years of progressive leadership experience in engineering within food manufacturing or GMP environments
Experience leading capital projects ($10MM–$35MM range preferred)
Background in engineering, maintenance management, and reliability programs
Proven success in project management, budget management, and cross-functional leadership
Experience with vendor negotiations, contracts, and procurement processes
Capital planning and capital project execution
Sustainable Cost Reduction Projects
Asset reliability and maintenance strategies (PM, PdM, TPM)
Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies
Failure Modes Effects & Criticality Analysis (FMECA)
ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP)
CMMS systems (e.g., MVP one and similar)
Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Visio)
AutoCAD
Data analysis and reporting tools
Strong leadership, coaching, and team development capabilities
Excellent communication (written and verbal) and presentation skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities and influence across the organization
Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis
Strong organizational and project management abilities
Financial acumen (ROI, IRR, NPV, payback analysis)
Negotiation and contract management skills

Responsibilities

Lead and standardize asset management, Maintenance Excellence Team (MET), E‑Z Pak, and engineering specification programs across all sites
Develop and implement policies, procedures, and best practices to drive consistent, best-in-class performance
Support development and execution of annual capital budgets and ensure projects are delivered on scope, on time, and on budget
Provide regular reporting on key operational and financial performance metrics
Partner cross-functionally (Quality, Food Safety, Operations, Planning, Maintenance, Finance) to ensure alignment and successful project delivery
Oversee capital project execution and ensure validation of results through audit processes
Assign and manage project execution through E‑Z Pak Managers, MET Project Managers, and Central Engineers
Support business case development in partnership with Supply Chain and Commercial Finance
Lead the evaluation and implementation of new technologies to modernize processes and improve efficiency
Travel to sites to ensure adherence to timelines, budgets, and deliverables
Lead enterprise asset management strategy, including tracking, utilization, transfers, and dispositions
Lead the implementation of reliability programs, including CMMS systems and reliability matrices
Lead the company maintenance strategy definition and implementation across the network, and works with the maintenance teams to improve preventative, predictive, and TPM strategies
Identify gaps in asset performance and drive improvements in availability, capability, and maintenance practices
Develop systems to track underutilized assets (including condition, location, and reuse potential)
Optimize spare parts strategy and promote asset redeployment to reduce cost and downtime
Support root cause analysis and continuous improvement following equipment failures
Develop engineering talent through performance management, coaching, and development planning
Mentor and guide project managers, maintenance managers, and engineering staff across the organization
Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture with strong communication across all levels
Lead through influence across geographically dispersed teams