Director Maintenance and Reliability

SunOpta•Eden Prairie, MN

54d

About The Position

The Director of Maintenance and Reliability is a strategic leadership role responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of maintenance and reliability programs across all facilities. This role ensures the integrity, performance, and availability of equipment and infrastructure, while driving operational excellence, minimizing downtime, and optimizing total cost of ownership.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or related field
10+ years of progressive leadership in maintenance and reliability in a manufacturing, processing, or industrial environment
Proven success in developing and scaling maintenance programs in multi-site operations
Strong understanding of CMMS, predictive maintenance technologies, TPM, and lean methodologies
Strategic thinking with hands-on problem-solving abilities
Candidate must possess a strong working knowledge of machining, electrical and mechanical functions.
Strong leadership, coaching, and team-building skills
Excellent communication and stakeholder management
Financial acumen and experience managing large budgets
Familiarity with OSHA, EPA, and other regulatory frameworks

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or MBA (preferred)
Relevant certifications (e.g., CMRP, PMP, Six Sigma) a plus

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the enterprise-wide maintenance and reliability strategy aligned with business goals.
Drive a proactive, data-driven reliability culture focused on asset performance, safety, and lifecycle management.
Oversee predictive, preventive, and corrective maintenance programs.
Champion reliability-centered maintenance (RCM), root cause analysis (RCA), and condition-based monitoring practices.
Ensure compliance with regulatory standards, company policies, and industry best practices.
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of maintenance managers, engineers, and technicians.
Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional development.
Implement and manage computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) to track work orders, asset history, and KPIs.
Optimize spare parts inventory and vendor relationships to support maintenance needs efficiently.
Partner with Operations, Engineering, EHS, and Supply Chain teams to align priorities and resolve chronic issues.
Lead cross-functional teams for capital projects, equipment upgrades, and infrastructure improvements.
Develop and manage annual maintenance budgets, capital expenditure plans, and cost-saving initiatives.
Identify and implement opportunities for OEE improvement and energy/resource efficiency.
Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as MTBF, MTTR, equipment availability, and maintenance cost per unit.
Regularly report performance to executive leadership and recommend corrective actions.
Adheres to company GMP's (good manufacturing practices), safety procedures and all other quality processes.
Wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when required.
All other duties as assigned.