AFB Manager Engineering

AFB International • Aurora, MO

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Engineering and Maintenance Manager maintains process and production equipment, powered industrial trucks, and plant facilities to support safe and efficient plant operations. The role manages the maintenance staff, local engineering staff, plant projects, and outside contractors. It also provides leadership for teamwork and morale in a high-volume, high-pressure, non-union production environment while delivering results without compromising safety, quality, or teamwork.

The manager leads the plant’s engineering and maintenance activities, budgets, capital and expense planning, preventative maintenance, equipment repairs, and project implementation. Projects may involve economic analysis, design and feasibility planning, equipment sourcing, capital requests, installation, cost control, startup, staff training, and documentation. The position provides technical support and troubleshooting, keeps current with relevant technologies and safety requirements, and ensures equipment is safely designed, installed, operated, and maintained to produce safe food. Routine plant operations budget responsibility is approximately $3 million annually; capital requests and extraordinary maintenance may involve millions more.

This is an on-site role at a 24/7/365 production facility. The manager is expected to work normal business hours on site and be available for long hours, evenings, weekends, and after-hours situations as project or maintenance needs require. Travel may be up to 10%.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 6 years of related experience.
• At least 2 years of progressive maintenance or engineering management experience in a manufacturing facility.
• Experience in kaizen, operational excellence, Lean/Six Sigma, or business operating systems with a strong process orientation.
• Leadership skills for effective performance management of engineering and maintenance staff.
• Professional skills to recruit and hire qualified engineering and maintenance staff.
• Financial skills to manage large budgets and projects.
• Interpersonal and communication skills for communicating across audiences, from production operators to the board of directors.
• Computer skills including MS Office, Visio, MS Project, MMS systems, ERP systems, basic networking principles and setups, controls systems, basic ladder logic, and AutoCAD.
• Ability to operate a variety of powered industrial trucks.
• Technical writing and presentation skills for communicating complex information to technical, professional, and general audiences.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including regularly standing, walking, and talking or hearing; frequently using hands and reaching; occasionally sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and lifting or moving up to 55 pounds.
• Ability to work on site during normal business hours and be available for long hours, evenings, weekends, and after-hours situations as required.
• Ability to travel up to 10%.

Nice To Haves

• Degree in mechanical or electrical engineering.
• Experience in the food, flavor, or feed industries.
• Experience in an SQF-certified or similar manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with equipment operation.

Responsibilities

• Prioritize employee and contractor safety in all activities.
• Lead, direct, and supervise the Engineering and Maintenance Supervisor, Plant Process Engineer, and Engineering and Maintenance Assistant, and indirectly oversee subordinate maintenance and engineering staff.
• Manage the plant engineering and maintenance departmental budgets, including routine operating expenses and capital requests.
• Develop plant capital and expense plans and implement projects independently or in partnership with corporate engineering.
• Manage project activities including economic analysis, design and engineering, feasibility planning, sourcing, capital appropriation, purchasing, installation, cost tracking, startup, training, and documentation.
• Provide technical support to the plant in areas including safety, quality, and reliability.
• Resolve problems using new techniques, technologies, or concepts where appropriate.
• Guide the interpretation and application of company policies and procedures for plant engineering and maintenance.
• Keep current with technologies that could improve operations and develop recommendations.
• Maintain working knowledge of safety policies and regulations and promote a safe plant environment and culture.
• Write and review work orders; evaluate repair alternatives; prioritize and schedule work; follow up to ensure timely, effective repairs; and source and purchase supplies and materials.
• Develop and execute a preventative maintenance program with support staff and maintain spare-parts inventory.
• Develop equipment and line layouts, estimate system and equipment costs, and benchmark standards.
• Evaluate options and recommend preferred solutions.
• Prepare capital requests, order equipment, and coordinate installation.
• Start up equipment and systems and assess performance against projected benefits.
• Troubleshoot technical issues to support ongoing plant operations.
• Ensure effective implementation of capital authorization requests (CARs).
• Ensure equipment is safely designed, installed, operated, and maintained, and supports production of safe food products.
• Travel up to 10%.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager