Maintenance & Engineering Manager

Clover Sonoma•Petaluma, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Clover Sonoma is seeking an experienced Maintenance and Engineering Manager to lead its Maintenance Department and support safe, reliable, and efficient operations at its 24/7 milk processing, bottling, and distribution facilities. The role oversees maintenance and engineering operations, including production equipment, facility infrastructure, and utility systems, with a focus on minimizing downtime and improving operational efficiency. The manager provides technical leadership, drives continuous improvement, and ensures work meets food safety, production quality, regulatory compliance, and workplace safety standards. This is an on-site leadership position requiring regular engagement with maintenance personnel, manufacturing operations, and plant equipment. The position reports to the Director of Plant Operations. The manager leads daily maintenance operations; develops preventive and predictive maintenance programs; plans work orders, technician assignments, resources, parts, and schedules; and establishes maintenance procedures and best practices. The role uses CMMS tools such as ManagerPlus and enterprise systems such as SAP, leads troubleshooting and root cause analysis, and ensures utility reliability and compliance. It also monitors maintenance performance and budgets, oversees parts and vendors, collaborates with Operations, Quality, and plant leadership, and supports equipment installations, automation, facility improvements, and capital projects while retaining primary responsibility for daily maintenance. The manager leads and develops a maintenance team of approximately 10 employees, including Forepersons, Tier 1 and Tier 2 technicians, and apprentices. Responsibilities include setting expectations, coordinating training and work priorities, conducting daily briefings, supporting employee development, tracking team performance, and exercising supervisory responsibilities in accordance with company policies and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Requirements

Approximately 4 or more years of progressive industrial maintenance experience, including significant experience in a technical maintenance leadership or management role.
Direct maintenance experience in a food or beverage manufacturing environment and strong understanding of complex processing equipment and production operations.
Demonstrated experience leading, supervising, and developing maintenance teams.
Experience developing, implementing, and managing preventive maintenance programs, schedules, work order processes, and resource planning.
Strong computer proficiency, including experience with CMMS, digital work order management, maintenance reporting, and data analysis.
Experience developing maintenance SOPs, standardizing procedures, and implementing manufacturing process improvements.
Technical knowledge of industrial processing equipment such as pasteurizers, separators, homogenizers, filling and bottling systems, conveyors, and CIP systems.
Working knowledge of industrial plant utilities, including boilers, compressed air, refrigeration, steam, HVAC, and wastewater systems.
Understanding of industrial electrical safety, mechanical troubleshooting, and applicable safety and regulatory requirements.
Experience monitoring maintenance metrics, managing maintenance budgets, and using operational data to improve equipment reliability and maintenance effectiveness.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to lead experienced technicians, manage competing priorities, and build cross-functional relationships.
Demonstrated commitment to food safety, workplace safety, ethical conduct, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day maintenance operations for production equipment, processing systems, and plant utilities.
Develop, implement, and improve preventive and predictive maintenance programs to reduce unplanned downtime and improve equipment reliability and lifespan.
Plan and prioritize work orders, technician assignments, resource allocation, parts availability, and preventive maintenance schedules.
Establish, document, and standardize maintenance procedures, SOPs, and best practices.
Use CMMS and enterprise systems to manage work orders, maintenance records, parts inventory, and performance reporting.
Lead equipment troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and corrective actions for recurring failures and operational inefficiencies.
Ensure reliable operation and regulatory compliance of boilers, steam, compressed air, refrigeration, HVAC, and wastewater systems.
Maintain compliance with safety, food quality, environmental, and regulatory requirements, including boiler operating requirements and electrical safety practices.
Monitor and improve maintenance performance indicators, including OEE, preventive maintenance completion, downtime, costs, and budget performance.
Oversee spare parts inventory, purchasing, vendor relationships, and maintenance expenditures.
Collaborate with Operations, Quality, and plant leadership to identify improvement opportunities, resolve equipment challenges, and support production goals.
Support equipment installations, automation initiatives, facility improvements, and capital projects while maintaining primary accountability for daily maintenance operations.
Manage and coordinate third-party vendors involved in maintenance activities and engineering services.
Lead, coach, and develop a maintenance team of approximately 10 employees, including Forepersons, Tier 1 and Tier 2 technicians, and apprentice-level personnel.
Foster a collaborative, respectful, accountable team environment that values technical expertise, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.
Set clear expectations, give constructive feedback, and support team members’ professional and technical development.
Identify skill gaps, coordinate training, and standardize technical knowledge and maintenance practices across the team.
Conduct daily maintenance briefings, assign work priorities, and coordinate scheduled and emergency maintenance activities.
Promote a proactive maintenance culture focused on safety, reliability, operational discipline, and problem-solving.
Lead through changing priorities and equipment emergencies while maintaining professionalism and sound judgment.
Track team performance, review work order completion, and reinforce accountability for safety, quality, productivity, and maintenance standards.
Handle supervisory responsibilities including hiring, performance evaluations, employee development, timecard approvals, leave authorizations, and disciplinary counseling in accordance with company policies and applicable collective bargaining agreements.