Maintenance Manager

Land O'Lakes•Kiel, WI

18d

About The Position

The Facilities / Maintenance Manager leads, develops, and implements maintenance and reliability strategies to improve productivity while ensuring high standards of safety, quality, sanitation, and regulatory compliance. The manager oversees site assets, facility maintenance, and equipment modifications, ensuring resources are available to support production and other departments and maintain production systems, equipment, utilities, buildings, and grounds. Working closely with Engineering, plant management, EH&S, and Quality, the manager helps develop project scopes, capital requests, and expense estimates. The role also covers contractor and vendor selection and qualification, process design, equipment specifications and purchases, and project implementation, including timeline coordination and execution. The manager promotes collaboration, teamwork, safety, and open, timely communication, and supports Land O'Lakes values and integrity. The role includes leadership and development of hourly and salaried direct reports in accordance with the company's vision and values. The position may require off-shift hours, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a Food Processing field and at least 5 years of experience in an industrial plant, including 3 or more years in a leadership capacity, or equivalent.
Alternatively, an associate’s degree in a mechanical/utilities-related field and 7 or more years of technical maintenance experience with increasing responsibility, including managing people and capital projects.
Knowledge and expertise in dairy or food manufacturing processes.
Experience in food, dairy, or chemical manufacturing processing involving a PSM-regulated ammonia refrigeration system, with technical knowledge of refrigeration and maintenance systems, equipment installation and startups, and plant utility equipment.
Experience in project management, manufacturing processes, and facilities construction.
Knowledge of process control and electrical systems, and strong mechanical aptitude.
Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and the principles and practices of food manufacturing, including food safety, quality, and manufacturing concepts.
Experience planning and executing projects.
Ability to adapt to changing organizational and operational needs and lead others through change.
Strong organizational, prioritization, and attention-to-detail skills.
Ability to select, coach, develop, engage, and retain employees and provide periodic feedback.
Computer skills including Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CAD, Project, Visio, and Catalyst.
Strong presentation and interpersonal skills with internal and external customers and vendors.
Working knowledge of FDA and OSHA regulations, GMPs, sanitation, and HACCP.

Nice To Haves

Current RETA Certified Industrial Refrigeration Operator (CIRO) certification, or ability to obtain CIRO certification or similar training.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a Food Processing field.
Detailed knowledge of ammonia refrigeration systems, process hazard analysis, and process safety management.
Labor relations and union experience.
Ability to collaborate with engineers, suppliers, contractors, and plant partners to meet customer needs.
Experience with Continuous Improvement (CI) processes, Lean Maintenance, and TPM.
Understanding of regulatory requirements for food safety.
Exposure to refrigeration, utilities, and wastewater treatment equipment and processes.
Experience with Cause Mapping Analysis and Reliability Centered Maintenance Analysis.
Understanding of vibration, infrared, MLT, ultrasonic, and motor circuit evaluation.
Experience and career history with Fortune 500-type companies.

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, and implement maintenance and reliability strategies to improve productivity and ensure safety, quality, sanitation, and regulatory compliance.
Manage site assets, facility maintenance, and equipment modifications.
Ensure resources are available to maintain production systems, equipment, utilities, buildings, and grounds.
Work with Engineering, plant management, EH&S, and Quality to develop project scopes, capital requests, and expense estimates.
Select and qualify contractors and vendors.
Support process design, equipment specifications and purchases, and project implementation, including timeline coordination and execution.
Assist with process designs, equipment specifications, and capital estimates for process upgrades, system modifications, and installation and commissioning of new assets.
Recommend methods and equipment and develop standard operating practices to optimize processes and meet product specifications.
Facilitate training to provide proper knowledge of processes and equipment.
Develop maintenance personnel's technical skills to ensure appropriate expertise is available on all shifts.
Lead and develop hourly and salaried direct reports, including selecting, coaching, engaging, retaining, and providing periodic development feedback to employees.
Manage the department operating budget.
Foster collaboration and teamwork across Engineering, Production/Operations, Safety, Sanitation, Quality, and Management.
Promote safety and open, timely communication, and support Land O'Lakes values and integrity in plant activities.