Maintenance Manager

Clasen Quality Chocolate•Milton, WI

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Provide clear vision and leadership for maintenance in a 24/7 food‑manufacturing plant. Build the systems, standards, and capability that deliver safe, compliant, right‑first‑time work and sustained reliability. Lead cross‑functional partnerships and data‑driven CMMS practices to cut unplanned downtime, steward maintenance cost (labor/Maintenance, Repairs, Operations), support CapEx from scope through commissioning with maintainability/reliability requirements, and ensure utilities and assets support production without compromising SQF/GMP and OSHA standards. Drive the department to higher levels of success and accountability while aligning with the other facilities.

Requirements

4-year degree in Engineering or related field.
7+ years in Engineering or industrial maintenance or reliability roles.
Minimum 3 years in a leadership position (managing through supervisors or leading multi-shift teams).
Proven success implementing planning & scheduling systems, improving PM compliance, and driving reliability KPIs (MTBF, MTTR, backlog health).
Hands-on experience with CMMS (setup, data integrity, KPI reporting).
Demonstrated ability to lead RCA/5-Why/A3 problem-solving and convert findings into standards.
Intermediate working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, hydraulics, pneumatics, HVAC, and plumbing systems; ability to read schematics and equipment manuals; familiarity with PLC/HMI/SCADA environments sufficient to coordinate troubleshooting with Controls/Engineering.
Strong knowledge of OSHA/LOTO, electrical safety (NEC/NFPA 70), and food safety compliance (SQF/GMP).
Basic knowledge in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
Excellent communication, planning, and problem‑solving skills.
Must have a valid driver’s license
Driven, self-starter
Positive attitude
Attention to detail
Curious by nature
Coachable
Vision and goal setting
Technical aptitude
Good oral and written communication skills are required
Adaptability and flexibility are essential
Customer focused
Good team building and leadership skills are required
Good decision-making ability
Project management skills

Nice To Haves

Experience in food or beverage manufacturing or other regulated environments.
Exposure to CapEx projects: design reviews, commissioning, and maintenance acceptance criteria.
Familiarity with predictive technologies (vibration, thermography, oil analysis) and TPM/Lean principles.
Budget ownership and vendor/MRO strategy experience.
Experience with Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) packages and AutoCAD preferred

Responsibilities

Strategy, Standards & Compliance Own the site’s maintenance strategy and standard work; ensure full alignment to the QA150-C-Maintenance Program internal SOP (CMMS usage, maintenance control schedule, documentation, contamination controls) and SQF/GMP/MSS requirements.
Define and audit the Right‑First‑Time (RFT) maintenance standard (planning quality, kitting, precision practices, functional checks, quality sign‑off).
Establish work planning with Production; balance PMs, corrective work, and projects to minimize downtime. (Supervisor executes the schedule; Manager governs rules and priorities.)
Guarantee complete job plans (steps, time, skills, parts) and ensure finished work includes failure/causal notes and follow‑ups in the CMMS.
Enforce escalation and updates during extended downtime per plant communication SOP; publish timely, transparent status to stakeholders.
Lead RCAs (Root Cause Analysis) for significant events; convert findings into standards (PM changes, condition‑monitoring routes, spares strategy).
Maintain a bad‑actor list; run monthly cross‑functional reviews to retire chronic losses; track MTBF (Mean Time Before Failure)/MTTR (Mean Time To Repair), planned‑vs‑unplanned, backlog health, and repeat calls.
Make the CMMS the “single source of truth”; drive data completeness (fields, codes, feedback), asset hierarchy, QR codes, and KPI reporting.
Ensure >80% accountability of time for all technicians and hourly direct reports.
Audit PM library quality and schedule adherence; manage “overdue” work discipline and data quality checks each week.
Develop the Supervisor, Coordinator, Techs, and Junior Mechanic via skill matrices, OJT plans, and progression pathways; integrate your supervisor/lead training checklists and certification process.
Run regular 1:1s and coaching on problem‑solving and precision maintenance; recognize wins and address gaps with documented plans.
Develop a future pipeline of qualified technicians that meet both our technical and cultural requirements. Work with local trade schools to accomplish.
Set SLAs (Service Level Agreements) for requestor updates (e.g., acknowledge within 24 hours; weekly status until closure) and ensure actions are tracked to closure in tier meetings.
Uphold the downtime/escalation ladder and distribution lists defined in the plant communication SOP; reinforce disciplined handoffs across shifts.
Ensure all work meets OSHA, LOTO, and electrical safety (NEC/NFPA 70) standards; partner with Quality to maintain SQF/GMP/MSS compliance for maintenance activities.
Reinforce hold/release and contamination‑control practices during maintenance in/over food areas and after intrusive work.
Owns the site safety programs. Drive high level engagement of employees through the Safety Champions program. Enhance the bottom-up safety culture.
Optimize storeroom strategy (criticality ranking, min/max, kitting, consignment opportunities); measure service levels and turns; hold vendors to scope, safety, and RFT outcomes.
Lead efforts to standardize and optimize across facilities.
Build and manage the maintenance budget (labor/MRO), report variance drivers, and identify cost‑to‑reliability tradeoffs. Report results to Plant Manager at least monthly or as deviations occur.
Oversee the safe, reliable operation of plant utilities (air, steam, water, electrical, ammonia, waste water systems as applicable) and coordinate with Engineering on upgrades and risk mitigation.
Maintain site infrastructure (roof/drainage, dock doors, grounds) and security systems expectations as documented locally. First impressions matter!
Engage early in CapEx: define maintenance acceptance criteria (access, guarding, precision tolerances), draft PMs and BOMs, specify critical spares, plan training, and review designs for maintainability and sanitation.
Drive improvements to CapEx process by updating specs, standards, and working with Engineering to source commonly available, or parts already stocked, as part of new designs and equipment.
Lead or co‑lead commissioning plans and post‑start verification; ensure the CMMS has assets, job plans, and spares loaded before start‑up, with lessons learned captured after ramp up.
Design and implement capital projects up to $1 million in scope.
Set on‑call expectations and coverage for a 24/7 operation; ensure escalation works on all shifts and that shift leaders know communication protocols.
Perform all tasks assigned by the supervisor, while following all company, safety, and quality policies and procedures.
Maintain regular attendance at work.

Benefits

Health, Dental, Vision Insurance (Low deductible and copays, LASIK reimbursement, Adults orthodontics)
Company-paid Life and Disability Insurance
401(k) Match – up to 5%
Paid Vacation, Personal and Volunteer days plus 11 holidays
Paid maternity/paternity leave
Wellness: Free fruit, insurance discounts, gym and run/walk/bike event reimbursement, free wellness checks
Scholarships – Employee, spouse, and children
Summer Camp Reimbursement – children of employees
Tuition reimbursement
Employee appreciation events
Free chocolate and coating!