Plant Maintenance and Engineering Director

Barrett Petfood•Little Falls, MN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

About Barrett Located in the heart of central Minnesota, Barrett Petfood develops super premium pet food diets from emerging brands to market leaders in the industry. Our family-owned, nimble execution and continuous innovation take pet food manufacturing, packaging, and distribution to differentiating levels. With a relationship focus and a family feel, we offer many opportunities for employees to learn, advance, and be part of something they're proud of. Barrett Petfood has an opening for a Plant Maintenance and Engineering Director. This hands-on leader is responsible for supporting day-to-day plant maintenance and leading long-term engineering strategy, supporting our teams by maintaining equipment reliability, leading capital improvements, and fostering a workplace where safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement come first. Working onsite and closely with operations, quality, and leadership teams, this role helps ensure we consistently deliver high-quality nutrition for pets while investing in our people and our future. Personal Attributes: Hands-on, results-driven leader with a focus on reliability, safety, and efficiency Strategic thinker who can balance day-to-day operations with long-term engineering planning Strong commitment to a positive, family-oriented work culture

Requirements

Minimum 10-15 years of progressive experience in manufacturing, including at least 5 years in a leadership role overseeing maintenance and/or engineering operations
Established record of delivering capital projects, advancing process improvements, and maintaining high equipment reliability
Hands-on experience with preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs in a production environment while ensuring compliance with food safety standards
Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, cost controls, and long-term capital planning
Strong knowledge of manufacturing systems, production equipment, and facility operations, preferably in the food or pet food industry

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field (preferred)

Responsibilities

Partner cross-functionally with plant leadership and engineering teams to establish priorities aligned with Company goals
Act as a subject matter expert for manufacturing engineering, equipment design, and related improvement opportunities
Oversee parts management and inventory systems, ensuring critical spare parts and materials are efficiently tracked, stocked, and deployed to minimize downtime and maintain smooth operation
Apply best practices across four locations to support continuous improvement in equipment reliability, maintenance cost control, and standardized processes
Drive ongoing reductions in facility and manufacturing operating costs by recommending optimal technical solutions and applying best-method analyses to improve internal systems and maximize process efficiency
Support the development, planning, and management of capital budgets
Collaborate with plant leadership teams to justify projects, develop accurate cost estimates, and prepare capital project submissions
Review and assess major capital projects to confirm the most effective and efficient use of capital resources
Lead or oversee the full lifecycle of capital projects-including planning, design, procurement, installation, commissioning, and training
Develop preliminary and final designs for production lines and new or modified equipment
Maintain a broad and current technical knowledge base to provide accurate and effective engineering support to plant teams and leadership
Promote skill development, training, and career growth within the maintenance team
Comply with all Barrett Petfood Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and perform work in accordance with regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation standards