Plant Maintenance Supervisor

Smithfield Foods•Crete, NE

About The Position

The Plant Maintenance Supervisor leads maintenance teams responsible for installing, repairing, and performing preventive maintenance on critical equipment across the plant, facilities, utilities, and powerhouse. The role helps maintain smooth operations, minimize mechanical downtime, maximize production efficiency, and keep production lines and product flows operating effectively. The supervisor leads and develops Maintenance Mechanics and Electricians, coordinates maintenance with Production, implements maintenance systems, and supports troubleshooting and equipment-failure analysis. The role also tracks maintenance performance, maintains records and inventory, ensures maintenance work complies with USDA regulations, and may assume or delegate required tasks when key personnel are absent. Supervisory duties include hiring, training, assigning and directing work, evaluating performance, addressing complaints, and supporting appropriate resolutions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Engineering or a related field and at least 2 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience acting as a lead by training, coaching, or mentoring less experienced staff, or by managing a process or project.
Ability to lead problem-solving and troubleshooting efforts related to high-level process issues.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
May be required to work long hours and weekends.

Nice To Haves

Advanced technical skills in ammonia refrigeration, high-pressure boilers, compressed air, mechanical and electrical fields, such as PLCs, instrumentation, or mechanical engineering.
Ability to lead resource-planning efforts in a large manufacturing environment.
Thorough knowledge of maintenance systems, work-order processes, preventive and predictive maintenance, TPM, inventory, and scheduling software.
Strong leadership skills, including conflict resolution, facilitation, change management, decision-making, empowerment, and delegation.
Good planning and priority-setting skills.
Ability to work well with others in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Respectful, approachable, team-oriented manner and ability to build strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
Bilingual.

Responsibilities

Lead Maintenance Mechanics and Electricians in predictive and preventive maintenance and machine repairs.
Train employees in proper work methods and safety procedures.
Supervise and support maintenance systems, processes, and documentation.
Coordinate timely maintenance scheduling with Production for equipment and facility repairs.
Develop and implement maintenance systems, including preventive and predictive maintenance, TPM, SOPs, and safety processes.
Provide long-term solutions and day-to-day support for troubleshooting, problem analysis, and equipment failures.
Develop and maintain KPIs for maintenance performance, including supplier and contractor performance, equipment reliability, and overall equipment effectiveness.
Provide regular status reports to the maintenance management team.
Ensure maintenance tasks comply with USDA regulations.
Maintain accurate records of maintenance work and inventory.
Assume responsibility for, or delegate, required tasks when key personnel are absent.
Support employee development and coaching to promote a positive employee experience.
Provide leadership and guidance to Maintenance Department employees.
Interview, hire, train, plan and assign work, direct employees, appraise performance, reward and discipline employees, address complaints, and assist with resolutions.
Perform other duties as assigned.