Refrigeration Manager

Farmer Focus•Harrisonburg, VA

44d

About The Position

Farmer Focus's mission is to promote and protect generational family farms by shifting farm-level decision-making and chicken ownership back to farmers and empowering them to farm the way they know is best. We are committed to consistently producing 100% organic and humanely raised chicken that is better for people, the planet, and animals. Our culture is rooted in servant leadership, and we live by our Farmer Focus CARES values: Community, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Stewardship. Farmer Focus's mission is to promote and protect generational family farms by shifting farm-level decision-making and chicken ownership back to farmers and empowering them to farm the way they know is best. We are committed to consistently producing the highest quality organic and humanely raised chicken that is better for people, the planet, and animals. Our culture is rooted in servant leadership, and we live by our Farmer Focus CARES values of Community, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Stewardship. The Refrigeration Manager will lead the strategic direction, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance of all refrigeration systems across Farmer Focus facilities. This role is pivotal in ensuring the safe, efficient, and sustainable operation of ammonia and freon-based refrigeration systems, while fostering a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and technical development within the refrigeration team. This position will directly oversee the Refrigeration Superintendent and provide guidance to the broader refrigeration team, including leads, technicians, and PSM personnel. The Refrigeration Manager will be instrumental in driving reliability, performance, and compliance with PSM/RMP standards, while aligning refrigeration operations with company goals.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Technology, or related field preferred.
7+ years of industrial refrigeration experience, including ammonia systems.
3+ years of leadership experience managing teams and complex systems.
CARO certification required
Strong working knowledge of PSM/RMP regulations and best practices.
Proven experience with high-pressure steam boilers, HVAC systems, and compressed air systems.
Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills.
Ability to interpret technical documents, schematics, and engineering drawings.
Proficiency in CMMS systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
Must have fine hand and finger dexterity.
Ability to climb stairs, ladders, and platforms
Must be willing to participate on PSM/safety committee.
Must comply with all safety rules and instructions, participate in the Company training programs, and make every effort to learn, develop, and upgrade skills required for this job classification.
Must be able to pass the fitness test.
Must be able to wear a full-face respirator.
Must be clean shaven. No more than 24 hours of facial hair growth.
Must be willing to be part of our Hazmat team.

Nice To Haves

RETA CIRO certification highly preferred.
Bilingual proficiency in Spanish or French is a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and oversight of all refrigeration operations across multiple facilities.
Ensure full compliance with PSM (Process Safety Management) and RMP (Risk Management Plan) regulations.
Lead and mentor the Refrigeration Superintendent and support their development of refrigeration leads, technicians, and PSM coordinators.
Develop and implement preventive maintenance programs, SOPs, and emergency response protocols.
Oversee capital projects related to refrigeration, compressed air, and boiler systems.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Safety, Engineering, and Production to ensure refrigeration systems support operational goals.
Monitor system performance and reliability metrics; drive root cause analysis and corrective actions.
Manage vendor relationships, service contracts, and procurement of refrigeration-related equipment and supplies.
Maintain documentation including P&IDs, compliance records, and training logs.
Lead internal audits and participate in external inspections related to refrigeration and safety systems.
Champion continuous improvement initiatives and Lean principles within the refrigeration function.
Lead PHA and MOC processes for system changes.