Sr. Manager of Engineering

Dairy Farmers of America • New Britain, CT

84d

About The Position

Oversee and manage all aspects of the engineering and maintenance functions and staff within the plant. Lead a team of engineers and maintenance managers/supervisors to ensure the plant's smooth operation, optimizing productivity and maintaining the facility's infrastructure and equipment. Develop and execute plans to support current and future plant requirements and develop systems in critical areas such as preventative maintenance, spare parts inventories, and work order systems. Work closely with plant management and plant employees and serve as a liaison with DFA enterprise wide functional departments. Ensure best practices in all maintenance activities.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in engineering or related curriculum or technical training in related mechanical or electrical studies.
• 8 or more years of engineering or maintenance experience in a food manufacturing environment that includes 1+ year of management experience.
• Environmental compliance experience, PLC programming, and capital project and budget management experience.
• Certification and/or License may be required during course of employment.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of the engineering and maintenance functions, including the direct management of engineers and maintenance managers/supervisors.
• Provide direction, guidance, and support, fostering a positive work environment and promoting professional development.
• Ensure the site has an effective predictive/preventive maintenance program which has a maintenance strategy for all assets to remove unscheduled down time.
• Increase the lifespan of assets by keeping them in optimal condition and contain maintenance strategies to minimize costs of asset breakdowns.
• Oversee preventative maintenance programs for the facility, electrical distribution, plant utility systems, architecture, process instrumentation, and all production machinery and equipment.
• Collaborate with senior management to identify and prioritize capital improvement projects.
• Recommend expense or capital projects which are necessary or will improve productivity, safety, or operational efficiency.
• Oversee the design, planning, and execution of capital and expense projects, ensuring they meet budget and timeline as defined.
• Partner with others regarding the resolution of ongoing or escalated problems.
• Perform replacement analysis of equipment considering space costs, depreciation, service life, and maintenance costs.
• Ensure good business communication practices at all levels.
• Ensure all process changes, equipment changes, or product changes are understood by affected employees in a timely fashion.
• Source and evaluate vendors, contractors, and suppliers to obtain quality products and services at competitive prices.
• Negotiate contracts and agreements with external parties as necessary.
• Develop and utilize maintenance key performance indicators (KPI) to drive improvements to plant reliability.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize plant operations and reduce waste.
• Identify opportunities to implement new technologies, processes, and methodologies to enhance plant performance.
• Conduct or coordinate regular safety inspections, risk assessments, and safety training programs.
• Generate reports on plant performance, maintenance activities, and project updates for management review.
• Maintain accurate documentation of maintenance records, engineering plans, and compliance documentation.
• Prepare and manage the department's budget, ensuring cost-effective allocation of resources.
• Manage assigned employees, including recruitment, scheduling, development, evaluation, performance management, and career development.
• Ensure all plant environmental policies and procedures reflect current DFA guidelines and regulatory requirements.
• Follow all DFA good manufacturing practices (GMP) and work in a manner consistent with all corporate regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Industry: Food Manufacturing
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees