DEPARTMENT: Bluegrass Ingredients, Inc.

POSITION: Director of Engineering and Maintenance

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

WORKING HOURS: Full Time

Kentucky is an employment at will state. Bluegrass Ingredients employees are responsible for food safety and product quality. All employees are responsible for reporting food safety hazards and quality threats to someone with the authority to initiate action.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Maintenance and Engineering Director at Bluegrass Ingredients is a senior management role tasked with ensuring the efficient and reliable operation of all machinery, equipment, infrastructure, and facilities, while ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards. This role combines strategic leadership, technical expertise, and cross-functional collaboration to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Duties and Responsibilities: Including, but not limited to, the following:

• Leadership and Strategy:
  • Develop and implement long-term maintenance and engineering strategies aligned with business goals.
  • Lead and manage a team of engineers, technicians, and support staff.
  • Collaborate with other departments (e.g., operations, production, finance) to optimize performance and resource allocation.
• Maintenance Oversight:
  • Create and oversee preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
  • Monitor the performance of machinery and infrastructure, ensuring minimal downtime.
  • Establish procedures for the repair and upgrade of equipment.
• Engineering Projects:
  • Plan and execute capital improvement projects.
  • Oversee the design, installation, and commissioning of new systems or equipment.
  • Evaluate and recommend technological upgrades or innovations.
• Budgeting and Cost Control:
  • Develop and manage the maintenance and engineering budget.
  • Optimize spending on repairs, spare parts, and capital projects.
• Regulatory Compliance and Safety:
  • Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations related to safety, food safety, environment, and building codes.
  • Promote workplace safety by enforcing best practices and providing regular training.
• Performance Monitoring and Reporting:
  • Analyze maintenance metrics (e.g., mean time between failures, downtime) to identify trends and areas for improvement.
  • Prepare reports for senior management on maintenance activities, project progress, and cost performance.

Key Skills and Competencies
Strong leadership and people management skills.

• Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems as well as experience with Wastewater Systems.
• Proficiency in maintenance management systems (CMMS).
• Problem-Solving: Ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues effectively.
• Budget management and cost optimization.
• Knowledge of regulatory standards (e.g., FDA, SQF, OSHA, EPA).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Educational Background and Experience

• Education: A bachelor’s degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical, industrial) is required.
• Experience: Extensive experience (10 years) in maintenance, engineering, or a related field, with 5 years in a managerial or leadership role.
• Certifications: Relevant certifications like Professional Engineer (PE), Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP), or Six Sigma may be preferred.

Benefits: medical, dental, vision and life insurance, holiday pay, medairevac coverage, matching 401K