Maintenance Superintendent

Cyclyx Overview

Only 10% of plastics are recycled today, and that must change. Cyclyx is a new kind of plastic feedstock management company that works with industry participants to increase plastic recyclability. Cyclyx operates as a membership consortium, uniting stakeholders around the circular value chains to work together and drive new results in plastic recycling. By working with partners to source, collect and pre-process large volumes of waste plastic based on exact technical specifications, Cyclyx redirects more plastic into recycling. This new partner-driven model aims to boost plastic circularity - and break the cycle that has kept recycling from reaching its full potential.

The Cyclyx Circularity Center (CCC) facility in Houston is a first of its kind recycling facility which accepts clean and mixed sources of waste plastics and processes them into usable feedstock for the advanced and mechanical recycling market. This facility is significant in scale, with an annual capacity of >400 million lbs of inbound plastic.

Role Overview

As a first of its kind recycling center, this role will require a person with an entrepreneurial spirit and a proven track record of optimizing the operational efficacy and efficiency of material handling and processing facilities. The role will require a person with an aptitude for 1) Building and leading teams, 2) Managing the equipment maintenance of a large, bulk material handling facility, and 3) Flexing between leadership and individual contributor activities in support of standing up and operating the facility. This position requires a hands-on manager who regularly interacts with the operations team and has a keen eye towards process improvement and optimization.

During the mechanical completion and commissioning of the plant, (scheduled to be operational in October 2025) the focus of this role will be on supporting the Maintenance Manager through the development of processes and systems that maintain optimal up-time for all plant equipment. This leadership position will also include responsibilities such as: team building and leadership, setting goals and practicing accountability, training adherence, and improvement plans.

The Maintenance Superintendent ideally has prior experience with plastics recycling or bulk material processing and handling operations on an industrial scale.

The safety of all personnel is the highest priority. The Maintenance Superintendent is responsible for supporting and contributing to a strong safety culture that is evident in the plant's daily operations and EHS related KPI's.

The Maintenance Superintendent has direct impact on the ability of the CCC to meet its operational and financial goals.

Role Responsibilities

A Maintenance Superintendent at a bulk material handling facility that optically sorts waste plastics, shreds waste plastics, and uses pellet mills to pelletize waste plastics has several core responsibilities to ensure the facility operates efficiently and safely. Below are the primary duties of the role. It is understood that each duty is working with and under the direction of the Maintenance Manager.

Equipment Maintenance and Reliability

• Preventive Maintenance Program
• Develop and implement a comprehensive preventive maintenance program for all equipment, including equipment such as optical sorters, conveying equipment, shredders, pelletizers, and mobile equipment. (This is already underway. Take ownership of the current effort.)
• Schedule regular inspections, lubrication, adjustments, and part replacements to prevent unexpected breakdowns.
• Equipment Repair and Troubleshooting
• Oversee and coordinate repairs when equipment malfunctions, ensuring minimal downtime.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and control issues to restore equipment functionality quickly.
• Experience reading Process and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID's) and applying to operational equipment. Includes experience reading OEM manuals and documentation.
• Condition Monitoring
• Use condition monitoring tools and techniques to track the performance of critical machinery.
• Administer systems to analyze data from sensors and diagnostic equipment to predict potential failures and address them proactively.
  

Safety and Compliance

• Safety Management
• Ensures that Maintenance employees and contractors work safely at all times and promotes an environment whereby safety is a priority. Follows standard safety procedures, corrects safety and environmental hazards. Reads, understands, and implements lockout/tagout, safety rules, job hazard analyses, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Thoroughly and promptly investigates accidents or near misses in conjunction with Management to ensure that any unsafe practices or conditions are addressed and eliminated immediately.
• Conduct regular safety audits and risk assessments, and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of Maintenance procedures and their associated safety precautions built into the routine work flow.
• Regulatory Compliance
• Ensure all maintenance practices comply with local, state, and federal regulations, including environmental, health, and safety regulations.
• Maintain records of maintenance activities to demonstrate compliance during inspections and audits.
• Responsible for maintaining plant cleanliness.
  

Team Management and Training

• Staff Supervision
• Lead and supervise the maintenance teams, including hiring, training, and evaluating maintenance personnel as assigned and appropriate.
• Schedule and assign work to maintenance staff, ensuring proper coverage for all shifts.
• Training and Development
• Provide ongoing training for maintenance staff to ensure they are skilled in the latest maintenance techniques and safety practices.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing within the team.
  

Inventory and Resource Management

• Spare Parts, Tools and Consumables Inventory
• Manage inventory of spare parts and maintenance supplies to ensure critical components are available when needed.
• Develop relationships with suppliers to ensure timely procurement of high-quality parts.
• Resource Allocation
• Allocate resources effectively to balance maintenance needs with budget constraints.
• Prioritize maintenance tasks based on criticality and impact on production.
  

Process Improvement and Efficiency

• Process Optimization
• Identify opportunities to improve maintenance processes and increase equipment reliability and efficiency.
• Implement best practices and innovative solutions to reduce maintenance costs and enhance equipment performance.
• Root Cause Analysis
• Conduct root cause analyses of equipment failures to identify underlying issues and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Collaborate with operations and engineering teams to develop long-term solutions for chronic equipment problems.
  

Documentation and Reporting

• Maintenance Records
• Maintain detailed records of all maintenance activities, including work orders, equipment histories, and maintenance schedules.
• Utilize computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) to track and document maintenance tasks and performance metrics.
• Create and establish processes with the ERP and CMMS as part of the initial plant commissioning.
• Reporting
• Prepare and present regular reports on maintenance performance, including equipment uptime, maintenance costs, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Communicate effectively with senior management and other stakeholders regarding maintenance plans and progress.
  

Coordination and Collaboration

• Interdepartmental Coordination:
• Collaborate with production, quality control, and engineering teams to ensure maintenance activities align with production goals and quality standards.
• Participate in cross-functional teams to address facility-wide challenges and initiatives.
• Support the plant management and financial teams with maintenance budgets and strategies.
• Prepare specifications to be used in the negotiation of bids, contracts, and rate estimations for new business.
• Project Management:
• Lead and manage maintenance projects, such as equipment upgrades, retrofits, and installations.
• Ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Industry/SME Application:
• Reads, analyzes, and interprets common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents
• Ability to learn about new equipment with OEM training/literature and apply to operational maintenance.
  

By fulfilling these core responsibilities, a Maintenance Superintendent ensures the continuous and efficient operation of the bulk material handling facility, contributing to the overall success and productivity of the plant.

Experience And Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' experience in Maintenance leadership, with at least 3 years of supervisory experience.
• Excellent judgment regarding health, safety, environmental and fire protection risks with emphasis on injury prevention and business continuity.
• Experience managing maintenance budgets and spending.
• Experience with automated mechanical processing equipment, e.g. shredders, contaminant removal technologies, belt and pneumatic conveyors, optical sortation, and palletization.
• Experience managing vendors/contractors.
• Ability to quickly learn the ins and outs of mechanical plastic recycling equipment.
• Proficient communication skills both verbally and in writing.
• Excellent business acumen, commitment to teamwork, and results driven.
• Confident, proactive, and possessing strong problem-solving skills.
• Impeccable personal and professional ethics.
• Ability to build, maintain, and contribute to a team environment.
• Ability to travel domestically. Flights may be required.
  
  

Education and Training

• BS in Engineering from an accredited institution preferred. STEM degree and 5 years of specific experience in this field may be alternatively considered.
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, Microsoft Dynamics preferred.
• Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) experience.
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) or Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) experience preferred.
  
  

Position Mechanics

Reports to: Maintenance Manager

Type: Salaried; full time with full benefits

Work Hours: Generally, 7:30am - 4:30pm with lunch; this is a multi-shift, 24/7 operation, so there will be occasional evening and weekend work.

Staff: may include Maintenance Planner, Supervisor and multiple I&E Techs and Mechanics.

Location: Houston, TX

Work environment: professional office and manufacturing.

Travel: Irregular demand, but possibly as much as 25% for short periods.

Physical Demands: Varied between work performed in an office environment to that of equipment operators.

• Stand and walk multiple miles per day.
• Sit for prolonged periods of time.
• Handle tools, equipment, fine motor skills.
• Reach with hands and arms.
• Climb and walk on heights often greater than 4 feet.
• Stoop, kneel, bend, push, pull, crawl.
• Ascend and descend stairs and stationary vertical ladders as part of normal work activity and emergency egress situations.
• Lift 50 lbs.
• Move about all areas of the plant, including catwalks, deck grating, and uneven surfaces.
• Close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, corrected or otherwise.
• Communicates clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing; as well as communicates clearly whether using in-situ intercom system, two-way radio, or face to face
• Operate typical incipient fire extinguishing equipment.
• Access confined spaces when required for equipment inspections.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements, including various forms of respiratory protection.