Maintenance Manager

About Us

We are a growing food manufacturing company dedicated to producing high-quality fermented food products in a safe and efficient environment. We foster a supportive and inclusive workplace where employees have opportunities to develop their skills and contribute to a thriving team.

Position Overview

The Maintenance Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of facility and equipment maintenance at our fermented food production facility. This role will ensure that production machinery, infrastructure, and mechanical systems operate at peak performance while minimizing downtime. The Maintenance Manager will lead the transition from reactive maintenance to a preventive and predictive maintenance model, helping to improve equipment reliability and efficiency.

This position reports directly to Plant Management and works closely with the Production, Quality, Warehouse and Engineering teams to align maintenance strategies with overall business goals.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, develop, and organize the maintenance team, fostering accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Establish performance KPIs for the team and drive adherence to maintenance goals.
• Implement a structured Preventive Maintenance (PM) schedule to reduce unplanned downtime and extend equipment life.
• Develop and deliver training programs for maintenance personnel and machine operators to improve technical competency.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, GMP, HACCP, SQF and FDA regulations within the maintenance department.
• Hold weekly meetings with Plant, Production and Warehouse Managers to align maintenance and engineering goals.

Facility & Equipment Maintenance

• Maintain all production equipment, utilities, and facility infrastructure to ensure reliability and efficiency.
• Manage the installation, commissioning, and validation of new equipment, ensuring minimal disruption to production.
• Troubleshoot and resolve mechanical, electrical, and automation-related issues in a timely manner.
• Oversee machinery changeovers, ensuring efficient product transitions with minimal downtime.
• Implement and maintain an organized parts inventory system to improve response time and reduce waste.
• Ensure proper documentation of work orders, maintenance activities, and repair histories.
• Oversee relationships with contractors and vendors for service agreements, equipment procurement, and major repairs.

Continuous Improvement & Predictive Maintenance

• Transition the maintenance program from reactive to predictive, using data to prevent costly repairs and minimize downtime.
• Implement real-time throughput and downtime monitoring systems.
• Research and recommend new equipment and technology for improved efficiency and reliability.
• Establish predictive maintenance strategies utilizing equipment performance tracking and analytics.
• Collaborate with Quality and Production teams to ensure compliance with food safety and foreign material prevention programs.
• Optimize energy usage and cost efficiency across facility operations.

Inventory & Budget Management

• Track maintenance expenses and analyze parts-spend to predict and prevent costly repairs.
• Identify and stock high-quality, cost-effective generic spare parts to reduce costs.
• Implement cost-reduction measures and process improvements to control expenses and meet financial targets.
• Maintain up-to-date records of machine manuals, schematics, and standard operating procedures.
• Develop procedures and policies for maintenance activities, ensuring alignment with overall production goals.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Experience

• 7 years of experience in mechanical, electrical, or industrial maintenance, with 3 years in a leadership or managerial role.
• Proven success in leading and improving maintenance programs in a food manufacturing or industrial setting.
• Experience with Preventive Maintenance (PM) and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) programs.
• Strong working knowledge of PLC troubleshooting and automation systems is a plus.
• Prior experience managing capital projects and new equipment installations.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership and team development skills, with the ability to hold team members accountable.
• Expertise in troubleshooting mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic systems.
• Highly organized, with experience using CMMS or other maintenance tracking systems.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to analyze and interpret equipment performance data to drive continuous improvement.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive Salary – based on experience and qualifications.
• Leadership Opportunity – Own and transform the site’s maintenance strategy.
• Career Growth & Development – Training and professional development in maintenance leadership, project management, and technical skills.
• Comprehensive Benefits – Health insurance, retirement plan, and paid time off.

If you are a proactive Maintenance Manager with a passion for driving uptime, process efficiency, and equipment reliability, we encourage you to apply!

Whitethorne is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, as we know that each of our employees helps to make us better. We strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life. Come join us.