Maintenance Manager

Join our team at our Cass-Clay Creamery in Fargo, ND as a Maintenance Manager, where you’ll take the lead in overseeing a skilled team of maintenance technicians. This day-shift leadership role offers the chance to make a significant impact in ensuring smooth operations and efficient production of high-quality fluid milk and yogurt pouches.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to coach, develop, and inspire a diverse team.
• Provide work assignments and direction to maintenance employees engaged in repair and upkeep of all pasteurizing, separating, cooling, filling, mixing, standardizing, packaging, and storing operations of milk and milk-based products, so the production process flows smoothly, and daily production goals are met.
• Supervise ordering and receiving of all maintenance parts and equipment so that all equipment is kept in operational condition.
• Maintain a PC-based preventive maintenance program (MVP) that includes all major pieces of equipment and plant systems. Creates a stockroom system of key inventory items maintained at the “right” physical levels to support plant needs.
• Continue developing an existing preventive maintenance and facilities work order system that tracks maintenance labor hours and holds mechanics accountable for their performance.
• Review and develop department schedules to maximize both preventive and repair services, while minimizing unnecessary overtime expenditures.
• Maintain equipment and facilities in a condition that meets or exceeds Good Manufacturing Practices, Kemp’s standards, and regulatory standards. May be responsible for maintaining packaging standards, pallet configurations, and piping/electrical drawings.
• Implement cost-reduction measures to control expenses that impact the operating budget for repair, utility, pretreatment, and maintenance-related chemical or supply accounts. May be involved in developing the capital budget.
• Responsible for Storm Water tracking, Pretreatment land spreading and other Environmental and Regulatory reporting as required.
• Lead cost reduction projects, capital projects, and efficiency improvement projects.
• Work with plant operations, SalesForce, R&D, and Marketing to assist in launching new products from a facility capability perspective.
• Must understand, comply, and enforce all Kemps Environmental, Safety, and Health policies and applicable State/Federal Regulations (OSHA, EPA, etc.)
• Understand and fulfill the requirements of the SQF 2000 Level 3 code of regulation for food safety and quality. Manages policies, procedures, and programs related to operations. Foster continuous improvement to maintain the SQF 2000 Level 3 certification.
• Keep the Plant Manager and Plant Supervisors aware of all matters that impact plant performance.
• Working knowledge of union contracts and the ability to work effectively with the bargaining unit employees.
• Experience with Ammonia refrigeration, boilers, air, and electrical systems.
• Strong knowledge of required sanitary practices related to food products.
• Ability to identify causes of poor efficiency on production lines, set appropriate priorities within the maintenance department, and instill a sense of urgency to implement the action plan and improve performance.
• Ability to develop maintenance department in both skill levels, ability to respond appropriately to the plant production requirements and team concept with the intent to improve overall plant production efficiency, quality, and safety.
• Work in a team-based environment, and partner with peers.
• Ability to support, demonstrate, and promote Kemps’ Leadership Effectiveness Factors: Establish Trust and Demonstrate Integrity, Set Clear Direction, Grow Relationships, Focus on Results, Cultivate Capabilities, and Promote Innovation

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering with emphasis on food manufacturing operations is preferred. Will consider 8-9 years of technical knowledge of industrial maintenance in food production.
• A minimum of 4 years supervisory experience.
• Expertise in troubleshooting high-speed fillers, refrigeration (ammonia), boiler systems, and similar food/dairy equipment is required.
• Electrical experience with motor control circuitry up to 480 volt 3-phrase. PLC knowledge is a plus.
• Proficient in basic PC skills, Auto CAD, Excel, Word, and other programs as required.
• A commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Experience working with preventative maintenance systems is highly desired. Experience with MVP is a plus.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Benefits Package available 1st of the month after start date
• 401(k) with company contribution
• Competitive pay
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Career growth opportunities – we promote from within!
• Service recognition and employee rewards
• Employee referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Work for dairy farm families

An Equal Opportunity Employer