Sr. Project Specialist

Maple Leaf Foods Inc; Winnipeg; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Defined contribution pension

Learning & development

Tuition reimbursement

Volunteer days

Inclusive culture

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Maple Leaf Foods is seeking a Sr. Project Specialist reporting to the Reliability Leader to lead reliability, maintenance, and capital improvement projects across the Winnipeg facility.

You will coordinate cross-functional teams, manage scopes and budgets, and drive safety, food safety, and asset lifecycle improvements while advancing our reliability strategy.

Qualifications

• Strong project management and execution capability in a manufacturing environment ( Winnipeg facility).
• Experience leading capital, reliability, and continuous improvement projects from concept to startup.
• Knowledge of industrial equipment, maintenance systems, and plant operations.
• Understanding of RCA, PM/PdM, and FMEA.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute reliability, maintenance, and capital improvement projects.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to deliver projects safely, on time, and within budget.
• Develop and manage project scopes, timelines, budgets, and progress reporting.
• Coordinate contractors, vendors, and procurement activities; manage onsite execution.
• Support shutdown and outage planning, coordination, and execution.
• Promote safety, food safety, and regulatory compliance across the site.
• Communicate project updates, risks, and performance metrics to site leadership.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Capital projects

Reliability engineering

Planning and scheduling

Budgeting

Safety and regulatory compliance

Vendor coordination

Root cause analysis

Tools

SAP CMMS

Job description

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Reliability Leader, the Sr. Project Specialist is responsible for leading and executing reliability, maintenance, and capital improvement initiatives that enhance equipment performance, operational efficiency, food safety, and asset lifecycle management across the facility.

The role serves as a technical and project leadership resource within the plant, coordinating cross‑functional teams to deliver projects safely, on time, and within budget while supporting the site’s reliability strategy and operational objectives.

Snapshot Of a Day-in-the-Life

• Lead and execute reliability, maintenance, and capital improvement projects
• Support plant reliability strategy and continuous improvement initiatives
• Improve equipment uptime, reliability, and operational efficiency
• Coordinate project activities from planning through commissioning and startup
• Develop and manage project scopes, timelines, budgets, and progress reporting
• Coordinate contractors, vendors, procurement activities, and onsite execution through schedule flexibility
• Support shutdown and outage planning, coordination, and execution
• Ensure compliance with all safety, food safety, environmental, and regulatory standards
• Participate in root cause analysis and implementation of sustainable corrective actions
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams to achieve site objectives
• Support maintenance optimization and asset lifecycle management initiatives
• Maintain project documentation, drawings, and technical records
• Identify opportunities for standardization, cost reduction, and process improvement
• Support implementation of reliability best practices and maintenance standards
• Communicate project updates, risks, and performance metrics to site leadership
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement

What You’ll Bring

• Strong project management and execution capability in a manufacturing environment
• Experience managing capital, reliability, and continuous improvement projects from concept through startup
• Knowledge of industrial equipment, maintenance systems, and plant operations
• Understanding of reliability methodologies including RCA, PM/PdM, and FMEA
• Ability to improve equipment uptime, maintainability, and operational performance
• Experience developing project scopes, schedules, budgets, risk assessments, and business cases
• Strong contractor, vendor, and stakeholder coordination capability
• Ability to lead cross‑functional teams and influence without direct authority
• Strong organizational, planning, and prioritization skills in fast‑paced environments
• Experience supporting shutdown and outage planning and execution
• Working knowledge of automation, controls, and industrial systems
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical, electrical, and process drawings including P&IDs
• Experience with SAP CMMS system
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and root‑cause problem‑solving capability
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies
• Data‑driven decision making and performance analysis capability
• Strong communication, facilitation, and presentation skills
• Commitment to safety leadership, food safety, and regulatory compliance
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously
• Results‑oriented with a strong sense of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement mindset

What We Offer

• Being part of a high‑performance, people‑focused company committed to sustainable protein.
• An inclusive company culture and a work environment that keeps employees safe, rewards excellence, and empowers everyone to learn and contribute.
• Competitive health and wellness benefits that start on the first day of employment.
• Defined contribution pension plan with company matching that starts on the first day of employment.
• Learning and development opportunities, including workshops, speaker series events, and resources to develop skills.
• Comprehensive tuition reimbursement program for eligible degrees, diplomas, professional certifications, or trades programs.
• Up to two paid volunteer days annually to support a cause of choice.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We thank all applicants for their interest in exploring employment opportunities with Maple Leaf Foods; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants may be subject to a background check and must meet the security criteria designated for the position.

Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired.