Reliability Leader

Affinity Petcare; Castelgomberto; On-site; EUR 43,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Affinity product discounts on Amazon

Affinity University platform

Affinity Corporate Discounts

Job summary

Affinity Petcare is seeking a Reliability Leader for the Maintenance team at the Castelgomberto plant in Italy. You will ensure the stability and reliability of production equipment, coordinate maintenance activities, minimize downtime, and optimize strategies through Planned Maintenance (PM) and Autonomous Maintenance (AM) approaches.

Reporting to the Maintenance Manager, you will lead a team of maintenance technicians, drive safety and quality, and collaborate with QA and operations to improve

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or technical degree in industrial maintenance, electrical or mechanical engineering.
• 3–5 years in industrial maintenance with supervisory/coordination experience.
• Deep knowledge of mechanical, electrical, automation, pneumatic and hydraulic systems; PM/AM best practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop loss map for production lines and define PM/AM initiatives.
• Coordinate maintenance team and manage schedules; lead training on preventive maintenance.
• Maintain accurate records of maintenance activities, spare parts, and KPIs.
• Diagnose, repair and restore production equipment; drive cost optimization via preventive maintenance.
• Ensure safety standards and compliance when contractors are on site.
• Collaborate with QA and operations to address defects related to equipment reliability.

Skills

Maintenance leadership

PM/AM practices

Root cause analysis

Data analysis

Safety & compliance

Education

Bachelor's or technical degree in industrial maintenance/engineering

Technical certification in mechanical/electrical

Preventive Maintenance training

Tools

Maintenance systems

MTBF/MTTR metrics

Job description

Your role

We are looking for a Reliability Leader for the Maintenance team, who will report to Maintenance Manager at the Castelgomberto plant. In this role, you will ensure the stability and reliability of production equipment and processes. You will be responsible for coordinating maintenance operations, minimizing downtime, and optimizing maintenance strategies through Planned Maintenance (PM) and Autonomous Maintenance (AM) approaches. This role is critical for ensuring the efficient servicing of plant equipment and the effective management of maintenance teams while adhering to safety, quality, and environmental standards.

What you will do

• Maintenance Operations & Strategy: Develop a loss map for production lines and define initiatives to achieve operational targets, with a specific focus on equipment reliability and PM capabilities. Coordinate corrective and preventive maintenance activities, prioritizing tasks to ensure efficient service to production. Accountable for breakdown elimination, and planning and scheduling maintenance.
• Team Leadership & Development: Coordinate and supervise a team of maintenance technicians, assigning tasks and managing schedules. Develop and coach the technical team, including line operators, in AM-PM methodologies and provide regular training on preventive maintenance routines and root cause analysis.
• Performance & Data Management: Contribute to daily operational performance meetings, supporting structured gap analysis and addressing systematic countermeasures. Endure accurate records of maintenance activities, spare parts usage, and other relevant information. Track and report on maintenance activities, KPIs, and other relevant metrics.
• Troubleshooting & Continuous Improvement: Diagnose, repair, and restore production equipment, troubleshoot breakdowns, and analyze root causes of failures. Drive M&R (Maintenance & Repair) cost optimization through effective preventive maintenance and spare parts management. Identify and implement technical improvements that enhance equipment performance and reduce losses.
• Safety & Compliance: Integrate safety standards into all maintenance activities and ensure compliance when external contractors are on site5. Participate in safety audits and promptly address any technical risks. Ensure maintenance and repair activities do not compromise product quality or process integrity.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with the Cell Leader, Line Leaders, and other plant technical teams to align maintenance strategies with cell objectives. Collaborate with QA and operations to investigate quality defects linked to equipment or process reliability.

Who we are looking for

• Education: A Bachelor's degree or technical degree (Bac +2/+3) in industrial maintenance, electrical/mechanical engineering, or a related field is highly valued. A technical certification in mechanical, electrical, or a related field is necessary. Formal training in Preventive Maintenance is also valuable.
• Experience: A minimum of 3-5 years of experience in an industrial maintenance environment is required, with some experience in a supervisory or coordination role. Critical work experience includes previous experience in maintenance, engineering, or reliability within a manufacturing environment. Demonstrated success in reducing unplanned downtime and improving equipment performance is also a key requirement.
• Technical Skills: Deep knowledge of mechanical, electrical, automation, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems is essential. The candidate must have a deep knowledge of maintenance systems, reliability engineering principles (e.g., MTBF, MTTR), and PM/AM best practices. The role demands strong data analysis and problem-solving skills to identify root causes and implement effective solutions.
• Leadership & Soft Skills: Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills are crucial. The ability to coach technical teams and collaborate cross-functionally with operations, quality, and safety is also necessary. The candidate must be proactive and results-oriented.

What we offer

• Discount on Affinity products on Amazon
• Affinity University platform: Professional development opportunities for employees at different stages of their career, recognising different career paths.
• Affinity Corporate Discounts

If you don’t meet all the requirements, don’t worry. We value diverse backgrounds and encourage you to apply anyway. Your application will be thoughtfully reviewed!

The position will be classified at Level 2 under the National Collective Labour Agreement (CCNL) for the Food Industry, with a salary range of €43,000–€47,000, evaluated in the recruiting iter.

We cultivate an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity. We firmly believe that embracing a variety of perspectives is essential to the success of our company and the strength of our team. That is why we are committed to providing equal opportunities for all.

Our company

Affinity Petcare is much more than an international petfood company. For over 60 years we have been dedicated to nurturing healthy bonds between dogs, cats and people to make the world a better place.

We are very proud of our innovative brands, including Ultima, Advance, Brekkies, Nature's Variety, Nature's Menu, Natural Trainer, Libra and others. Currently, we have more than 1,200 professionals working with this purpose from Barcelona, Paris, Milan and London, as well as 4 production sites with which we supply the more than 70 countries where our brands are present.

So, what are you waiting for? Join our team to make your mark!

Want to know more about us?

Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest updates and job opportunities. You can also follow us on Instagram to find out more about life at Affinity and hear stories from our team.