Asset Manager

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At Barry Callebaut, we are on a journey to transform the cocoa and chocolate industry. As the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, our actions truly shape the future of our industry. We are a business-to-business company, serving the entire food sector, from the cocoa bean to the finest chocolate product. We are a company with a purpose, we believe in doing well by doing good and reinvesting in the communities we operate. We have a long-standing commitment to sustainability and our goal is to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future. We are headquartered in Zurich, and have more than 12,000 passionate employees working in more than 40 countries worldwide. We are very proud of who we are and what we do. And of course, we are always looking for talented people to help us have a positive impact on our industry and beyond!

About the role

The Asset Manager is responsible for managing the overall asset care, ensuring maintenance efficiency (planning and scheduling) and effectiveness (reliability engineering), and is accountable for meeting the budget for maintenance OPEX spend. The role focuses on both technical leadership and the development of the team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence within the maintenance department. The Asset Manager oversees several key roles, including the Automation Engineer, Storekeeper, Planner, Scheduler, Technicians, and the Reliability Engineer.

This position involves a strong partnership with operational leads to ensure a one-team organization and a service-oriented approach to maintenance, aligned with production and operational goals.

Key responsibilities include

1. Lead and coach the maintenance team, ensuring they are equipped with the skills and knowledge required to perform their roles effectively. Develop team members by identifying skill gaps and providing training, mentoring, and growth opportunities to enhance their capabilities; provide regular feedback and encourage cross-functional collaboration within the team, ensuring that each individual grows in their career while contributing to overall plant success.
2. Conduct timely Preventive Maintenance (PM) and Corrective Maintenance (CM) activities, ensuring high efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
3. Manage the maintenance budget, ensuring all spending aligns with business objectives and cost-saving initiatives, including Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB).
4. Implement Global Standards and oversee Barry Callebaut Operating System (BCOS) work processes, especially in Autonomous Maintenance (AM) and Preventive Maintenance (PM), to maximize uptime and asset lifespan.
5. Optimize maintenance efficiency by improving planning and scheduling processes in collaboration with the Planner and Scheduler.
6. Collaborate with the Reliability Engineer to enhance maintenance effectiveness focusing on equipment reliability and lifecycle management.
7. Ensure consistency in asset management practices across teams and locations, providing guidance and support as needed.

About you

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Engineering, Asset Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 7-10 years of experience in asset management, maintenance leadership, or reliability engineering within a manufacturing environment (preferably in food manufacturing or processing).
• Strong knowledge of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM), and maintenance planning/scheduling methodologies.
• Experience managing maintenance OPEX budgets, including cost optimization and alignment with Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) principles.
• Proven leadership skills with a focus on coaching, team development, and continuous performance improvement.
• Proficiency with CMMS (preferably IBM Maximo) and other asset management tools.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills to work effectively across functions, including production, operations, and global teams.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with data-driven decision-making capabilities.
• Fluent in the local language and English; additional languages are a plus.
• Willingness to travel up to 10% between plant locations.
• Strong leadership qualities, including team empowerment and results delivery under pressure.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while focusing on team growth and operational excellence.

At Barry Callebaut, we are committed to Diversity & Inclusion. We value diversity in who we are, where we come from, our experiences, and our thinking. We foster an inclusive environment where everyone can be themselves, grow, and feel they belong.#oneBC - Diverse People, Sustainable Growth.

If you want to learn more about Barry Callebaut, please find further information here.

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