Maintenance Manager

-; Singapore; On-site; USD 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a pioneering AgriTech start-up that is transforming aquaculture with innovative urban vertical farming systems. As a Maintenance Manager, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the reliability and efficiency of our operations. Your hands-on approach will involve troubleshooting mechanical and electrical issues, conducting preventative maintenance, and developing a skilled team. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to sustainable food production while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and safety. If you are passionate about efficiency and sustainability, this role offers a chance to make a real impact in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in maintenance with a proven track record in leading teams.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead maintenance operations and ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Perform hands-on troubleshooting and repairs of production equipment.

Skills

Problem Solving

Leadership

Communication

Project Management

Technical Expertise

Education

BSc in Engineering

MSc in Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Production Equipment

Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS)

Job description

Role Definition for Maintenance Manager

Who we are:

Vertical Oceans is a pioneering AgriTech start-up that is revolutionizing the field of aquaculture by introducing an urban vertical farming system tailored for sustainable seafood. Conceived with a vision to enhance the sustainability of contemporary aquaculture systems, we ended up reimagining the whole process. We've integrated advanced facets of bioengineering, hardware engineering, and computational algorithms to cultivate the world's most flavorsome and eco-friendly shrimp.

Our technology refined system is zero-waste, devoid of any chemicals or antibiotics, and boasts superior energy efficiency. We obsess over every detail and invent new solutions wherever needed to achieve our goal of producing premium quality, sustainable food.

We...Respect Humanity and Nature

We...Use Less to do More

We...Improve Everything, Always

We...Embrace Challenges

Your Opportunity:

We are seeking an ambitious and strategic Operations Manager to oversee operations at our commercial scale facility. This significant role will require you to utilize your technical expertise to troubleshoot processes, maintain equipment, lead investigations when issues arise, and collaborate with the team to develop solutions and remediation plans. Additionally, you will provide support and guidance during regulatory and site inspections.

Your proactive role will further involve the pursuit of safer and more effective methodologies, ensuring team members are adequately trained and in compliance with biosecurity and other regulatory protocols.

Your leadership experience will equip you to respectfully challenge the status quo, fostering an environment of continuous improvement through replicating best practices, conceiving innovative solutions, aligning goals, and planning resources strategically.

Who You Are:

You are a relentless achiever, persistently seeking the next level of excellence. Your desire for perfection is both your driving force and a constantly moving target. Your curiosity and passion for learning compel you to stay updated on the latest techniques, methodologies, and technologies. Having thrived in your current role, you're ready to embrace a larger challenge, an opportunity to demonstrate your capabilities and grow further. You are fueled by challenges and find joy in overcoming what seems hard. You have an innate passion for efficiency and sustainability.

Your Opportunity:

We are seeking a hands-on and experienced Maintenance Manager to take ownership of maintenance operations at our commercial site near Jurong. You will be actively involved on the ground - carrying out repairs, performing preventative maintenance and ensuring the reliable operation of equipment and facilities.

You will leverage your technical expertise to troubleshoot mechanical and electrical issues, respond quickly to breakdowns and implement sustainable repairs that support ongoing site performance. As the site evolves, you will gradually build and lead a team, putting in place systems, processes and training to support long-term maintenance excellence.

Who You Are:

You are a practical problem-solver with a strong sense of ownership and pride in your work. You thrive on rolling up your sleeves, getting into the details and seeing the direct impact of your efforts. You are driven by the challenge of keeping operations running smoothly and efficiently and you are energized by diagnosing issues, fixing what's broken and finding ways to prevent future disruptions.

Your curiosity fuels your desire to understand how things work - and how they can work better. You are constantly learning, whether it is about new tools, emerging technologies or smarter ways to maintain and manage equipment. You have a strong appreciation for safety, structure and sustainability and you bring a sense of discipline and urgency to everything you do.

Key Responsibilities:

• Foster a culture of compliance and continuous improvement by promoting team member safety, food safety and GMP standards while driving accountability through effective leadership.

• Lead and develop a team of 1 - 2 team members on equipment use and maintenance procedures; read and interpret manuals; and ensure proper use and upkeep of hand tools, meters, and materials handling equipment.

• Perform hands-on installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of production equipment and plant facilities, including mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic systems.

• Leads daily operations and maintenance of Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS), ensuring optimal system uptime and performance.

• Coordinate and prioritize all maintenance and calibration activities, ensuring efficient scheduling, tracking, and task completion.

• Implement and manage a comprehensive preventive maintenance (PM) program, ensuring all documentation, schedules, and procedures are current and effective.

• Oversee equipment lifecycle planning, including spare parts management, upgrades, and obsolescence mitigation.

• Provide expert troubleshooting to identify root causes and long-term solutions for recurring equipment or system failures.

• Support the evaluation, selection, installation, and long-term service planning for new equipment purchases.

• Manages relationships with external vendors for equipment repair, parts procurement and service contracts.

• Maintain and update equipment documentation, including manuals, prints, drawings (using AutoCAD), and service records.

• Actively supports the company's overall goals and objectives as a senior leadership team member.

About you:

• Significant experience in maintenance and a proven track record in leading maintenance teams.

• Holds a BSc/MSc in a relevant engineering discipline (e.g., chemical, process, mechanical). Other degrees may be

acceptable if the required skills for the role can be demonstrated.

• Demonstrated leadership and project management skills.

• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

• Comfortable working in a dynamic environment that demands precision and adaptability.

• Strong interpersonal skills to foster productive relationships with colleagues and other stakeholders.

Bonus Points:

• Experience in machine shop work (e.g. milling, turning, fabrication).

• Able to use Auto-CAD or similar software for updating drawings.

• Prior experience in a startup environment.

• Experience in food production, safety, and handling, especially with short shelf-life and fresh products.

Additional Details:

• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

• The position demands work hour flexibility to ensure successful operations. Our facilities operate 365 days a year,

which may require weekend or holiday work when necessary.

• International and domestic travel may be required from time to time.