Dairy Plant Maintenance Leader

Empire Livestock LLC.; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company contribution

Paid vacation and holidays

Career growth – promote from within

Job summary

Empire Livestock LLC in Rockford, IL seeks an experienced Maintenance Manager to lead the maintenance function in our dairy manufacturing operation. You will drive preventive and predictive maintenance, ensure equipment reliability, and support safety, quality, and production targets.

This hands-on leadership role develops teams, resolves operational challenges, and fosters continuous improvement while complying with regulatory and company standards.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience.
• 5–8 years maintenance or mechanical engineering experience with leadership attributes; 3+ years in management preferred.
• Food & beverage or dairy industry experience desired.
• Electrical experience with 480-volt 3-phase wiring.
• PLC troubleshooting experience with Allen Bradley preferred.
• Experience with ammonia refrigeration is a plus.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and CMMS software.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a maintenance department to keep equipment and facilities in safe, efficient condition.
• Set performance objectives for maintenance activities and projects.
• Lead predictive and preventive maintenance programs to minimize downtime and extend asset life.
• Plan maintenance tasks with required parts and descriptions to maximize uptime during operations.
• Maintain awareness of best practices and establish benchmarks for world-class maintenance.
• Serve as escalation point for emergency maintenance.
• Consult with engineering on equipment modifications or replacements to improve operations.
• Implement cost-control measures and assist in capital budget planning.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, safety, and sanitation requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Maintenance planning

Problem solving

Team collaboration

MS Excel

CMMS

Education

Undergraduate degree

Tools

CMMS

Excel

Job description

Empire Livestock LLC in Rockford, IL seeks an experienced Maintenance Manager to lead the maintenance function in our dairy manufacturing operation. You will drive preventive and predictive maintenance, ensure equipment reliability, and support safety, quality, and production targets.

This hands-on leadership role develops teams, resolves operational challenges, and fosters continuous improvement while complying with regulatory and company standards.