Department Leader, Maintenance Controls

Pharmavite; Opelika (AL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

Pharmavite seeks an experienced Maintenance Controls professional to lead and optimize plant automation support. You will troubleshoot, repair, and improve electrical controls, PLCs, HMIs, and related manufacturing systems to minimize downtime and ensure safe, compliant operations.

You will collaborate across Maintenance, Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Safety to drive reliability, scalability, and continuous improvement initiatives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree, or one or two years of college, technical school, apprenticeship training, or equivalent technical experience in electrical, automation, instrumentation, industrial maintenance, or a related discipline.
• Requires five to eight years of experience in technical maintenance, electrical controls, automation, instrumentation, manufacturing equipment troubleshooting, or related technical disciplines
• Technical certifications related to PLCs, industrial electrical systems, instrumentation, controls, or automation are preferred

Responsibilities

• Leads day-to-day maintenance controls support for plant equipment, automation systems, electrical controls, PLCs, HMIs, drives, sensors, instrumentation, and related manufacturing systems to minimize downtime and support production needs.
• Provides technical direction to Controls Technicians and maintenance team members during troubleshooting, repair, installation, start-up, and continuous improvement activities.
• Plans and prioritizes controls-related work orders, preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, calibrations, equipment upgrades, and system improvements in partnership with Maintenance and Operations leaders.
• Uses the computerized maintenance management system to document work activity, maintain accurate equipment histories, identify recurring failures, and support reliability improvement actions.
• Supports the development and execution of controls standards, electrical safety practices, backup and recovery practices, change control, and documentation for PLC, HMI, panel, instrumentation, and automation assets.

Skills

Electrical troubleshooting

Controls systems

PLCs

HMIs

Instrumentation

Industrial networks

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent

Tools

PLCs

HMIs

Drives (VFDs)

Job description

HELP US BRING THE GIFT OF HEALTH TO LIFE.

Working at Pharmavite is an experience like no other. With a focus on complete nutrition for all, each endeavor is urgent and every day counts. You’ll have the opportunity to work on the #1 selling national vitamin and supplement brand, Nature Made, as well as an exciting portfolio of other products that are shaping the future of the healthy living industry. Consumer-driven innovation, high quality products and a promising portfolio, all driven by a team with a shared sense of purpose – that’s Pharmavite. Join us to bring the gift of health to life.

This role is not available for any form of immigration sponsorship or support, including completion of the Form I-983 training plan required for STEM OPT.

Position Summary:
Leads maintenance controls activities that support reliable manufacturing operations, including troubleshooting, repair, improvement, and sustainment of plant automation, electrical systems, instrumentation, controls hardware, and related software. Partners with Maintenance, Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Safety teams to reduce downtime, strengthen equipment reliability, support capital and continuous improvement projects, and ensure work is completed safely and in compliance with applicable standards.
Key Responsibilities:

• Leads day-to-day maintenance controls support for plant equipment, automation systems, electrical controls, PLCs, HMIs, drives, sensors, instrumentation, and related manufacturing systems to minimize downtime and support production needs.
• Provides technical direction to Controls Technicians and maintenance team members during troubleshooting, repair, installation, start-up, and continuous improvement activities.
• Plans and prioritizes controls-related work orders, preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, calibrations, equipment upgrades, and system improvements in partnership with Maintenance and Operations leaders.
• Uses the computerized maintenance management system to document work activity, maintain accurate equipment histories, identify recurring failures, and support reliability improvement actions.
• Supports the development and execution of controls standards, electrical safety practices, backup and recovery practices, change control, and documentation for PLC, HMI, panel, instrumentation, and automation assets.
• Partners with Engineering and project teams on equipment installations, capital projects, process improvements, commissioning, validation support, and handoff to maintenance ownership.
• Coaches, trains, and develops controls and maintenance staff to strengthen technical capability, safe work practices, troubleshooting discipline, and accountability for reliable execution.
• Recommends, processes, and supports equipment and controls improvements that improve safety, quality, reliability, throughput, and maintainability.
• Assists in developing and managing the departmental budget for controls-related labor, parts, service support, tools, and improvement projects.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree, or one or two years of college, technical school, apprenticeship training, or equivalent technical experience in electrical, automation, instrumentation, industrial maintenance, or a related discipline.
• Requires five to eight years of experience in technical maintenance, electrical controls, automation, instrumentation, manufacturing equipment troubleshooting, or related technical disciplines
• Technical certifications related to PLCs, industrial electrical systems, instrumentation, controls, or automation are preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies:

• Working knowledge of preventative and predictive maintenance programs, computerized maintenance systems, and equipment reliability practices.
• Strong electrical and controls troubleshooting capability, including PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, sensors, instrumentation, control panels, schematics, and industrial networks used in manufacturing environments.
• Good understanding of mechanical systems and how electrical and controls issues affect equipment performance, safety, quality, and throughput.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, good computer skills, and the ability to document technical work clearly.
• Ability to lead and develop employees, prioritize competing work demands, and partner effectively across Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Safety.

Physical or Work Requirements:

• Performs work in manufacturing, warehouse, or production environments and requires frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, climbing, and repetitive motion throughout the shift.
• Employees may be required to operate machinery or powered equipment, wear personal protective equipment (PPE), work in environments with varying temperatures, noise levels, moving equipment, or manufacturing materials, and lift or move materials weighing up to 25–50 pounds. Some roles may require overtime, shift work, weekends, or extended schedules based on business needs.

OUR OFFER

Here, career paths aren’t predefined, and bureaucratic limitations don’t exist – you have the opportunity to grow, learn from industry pioneers, and develop the way you want to. Pharmavite is investing more in the development of our team – to help us deliver on our purpose and help you achieve your career aspirations. Our environment is geared to fuel curiosity, encourage experimentation, and generate learning as this is the way we develop ourselves and our organization.

Pharmavite is committed to meeting the needs of our employees and their families with a Total Rewards package that’s as comprehensive as the vitamins and supplements we deliver to consumers. With competitive compensation programs and standout benefits, we provide employees with optimal health and well-being – as well as peace of mind. These rewards – plus our new recognition program – ensure employees feel supported both at work and home.

National Target Base Pay Range: $80,000.00 - $133,000.00.

The salary range for this position is based on national standards. For candidates in California and the New York metro, the Target Base Pay Range is $88,000.00 - $146,000.00, to reflect the cost of living and market conditions in those areas.

Actual compensation will take into account a wide range of factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to geographic location, education, experience, qualifications, and job-related skills. It is not typical for an individual to be hired above the midpoint of the range for their role, and compensation decisions depend on the facts and circumstances of each case. This information is provided to applicants in accordance with state and local laws.

Base pay is only one component of our total rewards offerings, and we will take the full offering into consideration when presenting an offer of employment. Our total rewards package for this position may also include an annual performance bonus, Medical, dental, and vision benefits, 401(k) match, and other wellness benefits.

Visit Pharmavite.com/careers to learn more about our mission and discover an opportunity that’s right for you. Health and wellness begins with us.

Pharmavite is an equal opportunity employer. Weprohibit employment discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, national origin, and any other basis protected by state and federal law. Pharmaviterecruits, hires, employs, trains, promotes, and compensatesindividuals solely based on job-related qualifications and abilities.

Pharmavite also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities or based on a sincerely held religious belief, in accordance with applicable laws. If you need to inquire about an accommodation to complete the application process, please email [e-mail].

Disclaimer

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications of employees assigned to this job.