Engineering Manager

AkzoNobel; Waukegan (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits starting Day 1

401K with 6% match

Annual bonus up to 17.5%

Medical Insurance with HSA

Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D

Generous vacation and holidays

Tuition Reimbursement

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

AkzoNobel in Waukegan, IL, is seeking a Maintenance & Engineering leader to ensure safe, reliable, compliant operations and cost-effective performance of manufacturing assets. You will drive maintenance strategies, oversee capital projects and partner across functions to improve safety, quality, productivity and OEE.

The role requires 8+ years in engineering/maintenance within manufacturing, with strong leadership, budgeting, and project-management skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in chemical, mechanical, electrical, civil engineering or equivalent; master’s degree is an asset.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing capital projects, reliability programs and maintenance strategies.
• Proven budget ownership, contractor management and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Maintenance & Engineering organization to safety-focused, reliable operations and continuous improvement.
• Develop and execute maintenance, reliability and asset management strategies to maximize equipment availability.
• Oversee capital projects from concept through commissioning with safe, on-time, cost-effective delivery.
• Provide engineering support to improve safety, quality, productivity and OEE.
• Own budgets and develop long-term asset replacement and infrastructure strategies; establish KPIs and dashboards.
• Ensure compliance with governance, process safety, HSE and engineering standards.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Problem solving

Communication

Financial acumen

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree (engineering)

Master’s degree asset

Job description

Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long‑established paints company that’s dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.

For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com

© 2024 Akzo Nobel N.V. All rights reserved.

Job Purpose

Lead the engineering and maintenance function to ensure safe, reliable, compliant, and cost‑effective operation of manufacturing assets, utilities, facilities & buildings enabling world‑class production performance through effective maintenance, capital project execution, asset reliability, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Organization

• Leads, coaches, develops and inspires the Maintenance & Engineering organization, creating a high‑performing team focused on safety, reliability, continuous improvement and employee development.
• Provides leadership to Engineering Project Managers, project engineers, the Maintenance Manager, Reliability Engineer and supporting teams, ensuring clear priorities, accountability and effective resource allocation.
• Builds organizational capability through talent development, succession planning, performance management and competency development.
• Promotes a culture of ownership, collaboration, operational excellence and continuous learning.

Asset Reliability & Maintenance

• Develops and executes the site’s maintenance, reliability and asset management strategy to maximize equipment availability, reliability and lifecycle performance.
• Ensures effective preventive, predictive and corrective maintenance programs, maintenance planning, scheduling and spare parts management.
• Drives reliability improvement through RCFA, RCM, Mechanical Integrity and continuous optimization of maintenance processes.
• Oversees major shutdowns, turnarounds and critical equipment reliability.

Capital Projects & Engineering

• Develops the site’s capital investment roadmap in partnership with the Site Manager.
• Leads or oversees capital and expense projects from concept through commissioning, ensuring safe, timely and cost‑effective execution.
• Establishes engineering standards, technical specifications, engineering change management and technical documentation.
• Supports feasibility studies, business cases and investment proposals.

Manufacturing Support & Operational Excellence

• Provides engineering support to improve safety, quality, productivity, reliability and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Leads implementation of new equipment, process technologies and manufacturing improvements.
• Partners with Production, Quality, Supply Chain and HSE to resolve critical technical issues and drive Lean, ALPS and continuous improvement initiatives.

Financial & Strategic Management

• Owns the Maintenance & Engineering operating and capital budgets and ensures effective financial planning, forecasting and cost control.
• Develops long‑term asset replacement and infrastructure strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Establishes KPIs and performance dashboards to monitor asset health, project execution, maintenance effectiveness and financial performance.
• Identifies opportunities to reduce total cost of ownership while improving equipment performance and reliability.

Safety, Compliance & Governance

• Ensures compliance with corporate, legal and regulatory requirements related to Engineering, Maintenance, HSE, Process Safety, Mechanical Integrity and Product Stewardship.
• Leads technical risk assessments, Management of Change (MoC) and contractor safety to ensure safe engineering and maintenance execution.
• Ensures compliance with engineering standards, applicable codes and company specifications while driving adoption of engineering best practices and emerging technologies.

Job Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree (chemical, mechanical, electrical, civil engineering or equivalent),
• master’s degree is considered an asset.

Experience

• 8+ years of engineering and/or maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing capital projects, reliability programs and maintenance strategies.
• Experience with budget ownership, contractor management and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Process industry experience preferred.

Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of engineering, maintenance, asset reliability and project management principles.
• Understanding of reliability methodologies, Process Safety, Mechanical Integrity and HSE requirements.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement principles.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership, coaching and talent development skills.
• Excellent problem‑solving, decision‑making and communication abilities.
• Strong business, financial and project management skills.
• Good communication skills. Ability to influence across functions and drive operational excellence.

Rewards & Benefits

Base salary range for this role is: $150,000 - $160,000. This is the range that we in good faith anticipate relying on when setting wages for this position. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This salary range may also be modified in the future.

• Benefits beginning Day 1
• 401K retirement savings with 6% company match
• Annual bonus upto 17.5%
• Medical insurance with HSA
• Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D benefits
• Generous vacation (3 weeks), personal (1 week) and holiday (11 days) pay
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Career growth opportunities

At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable. In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.

Requisition ID: #LI-SS1