Equipment Reliability Specialist

Russell Stover Chocolates; Iola (KS); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Russell Stover Chocolates is seeking an Equipment Reliability Improvement Specialist to enhance the mechanical integrity of our food manufacturing equipment. You will serve as the SME for machinery, lead preventive maintenance planning, and optimize parts management in the CMMS.

You will coach maintenance and operations teams, analyze machine performance data, and drive reliability projects to increase uptime and reduce unplanned downtime in a fast-paced confectionery environment.

Qualifications

• Experience with industrial mechanical systems.
• Strong understanding of maintenance planning and reliability concepts.
• Associate's in industrial maintenance, engineering technology, mechanical engineering, or related field.
• 3–5 years in industrial maintenance, reliability, or equipment diagnostics within manufacturing.
• Experience using a Computerized Maintenance Management System (SAP, Maximo, Carl, or similar).
• Demonstrated ability to perform RCA using 5-Why, Fishbone, and Failure Mode Analysis.
• Hands-on experience with vibration analysis, thermography, ultrasound, and oil analysis.
• Strong understanding of mechanical systems, rotating equipment, motors, gearboxes, conveyors, and electrical troubleshooting fundamentals.
• Ability to interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and equipment manuals.

Responsibilities

• Act as the technical expert for equipment, supporting troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and mechanical performance improvements.
• Develop and maintain detailed preventive and corrective maintenance job plans within the CMMS.
• Identify required repair parts, create accurate parts lists, and structure the Mogul repair parts inventory in the CMMS.
• Assess the mechanical reliability needs of machines and develop targeted improvement plans to increase uptime and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Provide hands on technical coaching to maintenance and operations personnel, helping build capability in proper inspection, repair, and operation of Mogul equipment.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives by analyzing machine performance data and recommending mechanical or procedural enhancements.

Skills

Industrial systems

Maintenance planning

Reliability concepts

Troubleshooting

Verbal & written communication

RCA methods

Vibration analysis

Electrical troubleshooting

Education

Associate's in industrial maintenance

Bachelor's in related field

Tools

SAP

Maximo

CMMS

Job description

At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you'll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman's, and Pangburn's have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let's continue making chocolate lovers happy!

A day in the life...

The Equipment Reliability Improvement Specialist is responsible for improving and maintaining the mechanical integrity of our food manufacturing machines. This role serves as the technical subject matter expert (SME) for equipment and provides hands-on technical coaching to maintenance and operations teams. The specialist focuses on reliability improvement, maintenance planning, and parts management to ensure maximum machine uptime. This is an individual contributor role.

What You Will Be Doing...

• Act as the technical expert for equipment, supporting troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and mechanical performance improvements.
• Develop and maintain detailed preventive and corrective maintenance job plans within the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Identify required repair parts, create accurate parts lists, and structure the Mogul repair parts inventory in the CMMS.
• Assess the mechanical reliability needs of machines and develop targeted improvement plans to increase uptime and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Provide hands on technical coaching to maintenance and operations personnel, helping build capability in proper inspection, repair, and operation of Mogul equipment.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives by analyzing machine performance data and recommending mechanical or procedural enhancements.

This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

Do you have what it takes?

(Basic Qualifications)

• Experience with industrial mechanical systems
• Strong understanding of maintenance planning, mechanical troubleshooting, and reliability concepts.
• Associate's in industrial maintenance, engineering technology, mechanical engineering, or related field.
• 3-5 years in industrial maintenance, reliability, or equipment diagnostics within manufacturing.
• Experience using a Computerized Maintenance Management System (SAP, Maximo, Carl, or similar).
• Demonstrated ability to perform RCA using 5-Why, Fishbone, and Failure Mode Analysis.
• Hands-on experience with vibration analysis, thermography, ultrasound, and oil analysis.
• Strong understanding of mechanical systems, rotating equipment, motors, gearboxes, conveyors, and electrical troubleshooting fundamentals.
• Ability to interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and equipment manuals
• Knowledge of OSHA standards, LOTO, machine guarding, and safe work practices.
• Ability to analyze downtime data, failure trends, and maintenance KPIs.
• Strong written and verbal communication for reporting, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration.

Do you stand above the rest?

(Preferred Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s in industrial maintenance, engineering technology, mechanical engineering, or related field.
• CMRP, CRL, or equivalent reliability credential.
• Experience with TPM, 5S, Kaizen, or WCM/LPW methodologies.
• Experience with laser alignment, dynamic balancing, or advanced vibration diagnostics.
• Ability to understand basic ladder logic for troubleshooting.
• Experience with sanitary equipment, molding lines, packaging systems, or confectionery process equipment.
• Ability to lead reliability improvement projects, equipment upgrades, or overhaul planning.

Experience Life at Russell Stover Plants!

• Safety First: Your well-being is our top priority, and we'll keep you covered with protective gear. On day one, you'll dive into Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) training, and we'll keep you on your toes with daily safety tips to ensure you're always in the know!
• Surroundings: Get ready to work alongside a variety of equipment like automated packing machines, forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and those irresistible chocolate candy banks/steels – it’s a dynamic environment where every day brings something new!
• Active & Engaging Work: Whether you're on your feet for extended periods, moving around, climbing ladders, or lifting up to 50 lbs, there's never a dull moment. This is a place where you'll stay on the move!
• Comfortable Climate: In most roles, you will be comfortable year-round with our climate-controlled environment.
• Appealing Smells: The air is filled with sweet aromas of chocolate, and by the time your shift ends, you might just leave smelling like chocolate!
• Dress to Impress (Food Safety Style): A simple yet important dress code ensures safety and hygiene, following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to keep everything running smoothly.
• Allergens: You will be exposed to a variety of ingredients that may be considered food allergens.

At Russell Stover Chocolates, we don't just accept difference - we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Make Happy. Work Happy.