Facilities & Maintenance Leader, 24/7 Food Plant

Lifeway Foods, Inc.; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Lifeway Foods, Inc. is seeking a seasoned Maintenance and Facilities Leader to oversee a 24/7 dairy manufacturing operation in Wisconsin.

You will lead the maintenance team, own the preventive maintenance program, manage CMMS and asset records, and coordinate with Corporate Engineering, Operations, Quality, EHS, and HR to ensure safe, reliable production and timely customer fulfillment. This role requires strong mechanical/electrical skills, PLC/automation troubleshooting, and the ability to

Qualifications

• 7+ years industrial maintenance experience with team leadership.
• Food/beverage manufacturing sanitation and quality controls experience beneficial.
• Strong mechanical/electrical systems knowledge and PLC/automation troubleshooting.
• Experience managing budgets, spare parts, and projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop maintenance and facilities employees; establish shift coverage and performance expectations.
• Own preventive and predictive maintenance; maintain CMMS, asset records, and backlog priorities.
• Improve reliability of processing, filling, packaging, and material-handling equipment; lead root-cause investigations.
• Oversee mechanical, electrical, controls, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems; coordinate specialist support.
• Manage building upkeep and utilities; refrigeration, boilers/steam, HVAC, and related systems.
• Coordinate planned shutdowns, repairs, and restart readiness with cross-functional teams.
• Lead projects from scope through installation and handover; manage approvals and expenditures.
• Provide weekly project status, costs, and backlog updates to leadership.
• Escalate safety concerns promptly and ensure food safety compliance.
• Manage department budgets, contractors, purchasing, and spare parts; optimize spend.
• Partner with EHS and Quality on safe maintenance practices and documentation.

Skills

Maintenance leadership

Industrial maintenance

Facilities management

PLC/automation troubleshooting

Budget management

Contractor management

Reading electrical drawings

CMMS

Excel

Education

Technical diploma or associate degree

Bachelor's degree in engineering (preferred)

Tools

CMMS

Excel

Job description

Lifeway Foods, Inc. is seeking a seasoned Maintenance and Facilities Leader to oversee a 24/7 dairy manufacturing operation in Wisconsin.

You will lead the maintenance team, own the preventive maintenance program, manage CMMS and asset records, and coordinate with Corporate Engineering, Operations, Quality, EHS, and HR to ensure safe, reliable production and timely customer fulfillment. This role requires strong mechanical/electrical skills, PLC/automation troubleshooting, and the ability to