Maintenance & Engineering Superintendent (Biospringer)

Lesaffre Group; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K plan

Benefits starting day 1

12 paid holidays

Job summary

Lesaffre's Biospringer team at BSNAC Cedar Rapids is seeking a Maintenance & Engineering Superintendent to lead maintenance operations and capital projects, ensuring reliable equipment and plant performance. The role requires strong technical knowledge, proactive problem solving, and alignment with safety and continuous improvement initiatives.

The ideal candidate will manage budgets, oversee spares, and direct technicians while coordinating with RSYC maintenance, production, and external

Qualifications

• Engineering or Industrial Technology degree with 5 years' maintenance/engineering experience.
• Advanced knowledge of mechanical engineering principles.
• Ability to read and develop technical drawings.
• CAD proficiency and ability to use spreadsheets and email software.
• Ability to work with limited supervision and strong communication skills.
• CPR/First Aid certification required.
• Forklift certification required.

Responsibilities

• Lead all maintenance operations to ensure reliable equipment and facility performance.
• Develop and manage capital improvement projects with budget/time controls.
• Ensure preventive maintenance on equipment and systems (PLC, valves, pumps, etc.).
• Coordinate timely responses to equipment failures and repairs.
• Develop and track maintenance reliability KPIs and backlog reductions.
• Direct maintenance technicians and coordinate with subcontractors and vendors.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Technical drawings

Prioritize & organize

Communication skills

Customer service skills

Safety training

Limited supervision

Problem solving mindset

Education

Engineering/Industrial Technology degree

Tools

CAD

Excel / Spreadsheet

Email software

Job description

Maintenance & Engineering Superintendent (Biospringer)

Locations

BSNAC Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, USA

Description

Lesaffre is a key global player in the fermentation of microorganisms (yeasts and bacteria) for baking, taste, healthcare and industrial biotechnology. This story began more than 170 years ago in northern France, and, thanks to our pioneer spirit and our innovative approach, we are constantly developing.

Lesaffre's global presence includes 11,000 employees from 96 nationalities and a 3-billion euro turnover. We work with customers, partners and researchers to develop essential nutrients and bio actives that strengthen human health, optimize animal well-being and improve plant nutrition.

This role is within our Biospringer team. Biospringer offers our customers a range of yeast extracts and fermentation-based products designed to improve the taste and organoleptic properties of food. Our natural ingredients make food tastier and healthier.

Our Core Values:

Passion, respect, trust, entrepreneurship, and humility

What we offer

• The opportunity to represent a passionate organization focused on innovation and sustainability
• A competitive 401K plan, affordable benefits starting on day 1 of employment, and 12 paid holidays
• The ability to utilize your experience and knowledge to make a real impact
• Opportunities for continuous growth within your role and across business units

What you bring to the table

The Maintenance & Engineering Superintendent provides engineering & maintenance support to the BSNAC Cedar Rapids plant. This includes managing the plant’s capital projects, facility repair projects and providing direction to production and maintenance in resolving equipment, utility and facility related issues. The position requires a strong partnership with BSNAC production, Red Star Yeast Company Maintenance and outside contractors. Frequent contact with all levels of employees and management is expected.

The ideal candidate will lead all maintenance operations to ensure reliable equipment and facility performance, applying strong technical knowledge and proactive problem-solving to diagnose issues, coordinate repairs, and effectively manage contractors and vendors. The ideal candidate is resilient under pressure, a clear and collaborative communicator, flexible with shifting priorities, and committed to safety and continuous improvement.

This position provides direction and oversight to any person or persons performing equipment maintenance, repair, or replacement activities in the plant, which includes employees within a shared service and external contractors, but has no direct supervisory responsibilities of permanent employees.

What you’ll do as a Maintenance & Engineering Superintendent

• Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to Lesaffre's safety-first culture by strictly following all safety protocols and participating in required safety programs
• In partnership with the Plant Director, develop, manage (in budget and time) and implement capital improvement projects to ensure a safe, efficient, and reliable operation.
• Ensure preventive maintenance is performed consistently on all equipment including, but not limited to, centrifuge machines, evaporators, spray dryers, packing lines, pumps, heat exchangers, air blowers, air compressors, screw/piston type refrigeration units, cooling towers, etc. Electrical/electronics: fully automated facility (PLC’s, automatic valves, magnetic flowmeters, mass-flow systems, air flow systems, energy monitoring, etc).
• Coordinate timely response and resolution to any equipment failures.
• Develop and track equipment and maintenance reliability KPIs.
• Track and drive improvements to maintenance work order backlog.
• Identify projects and initiatives to improve equipment uptime (MTBF).
• Assist in troubleshooting equipment related issues and direct maintenance technicians appropriately.
• Coordinate and schedule either directly or through subordinates all preventive maintenance activities with RSYC maintenance personnel and BSNAC production.
• Function as Subject Matter Expert for overall equipment design, functionality, preventive maintenance requirements and spare parts.
• Assist in maintaining current maintenance documentation, equipment manuals, drawings, electronic records, etc.
• Analyze maintenance technician reports to avoid the repetition of any equipment or system failures.
• Maintain effective communication with Production Manager and Superintendents, Plant Manager and RSYC Maintenance Manager regarding maintenance needs and issues.
• Participate in planning meetings, weekly maintenance staff meetings, and management meetings.
• Ensure adequate supply of critical spare parts.
• Oversee plant maintenance budget and track maintenance related expenses.
• Ensure P&IDs are reviewed and updated as needed.
• Ensure all engineering and maintenance activities are carried out in accordance with established safety protocols and cGMPs.
• Lead route cause analyses related to maintenance issues.
• Work closely with process to improve processes and to support process related investments.
• Manage subcontractor interventions on side.
• Monitor emerging developments in processing machinery to ensure the equipment fleet remains current and use AI technologies to further improve uptime.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications:

• Degree in Engineering or Industrial Technology and 5 years’ experience in maintenance and engineering preferably in a food grade environment.
• Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factors.

Advanced knowledge of mechanical engineering principles.

Ability to read and develop technical drawings.

Ability to prioritize and organize tasks.

Computer proficiency in CAD, Spreadsheet and email software required.

Ability to work with limited supervision.

Communication and "customer" service skills are required in relationships with coworkers, management, and other departments within the company.

Communications skills needed in relations with outside suppliers and contractors.

Mechanical/Electrical aptitude and trouble-shooting skills.

Ability to handle critical decision-making responsibilities and deal with mental stress from occasionally extended worked hours outside of regular schedule.

Ability to write detailed technical reports; computer proficiency required.

Ability to be CPR/First Aid certified required.

Ability to be forklift certified required.

• Open-minded and hands‑on.
• Possesses a problem solving mentality.
• Demonstrates resilience in high‑pressure situations, successfully managing workload to meet deadlines and budget targets.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms; occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 60 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Preferred qualifications:

Additional safety and/or training experience helpful.

Experience in industrial maintenance preferred.

Lesaffre provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.