Maintenance Lead (Heatwole)

Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401k match

Paid holidays & vacation

Job summary

Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates is hiring a Maintenance Leader for our Topeka, Kansas, manufacturing plant. The role leads a maintenance team, ensures safe, cost-effective upkeep, and drives reliability and continuous improvement across the site.

The ideal candidate has 5–8 years in technical leadership in manufacturing, with TPM/Lean experience and strong problem-solving skills. A technical degree is preferred, and the position offers a comprehensive benefits package and growth

Qualifications

• Associates degree in a technical-related discipline or 10+ years in a technical field.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a technical discipline preferred.
• 5-8 years of progressive technical leadership in manufacturing/industrial settings.
• Experience with TPM or Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a maintenance team, including breakdown repair and preventive maintenance.
• Ensure maintenance work is efficient and safe; supervise staff directly.
• Set up PM systems, inspections, inventory control, and scheduling.
• Manage projects aimed at asset improvement, safety, and reliability.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manufacturing costs in production areas.
• Lead PM function and budget monitoring for maintenance activities.

Skills

Maintenance leadership

Safety culture

Team supervision

Problem solving

Communication skills

TPM/Lean

Education

Associates degree in technical discipline

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

PM systems

Process engineering tools

Job description

Job Description:

Job: Maintenance Leader

Shift: Day

Location: Mars Wrigley (Topeka, KS)

Mars is looking to hire a Maintenance Leader for our state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Topeka, Kansas! Being a Mars Associate is all about opportunity. The opportunity to do challenging, exciting work that shapes the world’s best-loved brands. To work with real purpose, supported by talented, friendly people from different backgrounds. Access the tools, training, and experience you need to positively impact our business, the planet, and, most importantly, your career. Being a Mars associate is more than a job. It’s the opportunity to start your day tomorrow.

As part of our overall total compensation package, Mars offers a competitive benefits package to all associates: Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance, Short- & Long-Term Disability, and 401k match. Associates are also immediately eligible (based on hire date) for up to three weeks of vacation, 12 Paid Holidays per year, Sick Pay, Maternity & Parental Leave, and annual bonus earning potential, plus many other ancillary benefits not listed here.

The Maintenance Leader serves as a technical resource and leads a maintenance team for their assigned department and/or shift to ensure that skilled, cross-functional technicians properly maintain plant equipment. Responsible for leading a team that supports the site, consistently meeting or exceeding safety, quality, environmental, regulatory, financial, and product supply goals.

Responsible for leading maintenance associates to eliminate all causes of failure to ensure full, useful life in coordination with daily autonomous maintenance completed by operating personnel. Leads workers' activities in repair, maintenance, and installation of machines, tools, and equipment. Provides technical and problem-solving support for the plant and maintenance crews. Supports and executes plant-specific maintenance strategies to achieve plant key performance goals for overall maintenance performance. Inspects operating machines and equipment for conformance with operational standards.

Responsibilities:

• Supervise a maintenance team, including equipment breakdown repair, preventative maintenance and associated systems, and management and control of maintenance costs.
• Ensure that maintenance assignments are carried out efficiently and safely. Troubleshoot plant and equipment. Directly supervise maintenance staff.
• Set up, maintain, and be responsible for PM systems, inspection routines, inventory control, job scheduling, staff training, and identification of plant improvement plans, including efficiency and yield Control maintenance expenditures cost-effectively according to the site budget for site repairs, resources, direct labor, and overtime.
• Manage projects aimed at asset improvement/utilization, safety, and equipment reliability, utilizing process and project engineering skill sets.
• Identify and pursue continuous improvement opportunities to reduce manufacturing costs in the production areas.
• Leads the plant PM (Planned Maintenance) function in their respective departments by developing and managing PM implementation plans.
• Manages the overhaul, modernization, and construction of a diverse range of machinery and parts to ensure cost-effective modifications and improvements.
• Monitors and assists in the development of the annual capital project forecast, maintenance and repair budgets, and monitors work to ensure budgets are met.

Job Specifications/Qualifications

Education & Professional Qualifications

Minimum

Associates degree in a technical-related discipline or greater than 10 years of experience in a technical-related field of work

Preferred

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a technical discipline

Knowledge / Experience

5-8 years of recent experience in a progressive technical leadership capacity working in a manufacturing/industrial environment.

Experience with operating within a formalized Continuous Improvement Environment (TPM, Lean Manufacturing).

Key Functional Competencies & Technical Skills

• Experience in a high-performance, self-managed environment, with a working knowledge and understanding of production management, cost, quality, safety, and personnel.
• Demonstrated experience in leading change and situational leadership. Clear ability to relate to and motivate people and effectively train.
• Outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and lead work teams.
• Experience operating within a formalized Continuous Improvement Environment (MSE, TPM, Lean Manufacturing).

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With almost $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&Ms®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN’S®, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD® Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.