Maintenance Manager

The Planet Group; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Planet Group is seeking a Maintenance Manager for our Akron manufacturing site. The role leads day-to-day maintenance, mentors technicians, and stays hands-on with troubleshooting, repairs, and preventive work to improve equipment uptime.

The manager collaborates with production to set priorities and drive safe, efficient operations. Responsibilities cover maintenance planning, root-cause analysis, and cross-functional support with engineering and quality teams.

Qualifications

• Experience in industrial maintenance within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong hands-on mechanical and electrical troubleshooting and repair skills.
• Experience with preventive maintenance and equipment reliability.
• Ability to lead a team while actively participating in maintenance work.
• Excellent communication, organization, and cross-functional teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot, diagnose, repair, and maintain manufacturing equipment alongside technicians.
• Provide hands-on support for mechanical and electrical repairs and urgent production needs.
• Support equipment and systems involving automation, PLCs, robotics, hydraulics, and pneumatics.
• Respond to equipment failures, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Coordinate preventive and predictive maintenance to improve reliability and reduce downtime.
• Monitor maintenance backlogs, prioritize work by safety, production needs and business impact.
• Maintain maintenance records and use data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Manage spare parts and supplies to ensure critical items are available.
• Recommend repairs, upgrades, and replacements to extend asset life and control costs.
• Lead, coach, and support maintenance technicians while actively working on the floor.
• Assign and prioritize work, coordinate schedules, and ensure safety.
• Support hiring, onboarding, training, and performance feedback for the team.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, safe practices, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with production and engineering on equipment improvements and new installations.
• Track downtime, work orders, and preventive maintenance performance.

Job description

The Maintenance Manager leads day-to-day maintenance activities in a manufacturing environment while remaining hands‑on with equipment troubleshooting, repairs, and preventive maintenance. This working‑manager role is responsible for improving equipment reliability and uptime, coordinating maintenance priorities with production, supporting safe and efficient operations, and coaching maintenance associates. The manager works directly alongside the team to diagnose and resolve mechanical and electrical issues and drive continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Hands-On Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Work alongside maintenance technicians to troubleshoot, diagnose, repair, and maintain manufacturing equipment.
• Provide hands‑on support for mechanical and electrical repairs, equipment breakdowns, and urgent production needs.
• Support industrial equipment and systems involving automation, PLCs, robotics, hydraulics, and pneumatics, as applicable.
• Respond to equipment failures, help identify root causes, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Preventive Maintenance & Reliability

• Coordinate and perform preventive and predictive maintenance activities to improve equipment reliability and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Monitor equipment condition, maintenance backlogs, and recurring failures; prioritize work based on safety, production needs, and business impact.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records and use equipment history and performance data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Help manage spare parts and maintenance supplies to ensure critical items are available when needed.
• Recommend equipment repairs, upgrades, and replacement needs to extend asset life and control maintenance costs.
• Lead, coach, and support maintenance technicians and other maintenance associates while maintaining an active role in daily work.
• Assign and prioritize work, coordinate schedules, and ensure maintenance activities are completed safely and effectively.
• Support hiring, onboarding, training, performance feedback, and skills development for the maintenance team.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, safe work practices, and continuous improvement.

Manufacturing & Cross-Functional Support

• Partner with production and operations leaders to coordinate maintenance work with production schedules and minimize downtime.
• Collaborate with engineering and continuous improvement teams on equipment improvements, troubleshooting, and new equipment installations.
• Support quality and productivity goals by ensuring equipment is properly maintained and capable of meeting production requirements.
• Follow applicable safety procedures, maintenance standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Organize daily maintenance priorities and balance planned work with breakdown response.
• Identify opportunities to improve maintenance processes, preventive maintenance compliance, equipment performance, and cost effectiveness.
• Participate in root cause analysis and implement practical corrective actions for recurring equipment issues.
• Track key maintenance measures such as downtime, work‑order completion, and preventive maintenance performance.

Required Qualifications

• Relevant experience in industrial maintenance within a manufacturing environment; leadership or lead‑technician experience preferred.
• Strong hands‑on mechanical and electrical troubleshooting and repair skills.
• Working knowledge of industrial automation, PLCs, robotics, hydraulics, pneumatics, and manufacturing equipment.
• Experience with preventive maintenance, equipment reliability, and root cause problem‑solving.
• Ability to lead a team while actively participating in maintenance work on the floor.
• Strong communication, organization, prioritization, and cross‑functional teamwork skills.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing or continuous improvement practices preferred.
• Hands‑on troubleshooting and problem solving
• Maintenance planning and work prioritization
• Team leadership, coaching, and accountability