Maintenance Manager

Dairy Farmers of America; Cedarburg (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Kemps, a DFA brand, in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, seeks a hands-on Maintenance Manager to lead a unionized maintenance team and partner with the Plant Engineer to drive safety, reliability, and continuous improvement across the facility.

Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Engineering, this role emphasizes preventive maintenance, automation support, and capital project collaboration to maximize OEE and product quality.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate degree or technical coursework preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of maintenance leadership experience in dairy manufacturing preferred, with demonstrated success in food and beverage manufacturing environments also highly valued.
• 3+ years of supervisory experience leading and developing maintenance technicians.
• Strong knowledge of industrial mechanical and electrical systems, including PLC troubleshooting and automation.
• Experience with CMMS, preventive maintenance programs, and equipment reliability strategies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and maintenance management software.
• Proven ability to lead change and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a unionized maintenance team to support safe, efficient, and reliable plant operations.
• Manage preventive maintenance programs and asset reliability through CMMS utilization.
• Drive Continuous Improvement initiatives and align maintenance activities with the Management Operating Structure (MOS).
• Maintain and troubleshoot production equipment, HVAC systems, boilers, utility systems, and 480V three‑phase motor controls.
• Support and optimize automation systems, PLCs, and plant control technologies.
• Monitor maintenance KPIs and implement corrective actions to improve equipment reliability and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, company policies, food safety standards, and applicable industry codes.
• Support capital projects and maintenance programs that improve safety, quality, and productivity.

Skills

Maintenance leadership

Supervisory experience

Industrial automation

CMMS

Microsoft Office

Continuous improvement

Education

High school diploma

Associate degree or technical coursework

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

PLC ladder logic

Job description

Kemps, a farmer‑owned brand of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), is seeking a hands‑on, forward‑thinking Maintenance Manager to join our fluid milk and cream manufacturing facility in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. In this highly visible leadership role, you will partner closely with the Plant Engineer to drive safety, reliability, automation, and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance plant performance and product quality.

Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Engineering, this position offers the opportunity to lead a skilled maintenance team while leveraging technology, automation, and preventive maintenance strategies to maximize equipment effectiveness and operational excellence.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead and develop a unionized maintenance team to support safe, efficient, and reliable plant operations.
• Manage preventive maintenance programs and asset reliability through CMMS utilization.
• Drive Continuous Improvement initiatives and align maintenance activities with the Management Operating Structure (MOS).
• Maintain and troubleshoot production equipment, HVAC systems, boilers, utility systems, and 480V three‑phase motor controls.
• Support and optimize automation systems, PLCs, and plant control technologies.
• Monitor maintenance KPIs and implement corrective actions to improve equipment reliability and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, company policies, food safety standards, and applicable industry codes.
• Support capital projects and maintenance programs that improve safety, quality, and productivity.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate degree or technical coursework preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of maintenance leadership experience in dairy manufacturing preferred, with demonstrated success in food and beverage manufacturing environments also highly valued.
• 3+ years of supervisory experience leading and developing maintenance technicians.
• Strong knowledge of industrial mechanical and electrical systems, including PLC troubleshooting and automation.
• Experience with CMMS, preventive maintenance programs, and equipment reliability strategies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and maintenance management software.
• Proven ability to lead change and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with dairy or food processing equipment, including fillers, blow mold machines, pneumatic and hydraulic systems.
• Allen‑Bradley PLC experience, including ladder logic troubleshooting and editing.
• Ammonia refrigeration, HTST pasteurization, fabrication, welding, and machining experience.
• Knowledge of GMPs, union environments, workers' compensation, and safety programs.

An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans