Maintenance Manager

The Judge Group; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance provided!

Job summary

The Judge Group is helping a food manufacturer in Cincinnati, OH, hire a Maintenance & Engineering Manager to lead multi-site maintenance, reliability programs, and process improvements. You will direct maintenance teams, implement preventive/predictive programs, and ensure safe operation of sheeters, dividers, mixers, proofers, and ovens.

This hands-on leadership role emphasizes uptime, equipment reliability, and continuous improvement through Lean, Six Sigma, and cross-functional collaboration

Qualifications

• 7+ years in maintenance leadership within bakery/food manufacturing.
• Experience managing multi-site operations and capital projects.
• Hands-on with bakery equipment: sheeters, dividers, mixers, proofers.
• Strong knowledge of safety, GMP/SQF, OSHA compliance.
• Proven track record of improving equipment reliability and OEE.
• Willingness to travel between sites.

Responsibilities

• Oversee maintenance across multiple food processing facilities.
• Lead, train, and develop maintenance teams for scheduling and troubleshooting.
• Implement preventive and predictive maintenance to reduce downtime.
• Ensure safe operation of equipment including sheeters, dividers, mixers, proofers, ovens.
• Analyze downtime trends and MTBF/MTTR to fix recurring issues.
• Manage CMMS usage and maintenance records and reporting.
• Drive continuous improvement with Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, root cause analysis.
• Collaborate with production and engineering to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
• Track performance metrics (OEE, yield, energy) and report to leadership.
• Promote safety culture and ensure regulatory compliance.

Skills

Maintenance leadership

Bakery equipment

OEE / MTTR metrics

Lean Six Sigma

CMMS proficiency

Safety compliance

Cross-functional leadership

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

CMRP / PMP / Lean Six Sigma

Tools

CMMS

Microsoft Office

Conveyor systems

Job description

Title: Maintenance & Engineering Manager - Food Manufacturer

Location: Cincinnati, OH *Relocation assistance provided!*

Job Type: Direct hire, full time *Must be a US citizen or Green card holder*

The Maintenance Manager is responsible for overseeing maintenance operations, reliability programs, and process optimization across the food manufacturing facility with sheeting and dividing lines. This is a hands-on, multi-site leadership role focused on maximizing equipment uptime, maintaining facility infrastructure, and driving continuous improvement initiatives that enhance productivity, efficiency, and quality.

Key Responsibilities:

Maintenance Operations and Reliability

• Oversee all aspects of maintenance activities across multiple food processing facilities.
• Lead, train, and develop maintenance teams to ensure effective scheduling, troubleshooting, and timely work order completion.
• Develop, implement, and monitor preventive and predictive maintenance programs to improve equipment reliability and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Ensure all equipment, including sheeters, dividers, mixers, proofers, and ovens, operates safely and efficiently.
• Analyze downtime trends and reliability metrics (MTBF, MTTR) to identify and correct recurring issues.
• Manage CMMS utilization and ensure accurate maintenance records and reporting.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, and root cause analysis methodologies.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and process improvement workshops with cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with production and engineering teams to streamline processes and eliminate waste.
• Track and report performance metrics (OEE, yield, and energy efficiency) to monitor and sustain improvements.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and proactive problem-solving.

Facility and Utility Management

• Oversee maintenance of facility systems including HVAC, refrigeration, compressed air, water, plumbing, electrical, and general building infrastructure.
• Coordinate and manage facility upgrades, renovations, and compliance projects.
• Partner with vendors and contractors for specialized repairs and major installations.
• Ensure all maintenance and facility activities comply with safety, food safety, and environmental regulations.

Capital Projects and Budget Management

• Plan, manage, and execute capital improvement projects, equipment installations, and upgrades.
• Develop maintenance and facility budgets, monitor spending, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Manage spare parts inventory and procurement processes to support equipment reliability.
• Prepare technical reports and recommendations for leadership review.

Safety, Compliance, and Food Safety

• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure adherence to OSHA, EPA, and company safety standards.
• Partner with Quality Assurance and Sanitation teams to maintain GMP and SQF compliance.
• Participate in internal and external audits, providing maintenance and facility documentation as required.
• Ensure proper lockout/tagout, confined space, and hazardous material procedures are consistently followed.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Serve as the technical and leadership resource across all company sites.
• Build strong partnerships with production, engineering, and quality teams to ensure alignment of maintenance and CI objectives.
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and performance feedback to site maintenance leaders.
• Communicate clearly with stakeholders and corporate leadership regarding priorities, progress, and risks.
• Support multi‑site coordination by sharing best practices and standardizing processes where applicable.

Qualifications and Experience:

• 7+ years of progressive maintenance leadership experience in bakery or food manufacturing, preferably in multi‑site operations.
• Hands‑on technical expertise with bakery processing equipment such as sheeters, dividers, mixers, proofers, and conveyors.
• Strong working knowledge of ingredient distribution systems, mechanical and electrical systems, pneumatics, hydraulics, and refrigeration (CO2 or ammonia preferred).
• Proven experience in implementing and sustaining Continuous Improvement programs.
• Demonstrated success improving equipment reliability, reducing downtime, and increasing OEE.
• Strong analytical, project management, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with CMMS, Microsoft Office, and maintenance data analysis tools.
• In‑depth understanding of safety, food safety, and environmental compliance standards.
• Ability to travel regularly between sites.

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, or related discipline preferred; equivalent experience accepted.
• Certifications such as CMRP, PMP, Lean, or Six Sigma are preferred and highly valued.