MAINTENANCE MANAGER

Meats by Linz; Hammond (IN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Meats by Linz, Inc. is seeking a hands-on Maintenance Manager to lead the maintenance team across production, processing, warehouse, and cold-storage areas.

You will troubleshoot, repair, and maintain machinery, supervision equipment reliability, and oversee preventive maintenance to reduce downtime. Based on a fast-paced meat processing environment, you will directly supervise technicians, coordinate with floor supervisors, and ensure safety and sanitation standards are met on every shift.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; technical degree preferred.
• Five or more years of progressive maintenance experience in manufacturing, meat processing, or distribution.
• Supervisory or management experience in a maintenance team.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical systems, electrical troubleshooting, industrial equipment, and preventive maintenance practices.
• Experience with motors, drives, sensors, control systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, and industrial machinery.
• Familiarity with workplace safety requirements, lockout/tagout, and regulatory standards.

Responsibilities

• Hands-on maintenance on production and warehouse floors to inspect, troubleshoot, maintain, and repair equipment.
• Lead preventive maintenance programs to reduce downtime and extend equipment life.
• Coach, train, and develop maintenance technicians and mechanics; prioritize daily floor work.
• Coordinate with production and warehouse supervisors to minimize disruption and keep operations running.
• Troubleshoot electrical issues and ensure safe repairs by qualified personnel.
• Oversight of safety, sanitation, and regulatory compliance within maintenance tasks.

Skills

Maintenance leadership

Electrical troubleshooting

Mechanical systems

Preventive maintenance

Team supervision

Education

Technical degree or trade certification

Tools

PLC troubleshooting

CMMS / maintenance management software

Job description

Position SummaryMeats by Linz is seeking a hands-on Maintenance Manager who will work directly in our production, processing, warehouse, and cold-storage areas while leading the maintenance team. This role is responsible for troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining production machinery, material-handling equipment, refrigeration-related systems, and facility equipment to keep operations safe and running efficiently.The Maintenance Manager will be actively present on the production and warehouse floors, working alongside maintenance technicians and mechanics to diagnose equipment problems, perform and oversee repairs, and prevent downtime. This role leads daily maintenance priorities, coaches the team, and partners with floor supervisors to resolve equipment issues quickly in a fast-paced food manufacturing and distribution environment.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesMaintenance Operations and Equipment ReliabilityWork on the production and warehouse floors to inspect, troubleshoot, maintain, and repair processing machinery, production equipment, conveyors, material-handling equipment, dock equipment, and other operational assets.Perform and oversee preventive maintenance directly on equipment to reduce breakdowns, improve reliability, and extend equipment life.Hands-on diagnose mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and control-system problems and determine the safest, most effective repairs.Perform repairs and adjustments when qualified, and guide maintenance team members through equipment installations, modifications, and scheduled maintenance.Coordinate directly with production and warehouse supervisors to prioritize urgent repairs and keep work areas operating with minimal disruption.Monitor equipment condition on the floor, identify developing issues, and take corrective action before failures interrupt production or warehouse activity.Ensure maintenance work is completed properly and that essential work orders and repair details are recorded.Provide hands-on direction to outside service technicians and vendors when specialized repairs are required.Electrical and Technical TroubleshootingTroubleshoot electrical issues involving motors, drives, controls, sensors, wiring, and industrial equipment.Work directly with technicians on automated machinery, control panels, and production equipment troubleshooting.Ensure electrical repairs and modifications are performed safely by qualified personnel in accordance with applicable requirements.Identify recurring equipment failures on the floor, determine likely root causes, and implement practical fixes to prevent repeat breakdowns.Team Leadership and SupervisionDirectly supervise, coach, train, and develop maintenance technicians, mechanics, and assigned maintenance employees while working alongside them in production and warehouse areas.Set daily floor priorities, assign hands-on maintenance tasks, and verify preventive and corrective work is completed effectively.Ensure maintenance coverage is available to support production and warehouse shifts and respond to urgent breakdowns.Provide on-the-job coaching and address performance, attendance, and work-quality concerns with maintenance employees.Set expectations for safe work, accountability, teamwork, and responsive support to production and warehouse operations.Train maintenance employees on equipment, troubleshooting methods, repair practices, and safe work procedures.Food Safety, Sanitation, and Regulatory ComplianceEnsure maintenance work follows company safety procedures, OSHA requirements, and applicable regulations.Follow and reinforce food safety, sanitation, GMP, and quality requirements while working in production and warehouse environments.Make sure repairs do not compromise product safety, equipment cleanliness, or sanitary conditions.Coordinate with Quality Assurance and Sanitation on equipment cleaning, inspection, and safe release back into operation after maintenance.Complete required maintenance, inspection, and safety records accurately and promptly.Enforce lockout/tagout and other machine-safety practices during all maintenance work.Parts, Tools, and Resource ManagementUse maintenance parts, tools, supplies, labor, and outside services responsibly; alert leadership when major repairs or replacement parts are needed.Monitor repair needs and parts usage during daily maintenance work and avoid unnecessary costs or repeat repairs.Keep critical spare parts, tools, and supplies organized and available for equipment repairs.Assess equipment condition and recommend repair or replacement based on safety, reliability, and operational needs.Coordinate with parts suppliers, vendors, and service providers to obtain needed parts and complete repairs promptly.Facility and Utility ManagementInspect and maintain facility equipment used in daily operations, including doors, dock equipment, lighting, plumbing, and related building systems.Troubleshoot and coordinate repairs for refrigeration, HVAC, compressed air, and other utility systems as applicable.Carry out and oversee equipment installations and practical facility improvements that support production and warehouse operations.Respond to facility and equipment issues to keep production, warehouse, and cold-storage areas safe and operational.Equipment Reliability and Floor SupportMonitor day-to-day equipment downtime, completion of preventive maintenance, response times, and repeat breakdowns on the floor.Investigate recurring equipment problems and implement hands-on corrective actions.Improve maintenance practices, equipment reliability, and repair response based on direct observation of operations.Keep operations leadership informed of major equipment issues, safety risks, repair needs, and staffing or parts concerns.High school diploma or GED required; technical degree, trade school certification, or equivalent technical training preferred.Five or more years of progressive maintenance experience in manufacturing, food processing, industrial operations, or distribution environments preferred.Prior experience supervising or managing a maintenance team.Strong knowledge of mechanical systems, electrical troubleshooting, industrial equipment, and preventive maintenance practices.Experience with motors, drives, sensors, control systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, and industrial machinery.Familiarity with maintenance management systems, work-order tracking, and preventive maintenance scheduling.Knowledge of workplace safety requirements, lockout/tagout, and applicable regulatory standards.Experience in food manufacturing, meat processing, refrigerated warehousing, or cold-storage operations preferred.Strong leadership, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.Ability to prioritize multiple maintenance needs in a time-sensitive operating environment.Ability to use basic maintenance systems or digital tools to review equipment information and complete required work records.Preferred QualificationsTechnical certification in industrial maintenance, electrical systems, mechanical maintenance, or a related discipline.Experience with PLC troubleshooting and industrial automation.Experience coordinating refrigeration, HVAC, and facility utility maintenance.Experience managing maintenance budgets, contractors, spare-parts inventory, and capital projects.Experience supporting multi-shift production or distribution operations.Physical and Work Environment RequirementsSpend most of the workday on the production and warehouse floors inspecting equipment, responding to breakdowns, and working with the maintenance team.Safely access machinery, maintenance areas, and equipment to inspect, troubleshoot, and perform repairs as required.Ability to work in environments with noise, machinery, cleaning chemicals, and varying temperatures, including refrigerated areas.Respond promptly to urgent equipment failures and maintenance needs that affect production or warehouse operations.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.Performance ExpectationsKeep critical production and warehouse equipment operating safely and reliably through direct, hands-on maintenance leadership.Complete preventive maintenance consistently and reduce unplanned downtime and repeat breakdowns.Lead, coach, and support an effective maintenance team through active floor supervision.Complete repairs and required maintenance records accurately and on time.Maintain compliance with safety, food safety, and sanitation requirements.Use maintenance labor, tools, parts, and resources responsibly to support reliable operations.Communicate effectively with operations leadership and other departments.Equal Employment OpportunityMeats by Linz is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.