Maintenance Manager

Guided Search Partners; New Orleans (LA); On-site; Full time

Job summary

A leading executive search firm is partnering with a well-established manufacturing operation in Louisiana to find a Maintenance Manager. This role is crucial for ensuring uptime, safety, and operational performance within a 24/7 environment. Successful candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree in a technical field and over 5 years of relevant experience, particularly in plastic extrusion processes. The role demands strong mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic skills along with a hands-on leadership style. This is a chance to make impactful decisions in a critical manufacturing setting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a Maintenance Manager role within a manufacturing environment.
• Required background in plastic extrusion processes.
• Experience supporting continuous operations in a 24/7 plant setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of maintenance technicians supporting a 24/7 manufacturing operation.
• Own equipment reliability across multiple production lines.
• Diagnose and resolve mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic challenges.

Skills

Mechanical expertise

Pneumatic expertise

Hydraulic expertise

Leadership presence

Technical capability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a technical field

Equivalent hands-on experience

Tools

Plastic extrusion systems

Facility systems (chillers, boilers, etc.)

Job description

Guided Search Partners (GSP)

Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on trust, transparency, specialization, and long-term relationships. We connect high-performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders step into roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

About the Opportunity

We’re partnering with a well-established manufacturing operation that plays a critical role in supporting large-scale industrial customers across the energy sector. Operating around the clock, this site produces essential products that demand reliability, precision, and operational discipline.

This role exists because the business needs a steady, engaged maintenance leader—someone who wants to be present, accountable, and deeply invested in keeping production running at a high level. With continuous extrusion blow molding lines and a 24/7 operating environment, the Maintenance Manager is central to uptime, safety, and performance.

The opportunity is hands-on and visible. You’ll be trusted to own maintenance outcomes, set expectations, and build consistency across the function. This is an environment where high energy, technical confidence, and responsiveness matter—and where strong leadership is felt every day on the floor.

Professionals who thrive here tend to be builders: leaders who like being close to the work, solving problems in real time, and setting the tone for how a plant operates.

What You’ll Do

• Lead a team of maintenance technicians supporting a 24/7 manufacturing operation with continuous extrusion blow molding processes.

• Own equipment reliability across multiple production lines, responding quickly and decisively when issues arise.

• Diagnose and resolve mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic challenges that impact uptime and output.

• Establish clear priorities, expectations, and accountability within the maintenance team.

• Partner closely with plant leadership to align maintenance strategy with production goals.

• Drive a proactive approach to maintenance—balancing immediate troubleshooting with longer-term improvements.

• Be present and available when it matters most, including off-shift support during major breakdowns or critical events.

• Support a culture of safety, urgency, and ownership on the plant floor.

Who You Are

You’re energized by responsibility and don’t shy away from the realities of a 24/7 operation. When something breaks, you take it personally—and you take action. You combine strong technical capability with leadership presence, and your teams know where you stand.

You’re comfortable being hands-on, especially in environments where responsiveness and engagement make a real difference. Change, pressure, and unpredictability don’t throw you off—they sharpen your focus.

You’re the kind of leader who builds credibility by showing up.

Preferred Experience & Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field or equivalent hands-on experience.

• 5+ years of experience in a Maintenance Manager role within a manufacturing environment.

• Required background in plastic extrusion processes.

• Strong mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic expertise.

• Experience supporting continuous operations in a 24/7 plant setting.

• High-energy, highly engaged leadership style—this is not a 9-to-5 role.

• Familiarity with facility systems such as chillers, boilers, or water towers is a plus.

Why This Role Matters

This position directly impacts plant performance, customer commitments, and day-to-day stability. The Maintenance Manager sets the tone for reliability and responsiveness—and plays a key role in keeping production moving for critical end users.

You’ll work closely with plant leadership, have clear visibility into operations, and be trusted to make decisions that matter. With a dedicated maintenance team and a clear need for strong leadership, this is an opportunity to leave your mark quickly.

The timing is right for someone who wants ownership, influence, and the chance to build something solid.

Reporting Structure

• Reports directly to the Plant Manager.

• Leads a maintenance team of approximately 10 technicians.

• Works closely with operations and plant leadership on a daily basis.