Maintenance Manager

Empire Livestock LLC.; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company contribution

Paid vacation and holidays

Career growth – promote from within

Job summary

Empire Livestock LLC in Rockford, IL seeks an experienced Maintenance Manager to lead the maintenance function in our dairy manufacturing operation. You will drive preventive and predictive maintenance, ensure equipment reliability, and support safety, quality, and production targets.

This hands-on leadership role develops teams, resolves operational challenges, and fosters continuous improvement while complying with regulatory and company standards.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience.
• 5–8 years maintenance or mechanical engineering experience with leadership attributes; 3+ years in management preferred.
• Food & beverage or dairy industry experience desired.
• Electrical experience with 480-volt 3-phase wiring.
• PLC troubleshooting experience with Allen Bradley preferred.
• Experience with ammonia refrigeration is a plus.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and CMMS software.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a maintenance department to keep equipment and facilities in safe, efficient condition.
• Set performance objectives for maintenance activities and projects.
• Lead predictive and preventive maintenance programs to minimize downtime and extend asset life.
• Plan maintenance tasks with required parts and descriptions to maximize uptime during operations.
• Maintain awareness of best practices and establish benchmarks for world-class maintenance.
• Serve as escalation point for emergency maintenance.
• Consult with engineering on equipment modifications or replacements to improve operations.
• Implement cost-control measures and assist in capital budget planning.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, safety, and sanitation requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Maintenance planning

Problem solving

Team collaboration

MS Excel

CMMS

Education

Undergraduate degree

Tools

CMMS

Excel

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Maintenance Manager to lead the maintenance function within our fast-paced dairy manufacturing operation in Rockford, IL. This role is responsible for driving preventive and predictive maintenance strategies, ensuring equipment reliability, and supporting the achievement of safety, quality, production, and efficiency targets. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who can effectively develop teams, resolve operational challenges, and foster a culture of continuous improvement while ensuring compliance with all regulatory and company standards.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and manage a maintenance department qualified to maintain all equipment and facilities in a safe and efficient working condition.
• Develop objectives and standards of performance for activities and projects within the maintenance department to meet departmental, divisional, and corporate goals and objectives.
• Oversee the development and execution of an effective predictive/preventive maintenance program which has a maintenance strategy for all assets to remove unscheduled down time, increase the lifespan of assets by keeping them in optimal condition, and contain maintenance strategies so assets are timely maintained to minimize costs associated with asset breakdowns.
• Ensure maintenance systems support task planning with time required, parts required, and job descriptions to maximize maintenance activities during normal plant operation, in time made available during washes, planned downtime, and periodic maintenance shuts.
• Maintain awareness of maintenance best practices and establish benchmarks, strategy, and plan to achieve world class maintenance.
• Serve as an escalation point of contact for emergency maintenance requests.
• Consult with engineering and management regarding desirable modifications of existing equipment and the possible replacement of existing equipment which will improve operations and reduce maintenance costs.
• Implement cost-reduction measures to control expenses that impact the operating budget for repair, utility, pretreatment, and maintenance. May be involved in developing the capital budget.
• Remain current with the latest and emerging industry regulations and codes relative to mechanical and electrical systems design and operation.
• Manage assigned employees, including recruitment, supervision, scheduling, development, evaluation, and performance management. Understand and effectively apply work rules, union contract provisions (if applicable), and employment policies. Administer discipline consistently and fairly. Work with Human Resources and plant management to resolve employee grievances.
• Follow all DFA good manufacturing practices (GMP) and work in a manner consistent with all company regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree (or equivalent combination of experience and education).
• 5 to 8 years maintenance, mechanical engineering, or related experience coupled with demonstrated leadership attributes, team leadership, or supervisory experience; 3+ years of manager experience preferred.
• Manufacturing operations or production experience in a food & beverage manufacturing environment or dairy industry is desired.
• Experience working with food manufacturing equipment, i.e., high-speed rotary fillers. Blow mold machines, pneumatics and hydraulics a plus.
• Electrical experience with wiring, motor control circuitry 480-volt 3 phase required.
• PLC troubleshooting experience with Allen Bradley platform preferred.
• Experience working with ammonia refrigeration systems is a plus.
• Strong computer skills, including MS Excel and maintenance-related software (CMMS), to support and oversee the preventative maintenance program.
• Experience leading and following safety policies and procedures.
• Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Union, Safety, and Workers Compensation experience preferred.
• Certification and/or License – may be required during course of employment; electrical, welding, boiler, refrigeration, compressed air, wastewater, or plumbing licenses or certificates.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package available 1 st of the month after start date
• 401(k) with company contribution
• Competitive pay
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Career growth opportunities – we promote from within!
• Service recognition and employee rewards
• Employee referral program
• Work for dairy farm families

An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans

Pay Range

$110,000 - $125,000/year

An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans