Maintenance Manager

ProTech; Uniontown (Fayette County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A food processing company located in Fayette County is seeking a Head Maintenance Engineer to lead and manage all maintenance activities. The role involves ensuring the safety and reliability of equipment, overseeing maintenance teams, and developing maintenance programs while complying with food safety and quality standards. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and at least 5 years of maintenance experience in the food industry, plus experience in a supervisory role.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of maintenance experience in food or beverage manufacturing.
• Minimum 5 years in a supervisory or leadership role within maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Lead maintenance team and plan activities.
• Oversee maintenance of food processing equipment.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards.
• Develop preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Manage spare parts inventory and vendor relationships.

Skills

Food processing equipment knowledge

Refrigeration systems

Electrical systems

CMMS proficiency

Data analysis for maintenance KPIs

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Mechatronics Engineering

Job description

Overview

The Head Maintenance Engineer is responsible for leading all maintenance activities in a food processing facility, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient operation of all equipment and utilities. This role oversees the maintenance team, plans and executes preventive and corrective maintenance, supports continuous improvement, and ensures compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory standards specific to food processing.

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and develop the maintenance team (technicians, electricians, mechanics, contractors).
• Plan daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance activities and assign work orders.
• Establish clear performance goals, provide coaching, and conduct performance reviews.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

2. Equipment & Facilities Maintenance

• Oversee maintenance and reliability of food processing equipment (pasteurizers, homogenizers, separators, fillers, CIP systems, refrigeration systems, boilers, compressors, pumps, packaging lines, etc.).
• Ensure timely troubleshooting and repair of mechanical, electrical, and automation issues to minimize downtime.
• Develop and maintain a preventive and predictive maintenance program for all critical assets.
• Manage spare parts inventory, critical spares lists, and vendor relationships.

3. Food Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure all maintenance activities comply with food safety standards (e.g., HACCP, GMP, 5S) and plant sanitation requirements.
• Collaborate closely with Quality Assurance and Production to maintain product quality and prevent contamination.
• Ensure equipment design and maintenance support hygienic design principles (cleanability, CIP/SIP, avoidance of dead legs and niches).
• Support internal and external audits (regulatory, customer, third-party certifications such as SQF/FDA/DOA).
• Maintain documentation of maintenance activities, calibrations, and inspections as required by regulatory bodies.

4. Utilities & Infrastructure

• Oversee reliability and efficiency of plant utilities: refrigeration (ammonia/freon), steam/boilers, compressed air, water treatment, wastewater systems, and electrical distribution.
• Monitor energy and utility consumption; identify and implement cost-saving and efficiency projects.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, health, and safety regulations related to utilities and hazardous systems (e.g., ammonia, pressure vessels, electrical safety).

5. Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Lead or support capital projects such as new equipment installation, line upgrades, plant expansions, and automation initiatives.
• Analyze downtime and maintenance data to identify root causes and drive corrective actions.
• Implement reliability and maintenance best practices (RCM, TPM, 5S, Kaizen).
• Prepare and manage the maintenance budget, including labor, parts, and contracted services.

6. Documentation & Systems

• Develop and maintain accurate CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) records for work orders, PMs, asset history, and spare parts.
• Develop and maintain SOPs and maintenance instructions for critical equipment.
• Ensure all maintenance work adheres to lockout/tagout and other safety procedures.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Mechatronics Engineering (or related field); or equivalent technical education and experience.
• 5+ years of maintenance experience in food or beverage manufacturing
• 5+ years in a supervisory or leadership role within an industrial maintenance or engineering function.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of food processing equipment and hygienic design principles.
• Experience with refrigeration systems (ammonia preferred), boilers, CIP systems, and high-speed packaging/filling lines.
• Solid understanding of electrical systems, PLCs, automation, and instrumentation.
• Proficiency with CMMS software and basic data analysis for maintenance KPIs.
• Knowledge of relevant codes and regulations (food safety, OSHA, environmental, pressure vessels, ammonia, etc.).