Maintenance Manager

kemps; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Kemps, a dairy producer, seeks a hands-on Maintenance Manager at its Cedarburg, Wisconsin facility. You will partner with the Plant Engineer to drive safety, reliability, automation, and continuous improvement for plant performance and product quality.

Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Engineering, you will lead a skilled maintenance team and leverage technology, preventive maintenance, and MOS-aligned strategies to maximize equipment effectiveness and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of maintenance leadership experience in dairy manufacturing.
• 3+ years of supervisory experience leading maintenance technicians.
• Strong knowledge of industrial mechanical and electrical systems, including PLC troubleshooting and automation.
• Experience with CMMS, preventive maintenance programs, and equipment reliability strategies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and maintenance management software.
• Proven ability to lead change and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a unionized maintenance team to support safe, efficient, and reliable plant operations.
• Manage preventive maintenance programs and asset reliability through CMMS utilization.
• Drive Continuous Improvement initiatives and align maintenance activities with the MOS.
• Maintain and troubleshoot production equipment, HVAC systems, boilers, utility systems, and 480V three-phase motor controls.
• Support and optimize automation systems, PLCs, and plant control technologies.
• Monitor maintenance KPIs and implement corrective actions to improve equipment reliability and OEE.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, company policies, food safety standards, and applicable industry codes.
• Support capital projects and maintenance programs that improve safety, quality, and productivity.

Skills

Maintenance leadership

Supervisory experience

CMMS

Automation systems

PLC troubleshooting

Preventive maintenance

Microsoft Office

OEE awareness

Education

High school diploma

Associate degree

Technical coursework

Tools

CMMS software

Maintenance management software

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Job description

Kemps, a farmer-owned brand of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), is seeking a hands-on, forward-thinking Maintenance Manager to join our fluid milk and cream manufacturing facility in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. In this highly visible leadership role, you will partner closely with the Plant Engineer to drive safety, reliability, automation, and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance plant performance and product quality.

Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Engineering, this position offers the opportunity to lead a skilled maintenance team while leveraging technology, automation, and preventive maintenance strategies to maximize equipment effectiveness and operational excellence.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead and develop a unionized maintenance team to support safe, efficient, and reliable plant operations.
• Manage preventive maintenance programs and asset reliability through CMMS utilization.
• Drive Continuous Improvement initiatives and align maintenance activities with the Management Operating Structure (MOS).
• Maintain and troubleshoot production equipment, HVAC systems, boilers, utility systems, and 480V three-phase motor controls.
• Support and optimize automation systems, PLCs, and plant control technologies.
• Monitor maintenance KPIs and implement corrective actions to improve equipment reliability and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, company policies, food safety standards, and applicable industry codes.
• Support capital projects and maintenance programs that improve safety, quality, and productivity.

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate degree or technical coursework preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of maintenance leadership experience in dairy manufacturing preferred, with demonstrated success in food and beverage manufacturing environments also highly valued.
• 3+ years of supervisory experience leading and developing maintenance technicians.
• Strong knowledge of industrial mechanical and electrical systems, including PLC troubleshooting and automation.
• Experience with CMMS, preventive maintenance programs, and equipment reliability strategies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and maintenance management software.
• Proven ability to lead change and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with dairy or food processing equipment, including fillers, blow mold machines, pneumatic and hydraulic systems.
• Allen-Bradley PLC experience, including ladder logic troubleshooting and editing.
• Ammonia refrigeration, HTST pasteurization, fabrication, welding, and machining experience.
• Knowledge of GMPs, union environments, workers’ compensation, and safety programs.

An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans