Maintenance Manager - Beverage Manufacturing (Hands On)

Big Easy Blends, LLC; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Training and development opportunities

Paid time off

Job summary

A beverage manufacturing company in New Orleans is looking for a Maintenance Manager to oversee maintenance operations. The role involves leading a team, managing equipment upkeep, and ensuring compliance with safety standards. Candidates must have over 7 years of experience in maintenance, with a strong background in food manufacturing. The position offers competitive compensation and a range of benefits including health insurance and a 401(k) plan.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of maintenance experience in food or beverage manufacturing.
• 3+ years in a supervisory or lead maintenance role.
• Strong mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic troubleshooting skills.
• Strong mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic troubleshooting skills.
• Experience with PLCs, VFDs, and basic controls troubleshooting (Allen‑Bradley preferred).
• CMMS experience and preventive maintenance knowledge.
• Experience working in GMP and sanitation‑controlled environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead hands-on maintenance on beverage production equipment.
• Manage daily maintenance activities to minimize downtime.
• Develop and execute preventive maintenance programs.
• Supervise, train, and mentor maintenance technicians.
• Respond to equipment breakdowns and production emergencies, including off-shift support as required.
• Partner with Production, Quality, and Sanitation teams to support GMP and food safety requirements.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, FDA, SQF/BRC, and company safety standards.
• Maintain accurate CMMS records including work orders, PMs, spare parts, and downtime tracking.
• Manage spare parts inventory, vendors, and contractors.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for recurring equipment issues.
• Support line upgrades, new equipment installations, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Mechanical troubleshooting

Electrical troubleshooting

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Lean/TPM

Education

High school diploma or GED required

Technical degree or trade certification preferred

Tools

PLC troubleshooting

CMMS experience

Job description

Description

The Maintenance Manager is a hands‑on leader responsible for maintaining and improving the reliability, safety, and performance of all production and facility equipment within a beverage manufacturing environment. This role actively participates in troubleshooting and repairs while leading the maintenance team to ensure maximum line uptime, product quality, and compliance with food safety and regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform and lead hands‑on maintenance and repairs on beverage production equipment including fillers, cappers, labelers, conveyors, mixers, pasteurizers, and packaging lines
• Manage daily maintenance activities to support production schedules and minimize downtime
• Develop and execute preventive and predictive maintenance programs
• Supervise, train, and mentor maintenance technicians
• Respond to equipment breakdowns and production emergencies, including off‑shift support as required
• Partner with Production, Quality, and Sanitation teams to support GMP and food safety requirements
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, FDA, SQF/BRC, and company safety standards
• Maintain accurate CMMS records including work orders, PMs, spare parts, and downtime tracking
• Manage spare parts inventory, vendors, and contractors
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for recurring equipment issues
• Support line upgrades, new equipment installations, and continuous improvement initiatives

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• High school diploma or GED required; technical degree or trade certification preferred
• 7+ years of maintenance experience in food or beverage manufacturing
• 3+ years in a supervisory or lead maintenance role
• Strong mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic troubleshooting skills
• Experience with PLCs, VFDs, and basic controls troubleshooting (Allen‑Bradley preferred)
• CMMS experience and preventive maintenance knowledge
• Experience working in GMP and sanitation‑controlled environments

Skills & Competencies

• Hands‑on mechanical and electrical expertise
• Strong leadership and team development skills
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced, high‑uptime manufacturing environment
• Excellent communication and problem‑solving skills
• Root cause analysis and continuous improvement mindset (Lean/TPM a plus)

Working Conditions

• Manufacturing environment with noise, wet conditions, and moving equipment
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, climb ladders, and work in confined spaces
• Flexible schedule with on‑call availability

Key Performance Indicators

• Equipment uptime and unplanned downtime reduction
• Preventive maintenance completion rate
• OEE improvement
• Safety and compliance metrics

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Training and development opportunities