Maintenance & Reliability Manager

Calqulate; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Calqulate Metrics Ltd in Chicago seeks a hands-on Maintenance and Reliability Leader to own maintenance, reliability, and stores performance in a fast-paced chemical manufacturing environment. You will set and execute the M&R strategy, strengthen team capability, improve equipment performance, and support safe, efficient operations.

The ideal candidate will be safety-focused with strong technical judgment and the ability to build trust across the site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience 7–10 years in a chemical plant, or 10+ years with maintenance responsibilities.
• Proven success developing maintenance and reliability strategies.
• Strong leadership to mentor mechanical, electrical, welding, planning, scheduling, supervision, reliability engineering, and stores staff.
• Hands-on experience with predictive and preventive maintenance, plant troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.
• Safety-focused leadership ensuring EHSS expectations across activities and contractors.
• Cross-functional communication with Production, Engineering, and R&D on capital projects.
• Experience developing and managing budgets and monthly spend-versus-budget reviews preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own maintenance, reliability, and stores performance within a fast-paced chemical manufacturing environment.
• Set and execute M&R strategy, strengthen team capability, and improve equipment performance.
• Support safe, efficient operations and build trust across the site.
• Hands-on leadership across multiple disciplines and contractors.

Skills

Maintenance leadership

Reliability strategy

Predictive maintenance

Preventive maintenance

Cross-functional collaboration

Safety leadership

Budgeting/reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Key Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering required.
• Approximately 7 to 10 years of experience in a chemical plant environment, or 10+ years of plant experience with direct responsibility for maintenance, reliability, and predictive/preventive maintenance programs.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing maintenance and reliability strategies that improve equipment performance, operational efficiency, and cost effectiveness.
• Strong leadership background with the ability to lead and mentor mechanical, electrical, welding, planning, scheduling, supervision, reliability engineering, and stores personnel.
• Hands-on experience with predictive and preventive maintenance, plant troubleshooting, engineering best practices, and continuous improvement.
• Safety-focused leader who can ensure EHSS expectations are met across departmental activities, site work, and third-party contractor performance.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills and experience partnering with Production, Engineering, and Research and Development on capital projects, new processes, or new product development.
• Experience developing and managing budgets, monthly reporting, and spend-versus-budget reviews is preferred.

About the Role:

This replacement opening reports to the Site Manager and serves on the site leadership team. This person will own maintenance, reliability, and stores performance within a fast-paced chemical manufacturing environment. The role will set and execute M&R strategy, strengthen team capability, improve equipment performance, and support safe, efficient operations. The ideal candidate will be a hands-on, safety-focused leader with strong technical judgment and the ability to build trust across the site.