Maintenance & Reliability Manager

Gables Search Group; Springfield (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Gables Search Group is seeking a hands-on, safety-focused maintenance and reliability leader for a fast-paced chemical manufacturing site. The role owns M&R performance, mentors a cross-functional team, and partners with Production, Engineering, and R&D on capital projects.

Ideal candidates will have a strong track record in preventive/predictive maintenance, equipment optimization, and cost-effective reliability programs, with proven leadership across multiple disciplines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
• 7–10 years in a chemical plant environment or 10+ years plant experience with maintenance leadership.
• Proven maintenance and reliability strategies that improve equipment performance and cost.
• Strong leadership to mentor mechanical, electrical, welding, planning, scheduling, supervision, reliability, stores.
• Hands-on with predictive and preventive maintenance and plant troubleshooting.
• Safety-focused EHSS leadership across activities and contractors.
• Cross-functional collaboration with Production, Engineering, and R&D on capital projects.
• Experience budgeting, monthly reporting, and spend-versus-budget reviews.

Responsibilities

• Own maintenance, reliability, and stores performance in a fast-paced chemical plant.
• Set and execute M&R strategy and strengthen team capability.
• Improve equipment performance and support safe, efficient operations.
• Lead with hands-on, safety-focused leadership and strong technical judgment.

Skills

Maintenance leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Predictive & preventive maintenance

Troubleshooting

Safety leadership

Budgeting & reporting

Mentoring & supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering 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.