Maintenance & Reliability Manager – Chemical Manufacturing

Software Placement Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Unknown site in North Central, IL is seeking a Maintenance & Reliability Manager to lead M&R strategy and drive reliability across the plant. The role reports to the Site Manager and requires embedding EHSS standards throughout operations.

The ideal candidate will mentor multi-disciplinary teams, manage budgets, and partner with Production, Engineering, and R&D on capital projects and new processes. This is a full-time on-site position with growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
• 7–10 years in a chemical plant environment, or 10+ years with direct maintenance/reliability responsibility.
• Proven success developing and executing maintenance and reliability strategies that improve equipment performance, efficiency and cost.
• Strong leadership to mentor multi-disciplinary teams (mechanical, electrical, welding, planning, scheduling, reliability, stores).
• Hands-on with predictive and preventive maintenance, plant troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.
• Safety-focused leadership ensuring EHSS requirements across activities and contractors.
• Cross-functional collaboration with Production, Engineering, and R&D on capital projects.

Responsibilities

• Set and execute maintenance and reliability strategy for the site.
• Lead and mentor mechanical, electrical, welding, planning, scheduling, supervision, reliability engineering, and stores personnel.
• Own predictive and preventive maintenance programs, plant troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure EHSS expectations are met across departmental activities, site work, and third-party contractor performance.
• Partner cross-functionally with Production, Engineering, and Research and Development on capital projects, new processes, or new product development.
• Strengthen team capability and build trust across the site as a member of the site leadership team.
• Develop and manage budgets, monthly reporting, and spend-versus-budget reviews.

Skills

Maintenance strategy

Leadership

Predictive maintenance

Cross-functional collaboration

Budget management

Safety leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Location: North Central, IL | Schedule: Full-time, on-site

Overview

An established chemical manufacturing company is seeking a Maintenance & Reliability Manager to join its site leadership team. This is a replacement opening reporting directly to the Site Manager, offering the chance to own maintenance, reliability, and stores performance in a fast-paced production environment. The role is critical to driving equipment performance, operational efficiency, and safe, reliable plant operations.

What you’ll do

• Set and execute maintenance and reliability (M&R) strategy for the site
• Lead and mentor mechanical, electrical, welding, planning, scheduling, supervision, reliability engineering, and stores personnel
• Own predictive and preventive maintenance programs, plant troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Ensure EHSS expectations are met across departmental activities, site work, and third-party contractor performance
• Partner cross-functionally with Production, Engineering, and Research and Development on capital projects, new processes, or new product development
• Strengthen team capability and build trust across the site as a member of the site leadership team
• Develop and manage budgets, monthly reporting, and spend-versus-budget reviews

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering
• 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 leadership ensuring 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

Preferred qualifications

• Experience developing and managing budgets, monthly reporting, and spend‑versus‑budget reviews

Why this role

This is an opportunity to serve on the site leadership team, reporting directly to the Site Manager, and take ownership of maintenance, reliability, and stores performance in a fast‑paced chemical manufacturing environment.