Maintenance Supervisor - 1st Shfit

Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC; Abilene (KS); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Russell Stover Chocolates in Abilene, KS seeks a Maintenance Supervisor to oversee machinery maintenance, fabrication, and building upkeep. You will coordinate downtime with production teams, supervise staff, and ensure safety and quality standards.

Ideal candidates have a Engineering degree and manufacturing supervisory experience, plus hands-on knowledge of electrical, plumbing, hydraulic, HVAC and pneumatic systems. Comfort with varied shifts is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering preferred.
• Two years related experience in manufacturing.
• Supervisory experience in a manufacturing setting preferred.
• Hands-on electrical, plumbing, hydraulic, refrigeration, HVAC and pneumatic systems.

Responsibilities

• Direct and coordinate maintenance and fabrication activities.
• Oversee setup, installation, repair, and maintenance of machinery.
• Collaborate with engineering to ensure safe, compliant operations.
• Negotiate downtime with production teams and validate completed work.
• Enforce GMP and food safety standards; mentor staff.

Skills

Leadership

Troubleshooting

Mechanical expertise

Electrical knowledge

Plumbing knowledge

Team coordination

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Two years manufacturing experience

Job description

At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you’ll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman’s, and Pangburn’s have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let’s continue making chocolate lovers happy!

A day in the life…

As a Maintenance Supervisor, you will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating the activities of personnel involved in the setup, installation, repair, and maintenance of machinery and equipment, as well as the fabrication of metal parts and tools. Additionally, you will collaborate with the engineering team to ensure the maintenance and repair of the physical structures of the building. Your daily responsibilities will include negotiating downtime with production teams, supervising and directing staff, delegating tasks, and validating the completion of work to ensure quality and efficiency.

What you will be doing…

• Directs workers, or assists in diagnosing malfunctions in electrical, electronic, mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic maintenance and repair of machinery and equipment.
• Plans and directs maintenance personnel in fabrication of test control apparatus and equipment, and development of methods, and procedures for testing equipment or systems.
• Directs and coordinate assembly, fabrication and installation activities to ensure equipment and systems conform to engineering design and internal specifications and standards.
• Coordinates operation, maintenance, and repair activities to obtain optimum utilization of machines and equipment.
• Recommends design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions or to improve safety, quality or equipment operating parameters.
• Research and cost project proposals to determine feasibility, payback and equipment design.
• Interprets company policies to workers and enforces OSHA and company safety regulations.
• Interprets specifications, blueprints, and job orders to workers, and assigns duties.
• Establishes or adjusts work procedures to meet production schedules.
• Suggests changes in working conditions and use of equipment to increase efficiency of shop, department, or work crew.
• Analyzes and resolves work problems or assists workers in solving work problems.
• Confers with other supervisors to coordinate activities of individual departments.
• Adheres to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure product quality and maintain compliance with food safety standards.
• Completes and follows FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the plant’s food safety and quality objectives.
• Promptly reports and takes appropriate action on any observed or potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non-conformities by notifying the designated plant supervisor, in accordance with your role and responsibilities.
• Actively contributes to the continuous improvement of the company’s Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role.

This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

Do you have what it takes?

Basic Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED, plus Trade School Certification
• Ability to routinely and frequently stand, stoop, bend and lift overhead.
• Good hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
• Visual/hearing ability sufficient to recognize or detect warning devices/signs.
• Ability to routinely lift up to 50lbs
• Comfortable working in a noisy environment.
• Ability to work in awkward positions (under equipment, inside equipment and on ladders), and various temperature extremes.

Do you stand above the rest?

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in Engineering.
• Two years related experience and/or training in a manufacturing setting.
• Supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably in the food industry.
• Hands on experience in electrical, electronic, plumbing, hydraulic, refrigeration, HVAC and pneumatic systems.
• Basic working knowledge of personal computers and MS Office software.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and train employees within a Multi Trade team oriented environment.
• Flexible to work scheduled shifts including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Experience Life at Russell Stover Plants!

• Safety First: Your well-being is our top priority, and we’ve got you covered with protective gear. On day one, you’ll dive into Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) training, and we’ll keep you on your toes with daily safety tips to ensure you’re always in the know!
• Surroundings: Get ready to work alongside a variety of equipment like automated packing machines, forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and those irresistible chocolate candy banks/steels – it’s a dynamic environment where every day brings something new!
• Active & Engaging Work: Whether you’re on your feet for extended periods, moving around, climbing ladders, or lifting up to 50 lbs, there’s never a dull moment. This is a place where you’ll stay on the move!
• Comfortable Climate: In most roles, you will be comfortable year-round with our climate-controlled environment.
• Appealing Smells: The air is filled with sweet aromas of chocolate, and by the time your shift ends, you might just leave smelling like chocolate!
• Dress to Impress (Food Safety Style): A simple yet important dress code ensures safety and hygiene, following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to keep everything running smoothly.
• Allergens: You will be exposed to a variety of ingredients that may be considered food allergens.

At Russell Stover Chocolates, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Make Happy. Work Happy.