Manager, Fleet & Facility Operations

US Foods; Aurora (IL); On-site; USD 105,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

US Foods seeks a Manager, Fleet & Facility Operations to oversee the safe, efficient, and compliant operation of fleet maintenance and facility functions across the DC network, including refrigeration, security, and office spaces.

The role leads a skilled fleet and facilities team, drives preventive maintenance, manages budgets and vendor relationships, and collaborates with QA, safety, and operations to ensure cold chain integrity and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• 5 years of facilities management experience.
• 3 years working with refrigeration systems within cold chain.
• Proven leadership experience managing maintenance teams, budgets, and vendor contracts.
• Strong understanding of OSHA, EPA, USDA, FDA, GMP, and other regulatory requirements.
• Proficiency with CMMS and data analytics to drive performance improvements.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Direct and monitor maintenance, sanitation, refrigeration, and security upkeep.
• Oversee refrigeration systems to maintain cold chain integrity and respond to excursions.
• Manage facility operations activities and capital projects with priority on distribution operations.
• Lead safety culture and enforce company policies.
• Recruit, train, coach, and evaluate staff; manage labor hours and schedules.
• Coordinate with third-party vendors and ensure compliance and insurance certificates.
• Ensure asset purchasing, budgeting, and lifecycle planning.
• Ensure regulatory compliance (OSHA, EPA, USDA, DOT, etc.) and document inspections.

Skills

Facilities management

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Vendor management

CMMS

Safety culture

Tools

CMMS

Job description

Join Our Community of Food People!

The Manager, Fleet & Facility Operations is responsible for the safe, efficient, and compliant operation of all fleet maintenance, as well as facility, domicile and hub functions and systems, including general maintenance, repairs, sanitation, groundskeeping, office space, security, power industrial equipment, compliance on all systems and vendor services. This role ensures proactive preventative maintenance and rapid issue resolution to ensure regulatory compliance and operational upkeep of all company owned equipment, including facility refrigeration and all vehicles. The Manager, Fleet & Facility Operations will lead and develop a skilled fleet and facilities operations and maintenance team, optimize workflows using CMMS and automation technologies, partner with third-party providers, implement sustainability initiatives that reduce energy consumption, extend asset life, and support corporate environmental goals. This position is critical to maintaining a safe workplace, protecting product quality, and enabling uninterrupted service to customers.

The initial onboarding and training will be in our Aurora IL DC

This position will be based in our Plainfield IL DC

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Direct and monitor associates responsible for building, grounds, sanitation, refrigeration systems, power industrial equipment, and security maintenance using tracking software and preventative maintenance schedules. Ensure adherence to Preferred Work Methods (PWMs) and foster a safety-first culture that prioritizes injury-free operations.
• Oversee the operation, monitoring, and maintenance of refrigeration systems to ensure temperature control standards are met for perishable products. Partner with Quality Assurance and Food Safety teams to prevent product loss, maintain cold chain integrity, and respond quickly to temperature excursions or equipment failures.
• Manage, assign, and oversee all facility operations activities and capital projects. Ensure timely, high-quality completion while minimizing impact on distribution operations. Coordinate with other departments for repairs, upgrades, and equipment installations.
• Lead to create a culture of safety that ensures that every US Foods associate remains injury free, always. Interpret, train, and consistently enforce Company policies and procedures.
• Recruit, train, coach, and evaluate staff performance. Administer discipline when necessary and maintain strong associate relations through open communication, regular meetings, and policy clarification. Manage labor hours within budget and create work schedules, including overtime as required. Ability to prioritize daily tasks and long-term projects to ensure timely completion. Manage competing deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with third-party vendors, including but not limited to utilities, refrigeration contractors, janitorial, pest control, and security services. Ensure vendors meet all compliance requirements, including current certificates of insurance and hold harmless agreements.
• Oversee the selection, purchase, utilization, and inventory control of company assets such as racking, material handling equipment, refrigeration units, fuel, and shop equipment. Monitor equipment life cycles and recommend replacements or upgrades to maintain operational efficiency. File warranty claims and recovery warranty dollars, and develop the yearly budget.
• Partner with QA and sanitation teams to ensure compliance with all food safety regulations (USDA, FDA, GMPs). Maintain facility cleanliness and conduct routine inspections to verify sanitation, pest control, and allergen management programs are effective.
• Ensure all vehicles are in proper working condition by performing and/or overseeing maintenance on all company owned equipment. Provide the proper documentation and applicable certifications and ensure conformance with vehicle manufacture’s service recommendations.
• Work with drivers to enable them to operate specialized equipment properly and provide assistance as needed when troubles develop on the road. Find qualified service to repair downed vehicles and obtain competitive bids for repairs.
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations (OSHA, EPA, USDA, DOT, Tax Commission, etc.). Conduct internal audits and maintain documentation for inspections, food safety protocols, EPSM, Process Safety Management (PSM), ammonia refrigeration safety, and fire protection systems.
• Partner with the Safety Department to deliver training, perform safety observations, investigate accidents, and update PWMs. Lead emergency response planning, crisis management, and liaison efforts with local emergency management agencies.
• Coordinate with warehouse and transportation teams to ensure facility infrastructure supports high-volume receiving, storage, and shipping activities without delays or product compromise.
• Other duties as assigned by manager.

SUPERVISION :

• Direct: Maintenance and Sanitation Staff (Maintenance Technicians, Fleet Technicians, etc.) with a range of 2-10 direct reports based on size of distribution center.

RELATIONSHIPS

• Internal: Collaborates daily with Operations, Warehouse, Transportation, Safety, Quality Assurance, Sanitation, and HR teams to ensure facility readiness, cold chain integrity, and compliance with safety and food quality standards. Partners with leadership of distribution center and corporate facilities/fleet team on budgeting, capital projects, and long-term infrastructure planning.
• External: Manages relationships with third-party service providers, including refrigeration contractors, utilities, janitorial, pest control, security, and equipment suppliers. Serves as primary point of contact for local, state, and federal regulatory agencies during inspections and compliance audits. Coordinates with emergency services and community resources for crisis management and safety initiatives.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• May spend a portion of time on the road in a truck exposed to noise and vibration levels which may be higher than those typically experienced in passenger cars. Will spend a portion of time in an office working on a computer. Time will also be spent inside and outside the distribution center in a variety of climates including normal warehouse conditions with temperatures that may reach -5 degrees.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and on-call as needed for 24/7 operation and emergency support.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 5 years of facilities management experience.
• 3 years working with refrigeration systems within cold chain distribution.
• Proven leadership experience managing maintenance teams, budgets, and vendor contracts.
• Strong understanding of OSHA, EPA, USDA, FDA, GMP, and other regulatory compliance requirements.
• Proficiency with CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems) and basic data analytics to drive performance improvements.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to adapt to changing organizational and operational needs.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc.).
• Demonstrated knowledge of DOT, Hazmat, and OSHA regulations.
• Working knowledge of ammonia and