Manager, Plant Engineering (176304)

Colgate Palmolive; Bowling Green (KY); On-site; USD 124,000 - 174,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive, including Hill's Pet Nutrition, seeks an experienced Manager of Engineering at the Bowling Green, KY facility. You will lead the Engineering and Maintenance teams, own the site capital budget, drive FP&R initiatives, and oversee technology transfer and digital transformation to improve safety, quality, and margins.

As a key member of the Strategic Leadership Team, you will ensure compliance with EHS, Quality, and legal standards while coordinating cross-functional projects

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field (Engineering, Supply Chain, or related)
• 8+ years manufacturing exp, incl 5+ years managing budgets
• 3+ years in a management/supervisory role leading technical professionals
• Experience with plant systems and maintenance programs (AM/PM/TPM)
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional project teams and manage vendor relationships

Responsibilities

• Direct the development and management of the facility budgets (capital and maintenance)
• Lead a multidisciplinary technical team with direct reports (Controls Engineer, Project Engineers, Maintenance Leaders)
• Own FP&R initiatives, site conformance, audits, and continuous improvement
• Drive technical innovation and digital transformation through tech transfers and optimization
• Collaborate on the Strategic Leadership Team to align engineering projects with EHS, Quality, and legal standards
• Oversee plant technical document management, ensuring security and integrity of drawings and specs

Skills

Budget management

Leadership

Project management

Maintenance programs

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

SAP

Google Workspace

Job description

Requisition ID176304-Posted10/01/2026-Supply Chain/Manufacturing-United States-Kentucky-Bowling Green-Hill's Pet Nutrition-Travel - up to 10% of time-On-site

Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country

Job Number#176304 - Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous— we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.

At Hill’s we have a purpose to transform the lives of millions of pet families through pioneering innovation, science-led nutrition, and the best and brightest people.

Founded more than 75 years ago with an unwavering commitment to pet nutrition, Hill’s mission is to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets. Our decades of science and research guide us in creating nutrition that’s a step ahead so pets and pet parents can enjoy every day together. As the US #1 Veterinarian recommended pet food brand, knowledge is our first ingredient with 220+ veterinarians, PhD nutritionists and food scientists working to develop breakthrough innovations in pet health.

Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis and must not require the Company's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

As the Manager of Engineering reporting to the Director of Manufacturing, you will lead the strategic vision and execution of the Engineering and Maintenance departments at our facility. You will be the primary owner of the site’s capital budget, technology transfer, and technical system reliability, managing a high-performing team of engineers and technical specialists. This is a pivotal leadership opportunity to drive moonshot strategic plans and technical innovation, directly impacting the facility's safety, quality, and margin improvement goals.

Responsibilities:

• Direct the development and management of the overall facility budgets, including capital and maintenance funds, to ensure alignment with site-wide strategic goals and fiscal responsibility.
• Lead a multidisciplinary technical team, providing effective career development and coaching for direct reports including the Controls Engineer, Project Engineers, and Maintenance Team Leaders.
• Own the implementation of Factory Performance and Reliability (FP&R) initiatives, serving as the site lead for program conformance, audits, and continuous improvement.
• Drive technical innovation and digital transformation by overseeing technology transfers and identifying opportunities for margin improvement through system optimization.
• Collaborate as a member of the Strategic Leadership Team to influence plant vision and ensure all engineering projects comply with corporate EHS, Quality, and legal regulations.
• Oversee the plant technical document management system, ensuring the security, access, and integrity of all facility drawings and engineering specifications.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a technical field such as Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related business field.
• 8+ years of manufacturing experience, including at least 5 years specifically managing capital and departmental budgets.
• 3+ years of experience in a management or supervisory role leading technical professionals.
• Demonstrated proficiency in managing plant systems and maintenance programs (AM/PM/TPM).
• Proven experience leading cross-functional project teams and managing external vendor/contractor relationships.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS or MBA degree in a related field.
• Previous experience within the Food Processing or Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industries.
• Advanced technical competency in SAP and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides).
• Expert-level knowledge in contractor negotiation and large-scale asset capitalization.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range $124,000.00 - $174,000.00 USD

Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing, and long-term incentives for Executive-level roles.

• Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements.
• Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays (vacation days are prorated based on the employee's hire date within the calendar year).
• Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws. Detailed information regarding paid sick leave entitlements will be provided to employees upon hiring and may be subject to adjustments based on changes in legislation or company policies.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.

Our commitment to inclusion extends to all employees and applicants, ensuring a respectful and supportive environment for individuals of all backgrounds, ages, races, genders, religions, sexual orientations, and abilities. All employees are expected to uphold the company’s values and codes of conduct at all times.