NK Utilities Maintenance Operator SME

Michael Food; Norwalk (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Michael Foods, Inc. in Norwalk, Iowa is seeking a Utilities Maintenance Operator Subject Matter Expert to lead the water/gas/air systems maintenance and reliability program within the plant. The role collaborates with MFI ARM, maintenance, and operations teams to ensure asset health and regulatory compliance.

The incumbent will mentor staff, maintain CMMS records, and drive continuous improvement across preventive and corrective maintenance activities while upholding safety and quality standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in mechanical engineering or related field; associate degree with relevant experience acceptable.
• 5 years of experience as utilities maintenance operator with emphasis on steam or refrigeration.
• Chief Boiler Operator license or boiler/ammonia equivalent certification.
• PSM certification.
• Strong leadership and ability to interact with all levels of the organization.
• Willingness to travel up to 10% of annual work hours.

Responsibilities

• Lead water/gas/air systems maintenance/operations team members to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Develop, implement, and champion Precision Maintenance techniques ensuring compliance and tolerances.
• Identify and implement critical water/gas/air systems maintenance and performance improvements.
• Coordinate with Corporate Reliability Team on real-time condition data for critical systems.
• Manage and facilitate maintenance training for personnel and maintain regulatory documentation.
• Lead root-cause analysis inputs and participate in Reliability Centered Maintenance.

Skills

Leadership

Maintenance management

Safety compliance

Troubleshooting

Communication

Project scheduling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field

Associate degree / technical certificate

Tools

SAP

PLC/Automation

CMMS

Job description

Business Unit Description

Michael Foods, Inc. is a leader in the food processing and distribution industry with business in egg products, refrigerated grocery and potato products. We offer exciting job possibilities throughout our organization where you can enhance your career, sharpen your talents and make an impact. Join our company and be part of an innovative team that’s First in Food.

Location Description

Michael Foods, Inc. located in Norwalk, Iowa is a southern suburb in the Des Moines, Iowa metropolitan area. We are known for knowing our neighbors and enjoying a great quality of life! Our location produces high quality precooked egg patties as well as various French Toast products.

Responsibilities

SUMMARY:The Utilities Maintenance Operator Subject Matter Expert (UMOSME) provides both maintenance and reliability services within the plant, championing executional excellence and critical water/gas/air systems asset health improvement efforts. The UMOSME will ensure results while partnering with the MFI ARM team, plant maintenance team personnel, plant operational team, equipment suppliers, and all other plant support teams members for success. This position will work closely with the engineering and maintenance departments to ensure that a critical water/gas/air systems equipment/component list is created, maintained, tracked, and communicated to entire plant organization. The UMOSME will partner with the maintenance workflow process team and will ensure that work orders for critical water/gas/air systems plant assets are in the CMMS backlog and are being planned and scheduled effectively. The UMOSME will work with technicians to ensure that critical water/gas/air systems scheduled work orders are properly executed, followed through, documented and value of the job is captured and reported. The UMOSME will report weekly and monthly to plant leadership teams on progress made on critical water/gas/air systems equipment care, and upcoming opportunities to improve. They will promote, execute, mentor, and coach excellence in water/gas/air systems preventive and corrective maintenance practices. The UMOSME will become a resource to the plant who constantly focuses on improving the operating condition of critical water/gas/air systems equipment and improving the skill sets and performance of the maintenance team. The UMOSME will carry and keep current any regulatory required utilities licensure (Chief Operator Level) and lead compliance activities. The UMOSME will manage and lead the plant PSM program always ensuring regulatory compliance.This position has the responsibility to comply with Safety work rules at all times as well as an obligation to reinforce Safety as a Core Value. Ensures that all policies, procedures and activities, related to Food Safety & Quality, are followed and complied with uniformly, in an effort to reduce product and process variability. This role must be available to work scheduled work times, weekends, and holidays, as necessary.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead water/gas/air systems maintenance/operations team members and tasks to ensure personal safety, quality, delivery, and cost, are continuously being improved to achieve company objectives. Engage and develop the water/gas/air systems asset care team members to deliver expected levels of reliability. Be an active member who contributes to the advancement of the MFI & ARM culture.
• Develop, implement, and champion Precision Maintenance® techniques ensuring procedural compliance and that job tolerances are met
• Identify, develop, justify, and implement critical water/gas/air systems maintenance and performance improvement projects
• Work with Corporate Reliability Team to develop, implement, and review real time condition assessment data for all critical water/gas/air systems equipment
• Responsible for identifying, coordinating, and facilitating critical water/gas/air systems equipment maintenance training for maintenance/operations personnel
• Develop and implement quality assurance and reliability procedures for critical water/gas/air systems spares and parts
• Develop and implement quality commissioning procedures for critical rebuilt or new water/gas/air systems equipment
• Work with vendors in addressing critical water/gas/air systems issues identified through root cause and condition-based maintenance programs
• Lead / assist craftsman during critical water/gas/air systems maintenance assignments
• Lead technical water/gas/air systems troubleshooting tasks while assisting other plant personnel in a teaching environment
• Utilize MFI approved CMMS to manage, document, and support water/gas/air systems reliability reporting and decision making. This will be accomplished through the guidance of MFI ARM standards.
• Keep accurate and up-to-date records (i.e., SAP data, critical equipment, regulatory documentation etc..).
• Provides input for root cause analysis (RCA) and Reliability Centered Maintenance to create an environment of continuous asset reliability improvement.
• Actively holds and sustains regulatory required licensure related to water/gas/air systems (Chief Level) and performs required duties to statute expectations. Understands regional code to a master’s level and demonstrates accordingly
• Manage and lead the plant PSM program always ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Promote, and foster Michael Foods culture, values, and principles.
• Leads plant emergency response team
• Act as a role model by demonstrating safe work behaviors. Accountable for a safe and healthy workplace for everyone. Adhere to all safety policies and procedures and incorporate safety and health in all jobs and tasks.
• Adheres to Quality work practices, follows GMP’s, maintains sanitary conditions and ensures that product quality is maintained. Reports on any conditions or practices that may adversely affect food safety and quality.
• Always ensures required regulatory compliance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPEREINCE REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a technical field is preferred. Can also have an associate's degree, two-year technical certificate, and / or a relevant combination of experience which demonstrates utilities maintenance operations technical and leadership aptitude.
• Demonstrated leadership experience preferred
• 5 years of experience as a utility’s maintenance operator with an emphasis on steam or refrigeration preferred
• Trained and competent in the equivalent of MFI UMOL1, UMOL2 & UMOL3 skills preferred
• Chief Boiler Operator license or boiler/ammonia equivalent certification required
• Trained in regional utilities regulatory code to a master’s level preferred
• Understanding of PLC and equipment automation preferred
• E&I troubleshooting experience required
• Master’s understanding of mechanical, piping, and/or electrical schematics and blueprints including equipment specific diagrams. Ability to maintain an accurate library of pertinent drawings, schematics, etc.
• PSM certification required
• Available to travel 10% of annual work hours
• Prior experience in SAP preferred.
• Ability to interact with all levels of the organization
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills along with superb time management and project scheduling skills.
• Excellent administrative and follow up skills to achieve success with condition-based maintenance, preventive maintenance, and precision corrective repair programs.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and listen. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, and feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; taste and smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 60 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee will be exposed to a noisy environment that varies from hot to cold in temperature. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPEREINCE REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a technical field is preferred. Can also have an associate's degree, two-year technical certificate, and / or a relevant combination of experience which demonstrates utilities maintenance operations technical and leadership aptitude.
• Demonstrated leadership experience preferred
• 5 years of experience as a utility’s maintenance operator with an emphasis on steam or refrigeration preferred
• Trained and competent in the equivalent of MFI UMOL1, UMOL2 & UMOL3 skills preferred
• Chief Boiler Operator license or boiler/ammonia equivalent certification required
• Trained in regional utilities regulatory code to a master’s level preferred
• Understanding of PLC and equipment automation preferred
• E&I troubleshooting experience required
• Master’s understanding of mechanical, piping, and/or electrical schematics and blueprints including equipment specific diagrams. Ability to maintain an accurate library of pertinent drawings, schematics, etc.
• PSM certification required
• Available to travel 10% of annual work hours
• Prior experience in SAP preferred.
• Ability to interact with all levels of the organization
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills along with superb time management and project scheduling skills.
• Excellent administrative and follow up skills to achieve success with condition-based maintenance, preventive maintenance, and precision corrective repair programs.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and listen. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, and feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; taste and smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 60 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee will be exposed to a noisy environment that varies from hot to cold in temperature. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.