Plant Chief Engineer

American Foods Group; Gibbon (NE); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Gibbon Packing, LLC, an American Foods Group Company, is seeking a Plant Chief Engineer for our Gibbon, NE plant. The role leads maintenance and engineering activities to ensure uptime, efficiency, and compliance.

You will oversee preventative maintenance programs, budgeting, and coordination with multiple departments to maintain mechanical integrity across plant operations. The position requires strong leadership, technical expertise, and a focus on safety and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Must be able to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Must be able to effectively communicate in English (speaking, reading, and writing).
• 5-7 years supervising, planning, and scheduling hourly maintenance personnel.

Responsibilities

• Provide assistance and direction to other plant maintenance and operations employees in proper plant procedures and manufacturing methods.
• Provide guidance for preventative and repair maintenance to ensure that plant operations are able to meet output quotas and deadlines.
• Design all preventative maintenance programs in coordination with the maintenance and engineering staff.
• Administer and resolve all technical maintenance issues.
• Participate in all facilities maintenance meetings.
• Ensure compliance to all state and federal regulations.
• Collaborate with various departments to maintain the mechanical integrity of all plant programs.
• Prepare an effective schedule for all maintenance operations.
• Prepare annual and monthly maintenance budget proposals and ensure the achievement of all objectives with the required budget.
• Assist in the installation and maintenance of all machines and tools.
• Note: this description is not intended to be all-inclusive. An employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization; these duties are considered marginal.

Skills

Refrigeration systems

Steam & hot water systems

CMMS

Electrical systems

Safety awareness

HVAC

Conveyors

Tools

CMMS software

Job description

Gibbon Packing, LLC, an American Foods Group Company has an opportunity for a Plant Chief Engineer at our Gibbon, NE plant.

As our Plant Chief Engineer, you will:

• Provide assistance and direction to other plant maintenance and operations employees in proper plant procedures and manufacturing methods.
• Provide guidance for preventative and repair maintenance to ensure that plant operations are able to meet output quotas and deadlines.
• Design all preventative maintenance programs in coordination with the maintenance and engineering staff.
• Administer and resolve all technical maintenance issues.
• Participate in all facilities maintenance meetings.
• Ensure compliance to all state and federal regulations.
• Collaborate with various departments to maintain the mechanical integrity of all plant programs.
• Prepare an effective schedule for all maintenance operations.
• Prepare annual and monthly maintenance budget proposals and ensure the achievement of all objectives with the required budget.
• Assist in the installation and maintenance of all machines and tools.
• NOTE: this description is not intended to be all-inclusive. An employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization; these duties are considered marginal.
  

Minimum Qualifications (Required):

• Must be able to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Must be able to effectively communicate in English (speaking, reading, and writing).
• 5-7 years supervising, planning, and scheduling hourly maintenance personnel.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior supervisory experience in a USDA inspected beef, pork or poultry facility.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of refrigeration systems, steam, and hot water generation systems.
• Experience in utilizing computerized maintenance management systems to deploy maintenance strategies.
• Knowledge of rendering and wastewater system management.
• Strong knowledge and troubleshooting of overhead conveying systems, conveyors, HVAC, hydraulics, compressed air systems, electrical systems, and equipment utilized in food processing.
• Ability to communicate well (verbal and written) with all levels of employees from hourly to upper management.
• Ability to identify and address safety hazards; promote safety on a daily basis.
• Ability to lead by example, encourage teamwork and learning, and motivate the hourly workforce.
• Must have a high math aptitude; be assertive; and be able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to perform consistent, accurate work with minimal direction and work successfully as part of a team.

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as laptop computers, desk phones, and smartphones. The position will also be required to regularly visit production facility work environments.

Physical Demands

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk or sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and color vision.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Applicants with a disability who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process can contact Human Resources at the location(s) where you are applying. We participate in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law.