Plant Reliability & Maintenance Leader

Blue Signal Search; Champaign (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career Growth Opportunities

Access to Senior Leadership

Mission-Driven Organization

Commitment to Sustainability

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Plant Reliability & Maintenance Leader to spearhead transformation at a high-output processing facility. In this pivotal role, you will develop and implement world-class maintenance strategies focused on safety and operational continuity. You will lead a large team, manage a multi-million dollar budget, and drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance performance and reliability. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in a mission-driven organization committed to sustainability and global food supply, offering tremendous potential for long-term career growth.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in maintenance or reliability leadership in manufacturing.
• Strong background in food safety and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead maintenance strategies to improve asset reliability.
• Champion safety culture and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Oversee maintenance budget and manage cost control.

Skills

Leadership

Reliability Engineering

Predictive Maintenance

Safety Compliance

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering

Tools

RCM Tools

Job description

A global leader in ingredient manufacturing is looking for a forward-thinking Plant Reliability & Maintenance Leader to drive transformation at one of their high-output processing facilities. This location plays a pivotal role in converting raw agricultural products into essential components used across food, beverage, and nutrition industries.

This leadership position is responsible for building and executing a world-class maintenance program, with a focus on safety, operational continuity, and predictive maintenance strategies. With a team of 250+ spanning technicians and support staff, the Plant Reliability & Maintenance Leader will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the plant’s operational performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead comprehensive maintenance strategies that improve asset reliability and optimize performance.
• Champion safety-first culture, ensuring compliance with OSHA, EPA, and food safety regulatory standards.
• Oversee and manage a multi-million dollar maintenance budget with rigorous cost control and reporting mechanisms.
• Implement and refine predictive and preventative maintenance programs using modern RCM tools and practices.
• Mentor, develop, and coach a large maintenance team; instill a high-performance, accountable culture.
• Maintain 24/7 operational availability and support, working closely with plant operations and compliance teams.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, compliance, and continuous improvement teams to align on operational priorities.
• Guide succession planning, technical training, and development initiatives for maintenance staff.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on uptime, cost efficiency, and safety metrics.
• Provide direction for identifying and executing plant maintenance projects and capital improvements.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Agricultural Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years in maintenance or reliability leadership within a high-volume manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Proven experience managing large teams and complex maintenance operations.
• Strong background in food safety, PSM, and other regulatory compliance frameworks.
• Skilled in asset lifecycle management, reliability engineering, and predictive technologies.
• Familiarity with unionized environments is a plus.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams and manage change initiatives.

Why Apply?

• Be part of a mission-driven organization committed to sustainability and global food supply.
• High visibility role with access to senior leadership and a direct impact on plant strategy.
• Tremendous opportunity for long-term career growth in a global enterprise.