Refrigeration and Utilities Manager

The Swan Food Company; Salina, Northern (KS, KY); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 174,000; Full time

Job summary

Schwan’s Company in Salina, KS, seeks a Refrigeration and Utilities Manager to oversee the maintenance and operation of critical building systems at the world’s largest frozen pizza plant. You will lead a diverse team and drive reliability, safety, and cost controls.

The role requires expertise in ammonia refrigeration, PSM, electrical, and hydraulics, with a focus on compliance with regulatory standards and continuous improvement initiatives to support production goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in utilities or maintenance management.
• 8+ years of related experience in utilities or maintenance management.
• Experience leading and developing teams; collaboration with corporate partners.
• Strong ammonia refrigeration, PSM, electrical, and hydraulics knowledge.
• Experience in food manufacturing; familiarity with USDA/FDA regulations; SAP beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operation, maintenance, and compliance of plant utility systems (refrigeration, HVAC, boilers, wastewater).
• Lead and develop a team of supervisors, mechanics, and associates.
• Ensure compliance with PSM, HazMat, OSHA, Lockout/Tagout and safety regs.
• Direct maintenance activities to support production efficiency and capital projects.
• Monitor key metrics: safety, uptime, maintenance cost, asset management.
• Drive lean manufacturing initiatives and TPM/TPS; participate in capital planning.

Skills

Ammonia refrigeration

PSM

Electrical systems

Hydraulics

Leadership/People management

Food manufacturing experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

SAP

Lean/Six Sigma

Maintenance management software

Job description

Schwan’s Company, a U.S. affiliate of the global lifestyle brand CJ CheilJedang Corporation, is a leader in manufacturing and marketing quality foods enjoyed nationwide. We have beloved brands like Red Baron®, Tony’s®, Big Daddy’s®, Villa Prima™ and Freschetta® pizzas; bibigo®, Pagoda® Asian-style snacks and we can’t forget Mrs. Smith’s® and Edwards® pies! We bring families and communities together through great food. Join our team and see the opportunities are real, and the sky is the limit; this isn’t just a job, it’s a seat at the table!

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Refrigeration and Utilities Manager to oversee the operation and maintenance of critical building systems at the largest frozen pizza plant in the world and home to our iconic Red Baron and Tony’s brands, located in Salina, KS. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring the reliable and efficient performance of all refrigeration, HVAC, and utility systems, including ammonia compressor operations. If you have strong technical expertise and a passion for operational excellence in a manufacturing environment, we want to hear from you!

Responsibilities

• Oversee the operation, maintenance, and compliance of all plant utility systems, including refrigeration (ammonia), HVAC, compressed air, boilers, steam, wastewater, and environmental systems.
• Lead, develop, and manage a team of supervisors, mechanics, and general associates, ensuring staffing, training, safety, and performance align with production goals.
• Ensure compliance with PSM, HazMat, OSHA, Lockout/Tagout, and all local, state, and federal safety/environmental regulations, while promoting a safe and efficient work environment.
• Direct maintenance activities that support production efficiency, including equipment installation, preventative maintenance, and continuous improvement initiatives across all manufacturing areas.
• Monitor and report on key operational metrics such as safety, production uptime, maintenance cost, and asset management, ensuring goals are met at the lowest cost.
• Drive process improvement and cost-effective solutions through Lean Manufacturing practices (TPM, TPS) and active participation in capital planning and project execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, with 8+ years of related experience in utilities or maintenance management.
• Proven leadership experience, including managing teams and collaborating with corporate partners. Certifications such as CMRP, Six Sigma, or Lean are a plus.
• Strong technical expertise in ammonia refrigeration, PSM, electrical systems, and hydraulics.
• Experience in food manufacturing and familiarity with USDA/FDA regulations preferred.
• SAP experience is beneficial.

Compensation and Benefits

The base salary range for this position is $104,625 to $174,375 annually with eligibility for a 15% annual incentive bonus, that is based on organizational performance. The pay range represents the numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to educations, skills, work experience, certifications, geography etc. As such, starting pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.

Beyond base salary, we offer a competitive Total Rewards package focusing on your overall well-being. We are proud to offer a strong foundation of health benefits, retirement and financial wellbeing, time off programs, wellbeing support programs.

The employing subsidiaries of CJ Schwan's Company are Equal Employment Opportunity Employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, age, race, color, religion, gender, vet status, national origin, or other protected class.