Refrigeration Operations Leader—On-Site, Multi-Facility

farmerfocus; Harrisonburg (VA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly payroll

Paid time off & sick leave

Dental & vision coverage

401(k) with company match

HSA & FSA

Education reimbursement

Employee assistance programs

Internal learning & career growth

Job summary

Farmer Focus seeks a Refrigeration Manager to lead strategic direction, ensure safe and reliable ammonia and Freon-based refrigeration systems, and drive continuous improvement across facilities. You will oversee the Refrigeration Superintendent and mentor leads, technicians, and PSM personnel while aligning with safety, quality, and production goals.

The role emphasizes safety culture, regulatory compliance, and capital project oversight within a plant-wide refrigeration program.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of industrial refrigeration experience, including ammonia systems.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing teams.
• CARO certification required.
• Strong knowledge of Process Safety Management and Risk Management Plan regulations and industry best practices.
• Experience with high‑pressure steam boilers, HVAC, compressed air, and refrigeration operations.
• Ability to lead, coach, and develop refrigeration leaders, technicians, and PSM personnel.
• Ability to interpret technical documents, schematics, P&IDs, and compliance records.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership of refrigeration operations across facilities.
• Ensure compliance with Process Safety Management and Risk Management Plan regulations.
• Lead and mentor Refrigeration Superintendent and refrigeration leads, technicians, and PSM personnel.
• Develop and implement preventive maintenance programs, SOPs, and emergency response protocols.
• Oversee capital projects related to refrigeration, compressed air, and boiler systems.
• Collaborate with Safety, Engineering, Production, Maintenance, and vendors to support operations.
• Monitor performance metrics and drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Manage vendor relationships, service contracts, and procurement of equipment.

Skills

Leadership

Refrigeration operations

Process Safety Management

Risk Management

Vendor management

Documentation & compliance

Team development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

RETA CIRO certification

Tools

CMMS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Farmer Focus seeks a Refrigeration Manager to lead strategic direction, ensure safe and reliable ammonia and Freon-based refrigeration systems, and drive continuous improvement across facilities. You will oversee the Refrigeration Superintendent and mentor leads, technicians, and PSM personnel while aligning with safety, quality, and production goals.

The role emphasizes safety culture, regulatory compliance, and capital project oversight within a plant-wide refrigeration program.