Senior Maintenance Manager, Whey & Milk Intake

Lactalis USA; Nampa (ID); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Lactalis American Group in Idaho is seeking a Senior Maintenance Manager for Whey & RSPC to lead maintenance activities, ensure machine reliability, reduce downtime, and uphold food safety standards.

The role partners with engineering and operations to drive capital projects, line optimization, and preventive maintenance while developing the team and maintaining regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Engineering/Industrial Technology.
• 8+ years in a maintenance role.
• 5+ years leading direct reporting teams.
• Knowledge of filtration membranes, separators, pasteurizers, HTST, packaging machinery, silos, dryers and evaporator maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Champion safety culture in accordance with OSHA and Lactalis policies.
• Manage and advise on Whey Plant and RSPC maintenance activities, downtime, and staff.
• Ensure availability of critical spare parts and maintenance inventory.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations on capital projects and line optimization.
• Develop preventive and predictive maintenance strategies to reduce downtime.
• Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, HACCP, EPA and Idaho DEQ regulations.
• Maintain equipment library and manuals for technicians.
• Analyze data to identify trends and improve OEE.
• Oversee maintenance planning and scheduling.
• Meet daily with technicians on work orders, expenses, and efficiencies.
• Monitor KPIs and budgets for efficiency and cost savings.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Problem solving

Communication

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology or related field

Tools

SAP

Maximo

Excel

Job description

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis American Group, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Sr. Maintenance Manager, Whey & RSPC based in Nampa, Idaho.

As a Senior Maintenance Manager, Whey & RSPC, the role will carry out responsibilities such as but not limited to managing and directing maintenance activities, people and processes within Whey and RSPC. The role includes ensuring machine reliability, minimizing downtime and supporting food safety standards while fostering a culture of safety and continuous improvement . Additionally, the Senior Maintenance Manager, Whey & RSPC will collaborate with site & plant leadership, department managers and supervisors to align duties with the company's goals and values.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Champion a culture of safety in accordance with OSHA and Lactalis safety policies.
• Effectively manage and provide technical advisement to address and evaluate the Whey Plant and RSPC breakdowns, periodic maintenance and Maintenance Staff.
• Advise plant leadership and team members on policies, procedures and appropriate sourcing resources and other methods to best ensure to best ensure that parts/equipment/stock rooms have the critical spare parts, machinery aspects and other similar items in inventory.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations to support capital projects, equipment installations and line optimization efforts.
• Partner with Operations, Quality and Safety to support production goals and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and execute preventative and predictive maintenance strategies to reduce unplanned downtime.
• Develop and maintain the library for all the equipment in the department and have all manual and setup parameters available to the Maintenance Technicians.
• Ensure and provide oversight on plant maintenance programs/processes to ensure compliance with relevant FDA, USDA, HAACP, GPA and EPA regulations, along with the requests/mandates of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.
• Serve as the technical expert leading in the evaluation and identification of maintenance problems and provide recommendations for correction.
• Identify ways to improve and develop skills of the department through establishing, initiating, or recommending training programs, classes, seminars, or discussions for the maintenance team.
• Keep abreast of current technology and possible improvements derived from such technology and provide training and technical expertise to employes on such technology.
• Analyze data to identify trends, reduce unplanned downtime and improve OEE.
• Oversee maintenance planning and scheduling to minimize downtime.
• Meet with technicians daily for work order priorities, review breakdowns and issues, department expenses and efficiencies.
• Monitor Key Performance Indicators, maintain budget and look for ways to run efficiently from both a profit and energy savings standpoint.

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

• Bachelor's degree is preferred.
• A major in Engineering, Industrial Technology or a related field is preferred.

Experience

• 8+ years in a progressively responsible maintenance role experience is required.
• 5+ years leading direct reporting team members is required.

Certifications and specific knowledge

• Knowledge of filtration membranes, separators, pasteurizers, HTST, Packaging machinery, silos, dryers and evaporator maintenance is required.

COMPETENCIES

• Excellent communication, team-building and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast paced, high-complexity production environment.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office, specifically Excel.
• Proficient with CMMS systems (SAP, Maximo, etc.).

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affimative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.