Senior Refrigeration & Utilities Manager – Frozen Plant

CJ Schwan’s; Salina (KS); On-site; USD 105,000 - 174,000; Full time

Job summary

Schwan’s Company in Salina, KS seeks a Refrigeration and Utilities Manager to oversee the operation and maintenance of critical building systems, including ammonia refrigeration, HVAC, boilers, and wastewater, at the world’s largest frozen pizza plant.

You will lead a team, ensure safety and regulatory compliance (PSM, HazMat, OSHA), drive continuous improvements, and partner with production to meet uptime goals.

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.

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.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Experience in utilities/maintenance

Ammonia refrigeration

PSM

Electrical systems

Hydraulics

Food manufacturing experience

USDA/FDA regulations knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

CMRP

Six Sigma

Lean

SAP

Job description

Schwan’s Company in Salina, KS seeks a Refrigeration and Utilities Manager to oversee the operation and maintenance of critical building systems, including ammonia refrigeration, HVAC, boilers, and wastewater, at the world’s largest frozen pizza plant.

You will lead a team, ensure safety and regulatory compliance (PSM, HazMat, OSHA), drive continuous improvements, and partner with production to meet uptime goals.