Sr. Engineering Manager

Dairy Farmers of America; Nashville, Northern (TN, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Dairy Farmers of America in Nashville, TN seeks a seasoned Engineering and Maintenance Leader to oversee all engineering and maintenance functions, lead engineers and supervisors, and drive reliable, efficient plant operations.

You will develop preventive maintenance plans, manage CAPEX and budgets, collaborate with plant management, implement cost- effective maintenance, and ensure safety and regulatory compliance across facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field.
• 8+ years in engineering or maintenance in food manufacturing.
• 1+ year of management experience; regulatory/compliance exposure.

Responsibilities

• Direct engineering and maintenance functions and staff.
• Develop and execute maintenance programs to reduce downtime.
• Oversee capital and expense projects within budget and timeline.
• Collaborate with senior management on capital improvements.
• Source vendors and manage contracts for equipment and services.
• Develop KPI dashboards to improve plant reliability and safety.
• Ensure regulatory, quality, safety, and GMP requirements are met.
• Recruit, schedule, develop, and evaluate department staff.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Manufacturing processes

CI tools

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Communication

English proficiency

Education

Undergraduate degree in engineering

8+ years maintenance/engineering exp.

Licensure/certification

Tools

PLC programming

Job description

General Purpose

Oversee and manage all aspects of the engineering and maintenance functions and staff within the plant(s). Lead a team of engineers and maintenance managers/supervisors to ensure the plant's smooth operation, optimizing productivity and maintaining the facility's infrastructure and equipment. Develop and execute plans to support current and future plant requirements and develop systems in critical areas such as preventative maintenance, spare parts inventories, and work order systems. Work closely with plant management and plant employees and serve as a liaison with DFA enterprise wide functional departments. Ensure best practices in all maintenance activities.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of the engineering and maintenance functions, including the direct management of engineers and maintenance managers/supervisors. Provide direction, guidance, and support, fostering a positive work environment and promoting professional development
• Ensure the site has an effective predictive/preventive maintenance program which has a maintenance strategy for all assets to remove unscheduled down time, increase the lifespan of assets by keeping them in optimal condition, and contain maintenance strategies so assets are timely maintained to minimize costs of asset breakdowns
• Oversee preventative maintenance programs for the facility, electrical distribution, plant utility systems, architecture, process instrumentation, and all production machinery and equipment through assigned staff and outside contractors to support sustained plant operations and maximize operational efficiency
• Collaborate with senior management to identify and prioritize capital improvement projects. Recommend expense or capital projects which are necessary or will improve productivity, safety, or operational efficiency
• Oversee the design, planning, and execution of capital and expense projects, ensuring they meet budget and timeline as defined
• Partner with others regarding the resolution of ongoing or escalated problems, the implementation of new procedures or processes, the introduction of new equipment installation and layout, and products or product lines
• Perform replacement analysis of equipment considering space costs, depreciation, service life, and maintenance costs; advise production management of information and recommend appropriate actions
• Ensure good business communication practices at all levels to ensure key stakeholders are well informed and can appropriately respond as needed
• Ensure all process changes, equipment changes, or product changes are understood by affected employees in a timely fashion. Engage and interact with staff on a regular basis assisting them with their concerns and questions
• Source and evaluate vendors, contractors, and suppliers to obtain quality products and services at competitive prices. Negotiate contracts and agreements with external parties as necessary
• Develop and utilize maintenance key performance indicators (KPI) to drive improvements to plant reliability. Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize plant operations and reduce waste
• Identify opportunities to implement new technologies, processes, and methodologies to enhance plant performance
• Conduct or coordinate regular safety inspections, risk assessments, and safety training programs
• Generate reports on plant performance, maintenance activities, and project updates for management review
• Maintain accurate documentation of maintenance records, engineering plans, and compliance documentation
• Prepare and manage the department's budget, ensuring cost-effective allocation of resources
• Ensure compliance with quality, safety, environmental, and repair requirements for all equipment and infrastructure pertaining to any engineering-owned functions
• Manage assigned employees, including recruitment, scheduling, development, evaluation, performance management, and career development; hold self and employees accountable for results
• Ensure all plant environmental policies and procedures reflect current DFA guidelines and regulatory requirements and proper reporting is completed
• Follow all DFA good manufacturing practices (GMP) and work in a manner consistent with all corporate regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements
• The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required.Other duties may be assigned as required

Education and Experience

• Undergraduate degree in engineering or related curriculum or technical training in related mechanical or electrical studies (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• 8 or more years of engineering or maintenance experience in a food manufacturing environment that includes 1+ year of management experience; environmental compliance experience, PLC programming, capital project, and budget management experience
• Certification and/or License – may be required during course of employment

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong leadership and team management skills with the ability to motivate and guide a diverse team
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and equipment, along with a strong understanding of plant manufacturing or industrial regulations and safety protocols
• Knowledge of architectural, mechanical, electrical, and process production engineering
• Knowledge of continuous improvement (CI) tools and ability to use CI tools in projects
• Strong organizational, planning, execution, and follow through skills
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities
• Skill in critical thinking, analysis, mathematical calculations, and statistical evaluations
• Ability to develop scope, schedule, budget, and lead plant capex projects
• Able to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, for a diverse range of internal and external audiences
• Able to work in collaboration effectively and foster good teamwork
• Able to handle challenging or conflict situations with tact and professionalism
• Able to adapt and manage to change effectively
• Must be able to read, write and speak English

An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans