Technical Leader

The J.M. Smucker Company; McCalla (AL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The J.M. Smucker Company in McCalla, AL is seeking a Technical Leader to build technical capability, drive equipment reliability, and develop high-performing teams in a fast-growing bakery and sandwich-making operation.

You will lead predictive and preventive maintenance programs, coach frontline technicians, manage budgets, and partner with process engineers to enable safe, efficient production and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; technical degree and/or equivalent related experience required.
• Minimum of 3 years of manufacturing, maintenance, engineering, or technical leadership experience.
• 2+ years leading or supervising others in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Strong ability to engage, develop, and lead teams on the production floor.

Responsibilities

• Enhance safety, quality, and productivity by providing technical guidance and maintenance programs.
• Drive a high-performance culture through coaching and problem solving on the production floor.
• Maximize equipment availability and extend asset life via preventive maintenance strategies.
• Serve as a technical subject matter expert for designated equipment and systems.
• Lead development of maintenance procedures and budgets aligned with reliability goals.
• Partner with area leaders and engineers to improve startup readiness and sanitation.

Skills

Team leadership

Troubleshooting

Project management

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Proficy

Oracle eAM

SAP

Job description

Your Opportunity as the Technical Leader

Join the team behind one of America's most loved brands at our state-of-the-art Uncrustables manufacturing facility in McCalla, Alabama. As a Technical Leader, you'll play a critical role in building technical capability, maximizing equipment reliability, and developing high-performing teams in a fast-paced, rapidly growing environment. This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact by driving safety, continuous improvement, operational excellence, and technical innovation while helping shape the future of a world-class manufacturing operation.

This role offers the opportunity to make a visible impact, lead transformative technical initiatives, develop people and processes, and help shape the future of a rapidly expanding manufacturing operation. If you're energized by solving complex challenges, building technical capability, and creating a culture of continuous improvement, we'd love to hear from you.

Location: McCalla, AL | Uncrustables Manufacturing Plant

Work Arrangements: 100% On-site

• Willingness to work extended hours and flow to the work as needed

In this role you will:

• Enhance overall safety, quality, and productivity in the Bakery or Sandwich Making department by providing technical expertise and guidance, implementing effective predictive and preventative maintenance programs, and building capability across operations teams.
• Drive a high-performance culture by engaging with team members on the production floor, coaching problem-solving, decision-making, and technical ownership.
• Maximize equipment availability, minimize unplanned downtime, and extend asset life through sustainable preventive maintenance strategies and loss elimination initiatives.
• Serve as the technical subject matter expert for designated equipment and systems while providing hands‑on support to operations and maintenance teams.
• Build mastery-level technical skills in advanced technicians while developing troubleshooting and equipment ownership capabilities across all technician levels.
• Ensure technical documentation, preventive maintenance programs, maintenance procedures, and spare parts strategies are established and maintained.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of maintenance procedures to strengthen overall equipment reliability.
• Coach teams and department leadership on effective maintenance planning and execution.
• Develop and manage technical budgets that support operational and reliability goals.
• Own and champion a critical safety and/or quality system.
• Participate in the development, execution, and continuous improvement of advanced mechanical training and qualification programs.
• Lead cross‑functional teams to deliver cost savings, productivity improvements, and strategic technical projects.
• Establish and maintain equipment standards while supporting design reviews and technical evaluations for capital projects.
• Assist in coordinating Commissioning, Qualification, and Verification (CQV) activities to support plant startup and operational readiness.
• Partner with Area Leaders, Process Engineers, and Coordinators to develop work plans that maximize sanitation effectiveness, startup readiness, and production efficiency.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities that improve safety, reliability, quality, and operational performance.

What we are looking for:

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree preferred; technical degree and/or equivalent related experience required.
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant manufacturing, maintenance, engineering, or technical leadership experience.

Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role:

• Minimum of 2 years leading, supervising, or managing others in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Mechanical and electrical experience within food manufacturing preferred.
• Strong ability to engage, develop, and lead teams on the production floor.
• Proven ability to influence, collaborate, and drive results in a team‑based environment.
• Demonstrated analytical troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and problem‑solving skills.
• Self‑motivated with a strong sense of urgency and a passion for coaching and developing others.
• Proven success driving maintenance excellence through preventive maintenance and reliability systems.
• Experience utilizing plant systems software such as Proficy, Oracle eAM, SAP, or similar platforms.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines.
• Effective verbal, written, presentation, and communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to travel as needed to support plant startup and operational initiatives.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule to best support business needs.
• Ability to support off‑shift, weekend, or emergency business requirements when necessary.
• Open to managing operating teams as a backup leader or future developmental assignment.
• Experience directing contractors, vendors, and external technical resources.

TheRight Placefor You

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

Stay connected with usonLinkedIn

We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.