Director of Maintenance

SUMMARY:

The Director of Maintenance is responsible for developing, leading, and executing the plant’s corrective, preventive, and predictive maintenance strategies to maximize equipment reliability, operational performance, and facility uptime. This role provides strategic leadership for all maintenance and facility operations while driving a proactive, reliability-focused culture centered on safety, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

As a key member of the plant leadership team, the Director of Maintenance partners closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Safety leadership to support business objectives, plant performance, and long-term growth.

This position directly oversees one Maintenance Manager and two Maintenance Supervisors while leading the continued development of a high-performing maintenance organization.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and is passionate about building a world-class reliability culture.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Develop, lead, and execute the plant’s corrective, preventive, and predictive maintenance strategy to maximize reliability, uptime, and operational performance.
• Serve as a key member of the plant leadership team, partnering closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Safety to achieve business objectives.
• Build and sustain a proactive, reliability-focused maintenance culture centered on safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing maintenance organization, including one Maintenance Manager and two Maintenance Supervisors.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on equipment reliability, OEE, cost reduction, and operational efficiency.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing, TPM, root cause analysis, and predictive maintenance best practices across the facility.
• Oversee maintenance planning, scheduling, CMMS management, spare parts strategy, and contractor performance.
• Lead root cause investigations and implement sustainable solutions to improve equipment reliability and reduce downtime.
• Manage maintenance budgets, capital projects, equipment upgrades, and facility improvement initiatives.
• Ensure all maintenance activities are performed safely and in compliance with company, food safety, and regulatory standards.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Lead and develop a high-performing maintenance organization, including 1 Maintenance Manager, 2 Maintenance Supervisors, and maintenance personnel. Provides leadership in alignment with company policies and applicable laws, including hiring, training, performance management, workforce planning, employee development, and resolution of employee relations matters.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering required.
• 7+ years of maintenance leadership experience in a highly automated manufacturing environment; food or pet food experience preferred.
• Strong experience with corrective, preventive, and predictive maintenance systems.
• Proven track record driving Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong technical understanding of automated manufacturing systems, including PLCs, controls, pneumatics, hydraulics, and industrial equipment.
• Experience with CMMS systems, maintenance planning, and reliability-focused maintenance practices.
• Demonstrated leadership, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skill

Computer and Technology Skills:

Proficient in MS Office applications, AutoCAD, or Solid works. SAP preferred

Language Skills:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedural manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization. German language speaking skills is another advantage.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and ability to apply concepts such as: fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to stand, walk, sit, and talk and hear. The employee must regularly lift and / or move up to 15 pounds, frequently lift and / or move up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift and / or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Allergen Awareness

Products produced in this facility may contain the following allergens: Egg, Shellfish, Fish, Gluten.

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Job descriptions are not intended to create a contract, nor are they to be construed to constitute contractual obligations of any kind or a contract of employment between Saturn Petcare Inc. and any of its employees. The provisions of job descriptions have been developed at the discretion of management and may be amended or cancelled at any time by Saturn Petcare Inc. with or without notice.

Employment with Saturn Petcare Inc. is voluntarily entered, and the employee is free to resign at will at any time, with or without cause. Similarly, Saturn Petcare Inc. may terminate the employment relationship at will at any time, with or without notice or cause, so long as there is not violation of applicable federal or state law.