This is a rare opportunity to join a highly regarded beverage manufacturer with an outstanding reputation for quality, consistency, and operational excellence. Since launching its Canadian business in 2019, the company has grown through word of mouth, product quality, and reliability in the market.
With the opening of a new location in Columbia, SC, the organization is seeking a strong Maintenance Manager to lead the maintenance function in a high-precision aseptic manufacturing environment. This role is ideal for a hands-on leader with the technical depth and leadership presence to build structure, improve reliability, and support long-term operational growth.
The company offers direct exposure to ownership, a strong culture, extremely low turnover, and meaningful upside for the right individual.
Position Overview
The Maintenance Manager is responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient performance of aseptic processing and packaging equipment, with a strong focus on food safety, equipment uptime, and regulatory compliance.
This role leads the maintenance function across sterile processing and high-speed packaging operations, moving the team from reactive repair to a disciplined preventive and predictive maintenance model. Success in this position requires strong technical expertise in aseptic systems, automation, and controls, paired with the ability to lead teams, drive accountability, and build a culture of continuous improvement.
This is not a firefighting role. It is a leadership role centered on structure, execution, food safety, and long-term reliability.
Key Responsibilities
Aseptic System Integrity
- Oversee maintenance of sterile boundaries, aseptic holding systems, and pasteurization equipment to ensure product safety and prevent contamination
- Support the reliable operation of aseptic filling and packaging lines, including Tetra Pak and similar systems
- Ensure proper execution and integrity of CIP/SIP sequences and sterilization processes
- Maintain critical systems tied to product safety, thermal processing, and sterile transfer
Preventive & Predictive Maintenance
- Lead and execute a robust preventive and predictive maintenance program designed to minimize unplanned downtime
- Improve the reliability and lifecycle performance of critical assets such as valves, homogenizers, pumps, fillers, and thermal control units
- Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for recurring equipment failures
- Shift maintenance execution from reactive troubleshooting to planned, disciplined maintenance activity
Regulatory Compliance & Food Safety
- Ensure all maintenance activities are performed in compliance with HACCP, GMP, FDA, PMO, and internal food safety standards
- Maintain audit readiness through disciplined maintenance documentation, sanitation alignment, and execution of sterilization protocols
- Partner with Quality and Operations to protect food safety and process integrity at all times
Automation & Controls
- Collaborate with automation and production teams to troubleshoot PLC-related issues, process instrumentation, and controls performance
- Support equipment tied to temperature control, flow regulation, sensors, RTDs, and related process systems
- Help improve machine performance through stronger controls reliability and system standardization
Team Leadership
- Lead, train, and mentor maintenance technicians and maintenance support personnel in a high-speed manufacturing environment
- Establish clear expectations, accountability, and execution discipline across the team
- Balance hands-on technical support with leadership responsibility and planning
- Build a proactive maintenance culture focused on reliability, ownership, and follow-through
Qualifications
Required
- 5–10+ years of maintenance experience in manufacturing, preferably within food, beverage, dairy, or aseptic processing environments
- Previous leadership experience in a supervisor or manager capacity
- Strong knowledge of preventive and predictive maintenance systems and best practice
- Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting capabilities
- Working knowledge of food safety and regulatory requirements including HACCP and GMP
Preferred
- Direct experience with Tetra Pak or similar aseptic packaging and processing systems
- Experience supporting aseptic filling lines, pasteurization systems, or sterile process environments
- Technical knowledge of PLCs, instrumentation, VFDs, and automation systems
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
- Exposure to TPM, Lean, Six Sigma, or other reliability-focused improvement methodologies
What We’re Looking For
- A plan-driven leader who builds structure instead of reacting to crisis
- Strong technical credibility in aseptic systems and maintenance operations
- A leader who can balance urgent repairs with long-term reliability improvement
- High accountability, strong communication, and follow-through
- Someone who can influence cross-functional teams and work effectively with vendors and partners
- A hands-on leader who can develop people while improving systems
Key Metrics for Success
- Reduction in unplanned downtime, especially on critical aseptic and packaging systems
- Improved preventive maintenance compliance and maintenance execution discipline
- Strong OEE performance across production lines
- Audit readiness and adherence to sanitation and sterilization standards
- Improved equipment reliability and reduced repeat failures
- Effective control of maintenance spending, spare parts, and budget performance
Why This Role Stands Out
- Opportunity to lead maintenance in a technically advanced aseptic manufacturing environment
- High visibility role with direct exposure to ownership and leadership
- Strong culture and exceptionally low turnover
- Business growth driven by reputation, quality, and execution
- Competitive compensation and long-term upside
This is an excellent opportunity for a maintenance leader who wants to make a real impact, build a world-class maintenance function, and grow within a business known for quality and operational excellence.
