Maintenance Manager
Work location – Tehachapi, CA
Report: Plant Director
Role Summary
Provides leadership across all maintenance functions at the cement manufacturing plant, ensuring safe, reliable and efficient operation of plant equipment and infrastructure. accountable for protecting asset integrity, maximizing equipment availability and driving maintenance excellence aligned with operational objectives, safety standards and UNA Culture. The position translates reliability and maintenance strategies into disciplined operational execution across mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and reliability functions.
Purpose
Ensure reliability, safety and long term integrity of all plant assets through disciplined maintenance management, reliability engineering and strong leadership of maintenance teams. The role supports operational continuity, cost efficiency and sustainable plant performance.
Key Accountabilities
- Lead all plant maintenance activities including mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and reliability functions across the facility.
- Ensure reliable and efficient operation of critical plant equipment including kiln systems, mills, crushers, conveyors, material handling systems and utilities.
- Drive maintenance excellence through preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance and reliability centered maintenance programs.
- Ensure best in class safety performance across maintenance activities, embedding a safety first mindset and compliance with regulatory and company standards.
- Oversee maintenance planning, scheduling and resource allocation to optimize workforce productivity and equipment availability.
- Manage the plant maintenance budget including labor, spare parts, services and contractor management.
- Lead root cause analysis and reliability improvement initiatives to reduce equipment failures and unplanned downtime.
- Ensure effective preparation and execution of major maintenance shutdowns including kiln outages and large equipment overhauls.
- Develop maintenance supervisors, planners and technical teams building strong capability, accountability and technical expertise.
- Partner closely with operations leadership to ensure alignment between production priorities and maintenance strategies.
- Support capital projects, plant upgrades and equipment modernization initiatives.
- Embed UNA Culture values across maintenance teams reinforcing leadership behaviors, collaboration and performance discipline.
Knowledge
- Deep expertise in maintenance management in the cement industry, manufacturing or asset intensive environments such as cement, mining, aggregates, steel or similar sectors.
- Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical and instrumentation systems used in cement manufacturing plants including kilns, grinding mills, crushers, conveyors and material handling equipment.
- Solid knowledge of reliability engineering practices including preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, condition monitoring and root cause analysis.
- Strong financial acumen related to maintenance cost management, budgeting and asset lifecycle management.
- Knowledge of safety regulations and industrial compliance frameworks applicable to heavy manufacturing operations in the United States.
- Understanding of plant operations, production processes and operational constraints within industrial environments.
Problem Solving
- Resolves complex equipment reliability challenges with high impact on plant availability, safety and operational performance.
- Diagnoses equipment failures and operational issues through structured analysis and reliability methodologies.
- Balances operational priorities with long term asset reliability and maintenance cost efficiency.
- Anticipates equipment risks and implements preventive actions to mitigate operational disruption.
- Navigates operational complexity and uncertainty with structured judgment and disciplined decision making.
Interactions and Influence
- Daily interaction with plant leadership, production managers and operational teams.
- Direct leadership of maintenance supervisors, planners, reliability engineers and technical personnel.
- Strong collaboration with supply chain, procurement, engineering and safety functions.
- Engagement with equipment manufacturers, contractors and specialized service providers.
- Communicates clearly and effectively with operational, technical and leadership audiences.
- Drives alignment, accountability and collaboration across maintenance and operations teams.
Impact
- Direct: Equipment reliability, plant availability and safe execution of maintenance activities across the facility.
- Indirect: Operational performance, cost efficiency, asset sustainability and organizational capability within the plant.
Experience and Education
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Electrical Engineering or related technical field.
- Minimum five years of experience in maintenance leadership roles within heavy industrial or manufacturing environments.
- Experience in cement manufacturing or similar asset intensive industries strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary maintenance teams and managing complex industrial maintenance operations.
Success Profile
- Strong leadership presence with the ability to drive accountability and operational discipline.
- Structured problem solver capable of managing complex technical and operational challenges.
- High standards for safety, reliability and maintenance performance.
- Resilient and calm under pressure within demanding industrial environments.
- Committed to continuous improvement and people development. Learns quickly in complex environments
- Builds high performing teams aligned with culture and capable of influencing across operations and technical functions.
- Acts with integrity and models the UNA Culture
