Description
JOB SUMMARY: Responsible for leading MKC’s enterprise-wide maintenance and reliability program across approximately 60 locations in four states. This role builds and sustains a proactive preventive maintenance (PM) culture, improves asset reliability, reduces unplanned downtime, and leads the adoption and long-term use of MKC’s Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS). The Senior Reliability & Maintenance Manager manages and develops a team of millwrights, sets maintenance priorities, establishes execution discipline, and partners closely with Operations and Safety to strengthen a safe, compliant, and efficient work environment—supporting MKC’s mission, operational excellence, and risk reduction goals.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- Demonstrated leadership experience in multi-site maintenance or reliability environments
- Strong working knowledge of industrial mechanical systems, including conveying systems, rotating equipment, motors/drives, bearings, alignment, and lubrication fundamentals
- Proven ability to design and implement preventive maintenance programs that shift organizations from reactive to proactive maintenance
- Experience leading or sustaining CMMS adoption, including data discipline and workflow execution
- Strong planning, scheduling, prioritization, and documentation skills
- Effective communication, coaching, conflict resolution, and team development capabilities
- Ability to partner cross-functionally with Operations, Safety, HR, vendors, and contractors
- Safety-first mindset with strong knowledge of safe work practices and regulatory requirements
- Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities in a dynamic field environment
- LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS
- Valid driver’s license with ability to travel routinely to multiple MKC sites
- Reliability or maintenance-related training or certification exposure (RCM, RCA, vibration analysis, lubrication, etc.) preferred
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk facilities, stand, sit, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb ladders or stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and communicate verbally. The employee must be able to access equipment areas, work at heights, and tolerate exposure to dust, noise, weather extremes, and industrial environments. Occasional after-hours or weekend work may be required to support critical breakdowns or planned outages.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:
Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is required based on task and location, including but not limited to eye protection, hearing protection, fall protection, and other site-specific safety requirements
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
- Five or more years of maintenance or reliability leadership experience in industrial, manufacturing, agricultural, or processing environments
- Demonstrated success improving preventive maintenance performance and reducing reactive work
- Experience managing people, contractors, and maintenance resources across multiple sites
Requirements
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
- Lead and manage the millwright team, establishing clear expectations for safety, professionalism, workmanship quality, documentation, and customer service to operations sites
- Coordinate deployment of millwrights across locations to support breakdown response, PM execution, and reliability improvement work
- Manage vendor and contractor relationships, including selection, scope definition, supervision, pricing control, and performance evaluation
- Design, implement, and continuously improve MKC’s preventive maintenance program, including standardized PM tasks, frequencies, and procedures for critical assets
- Establish and maintain maintenance planning and scheduling routines to improve PM compliance and reduce emergency work
- Build and manage a prioritized maintenance backlog in collaboration with Operations and Safety
- Lead CMMS adoption, training, ongoing usage, and data quality standards across sites
- Ensure accurate work order documentation, asset hierarchies, failure data, labor hours, parts usage, and closeout notes
- Use maintenance and CMMS data to identify repeat failures, conduct root cause analysis, and drive permanent corrective actions
- Recommend equipment upgrades, standardization, and reliability-focused capital improvements with appropriate justification
- Provide safety leadership by modeling and enforcing safe work practices, supporting incident investigations, and ensuring corrective actions are completed
- Participate in annual budgeting and manage maintenance-related spend within approved budgets
- Improve parts availability and storeroom discipline, including critical spares identification and inventory controls
- Support staffing, hiring, development, and contractor strategies aligned with operational needs
- Track and improve key performance indicators such as PM compliance, reactive vs. planned work, backlog health, downtime trends, CMMS adoption, and maintenance-related safety performance
- Maintain knowledge of applicable regulations, company policies, and best practices affecting the position
- Attend required safety, leadership, and technical training as assigned
- Maintain a professional, positive attitude that promotes teamwork and a favorable image of MKC
- Complete required reports, documentation, and special projects as assigned by leadership
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Job involves frequent travel to MKC facilities and work conducted in both office settings and active industrial environments. Work may occur in hot, cold, dusty, or noisy conditions
