Maintenance Leader

The Maintenance Leader has full responsibility for the maintenance operations of a 42,000- square-foot manufacturing facility, reporting directly to the Corporate Operations Manager. This role leads the plant’s maintenance team, oversees preventive maintenance programs, manages budgets and contractors, and ensures food safety compliance. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced production environment, providing hands-on leadership to maximize the reliability, safety, and uptime of high-speed processing and packaging equipment.

REPORTING STRUCTURE

Reports to the Corporate Operations Manager and located in Elk Grove, IL.

The company is hiring for a 1st shift (7am-3pm) and 2nd shift (3pm-11pm) leader.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Cross-Functional Communication: Act as the primary technical liaison between operations, quality assurance, human resources, and plant leadership.

• Equipment Reliability: Execute preventive and predictive maintenance programs to optimize machine uptime on high-speed confection and packaging lines.

• Team Leadership: Oversee maintenance department staffing, training, scheduling processes, and contractor performance, ensuring the team is effectively managed and aligned with plant reliability and operational goals.

• Compliance & Safety: Maintain strict adherence to OSHA, EPA, GMP, and HACCP food safety standards.

• Budget Management: Control departmental expenses, manage spare parts inventory, and assist with capital project planning.

• Continuous Improvement: Use Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) data to track key performance indicators (KPIs) and reduce equipment downtime.

• Communication Skills: Demonstrated ability to articulate technical data clearly to plant personnel, senior management, and external auditors, both verbally and in writing.

REQUIREMENTS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, management, or equivalent hands-on industrial experience.

• Experience: 7+ years of maintenance experience, ideally within a food, beverage, or confectionery manufacturing plant. Hayssen and Triangle packaging machine experience a plus.

• Technical Skills: Strong proficiency in electrical control systems, PLCs, pneumatics, hydraulics, and mechanical troubleshooting.

• Software: Familiarity with CMMS platforms (IFS, SAP, Redzone).

BENEFITS

A full range of benefits including medical, dental, vision and life insurance, as well as short-term and long-term disability, 401K, etc.

Weekend Overtime Pay: Unlike standard exempt management roles, this position includes a specialized premium benefit that pays hourly overtime for all required weekend shift coverage and emergency call-ins.

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