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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Maintenance Manager

💰 $85,000 - $130,000

MaintenanceManagementEngineeringOperationsManufacturing

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a dynamic, results-driven Maintenance Manager to spearhead our facility's maintenance and reliability strategy. The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with a hands-on approach, dedicated to maximizing equipment uptime, ensuring operational efficiency, and championing a world-class culture of safety and continuous improvement. As the cornerstone of our operational stability, you will be responsible for the entire maintenance lifecycle—from developing proactive maintenance programs and managing multi-million dollar budgets to leading a talented team of technicians and engineers. If you are passionate about building robust systems and driving tangible improvements in a fast-paced environment, this is the opportunity for you.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Maintenance Supervisor
  • Senior Maintenance Technician / Lead Technician
  • Reliability Engineer

Advancement To:

  • Director of Maintenance / Corporate Maintenance Manager
  • Plant Manager
  • Director of Operations

Lateral Moves:

  • Facilities Manager
  • Engineering Project Manager
  • Continuous Improvement Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, implement, and rigorously manage a comprehensive preventive and predictive maintenance program for all plant equipment, machinery, and facility assets to minimize downtime and enhance equipment longevity.
  • Direct and oversee the daily operations of the maintenance department, including the effective scheduling of technicians, prioritization of work orders, and ensuring timely, high-quality completion of all maintenance tasks.
  • Formulate, manage, and control the maintenance department's operational (OPEX) and capital (CAPEX) budgets, including accurate forecasting, cost control, and strategic planning for equipment upgrades and replacements.
  • Ensure unwavering compliance with all environmental, health, and safety regulations (OSHA, EPA, etc.), actively promoting and enforcing a culture of safety-first within the maintenance team and throughout the plant.
  • Champion the proficient use and optimization of a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to track work orders, asset history, labor hours, and key performance indicators (KPIs) like MTTR and MTBF.
  • Lead and facilitate Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations for significant equipment failures, implementing effective Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) to eliminate recurrence.
  • Manage the entire lifecycle of spare parts inventory, from setting optimal stocking levels and sourcing critical components to controlling costs and reducing carrying waste.
  • Establish, track, and report on key maintenance metrics and KPIs to senior leadership, providing data-driven insights and recommendations for performance improvement.
  • Develop, mentor, and train maintenance staff, conducting performance reviews and fostering a collaborative environment of continuous learning, skill development, and professional growth.
  • Plan, coordinate, and execute planned maintenance shutdowns and major overhaul projects, ensuring they are completed on schedule, within budget, and with minimal disruption to production.
  • Skillfully manage relationships with external vendors, contractors, and service providers, including negotiating contracts, overseeing work quality, and ensuring adherence to site safety policies.
  • Provide expert technical guidance and hands-on support to the maintenance team in troubleshooting complex mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic system failures.
  • Collaborate closely with Production, Engineering, and Quality Assurance departments to align maintenance activities with production schedules and overall business objectives.
    identifying opportunities for process optimization.
  • Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives, such as Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), to drive operational excellence.
  • Create, maintain, and update technical documentation, including standard operating procedures (SOPs), equipment manuals, and electrical/mechanical schematics.
  • Oversee the maintenance and reliability of critical facility utility systems, including HVAC, compressed air, steam boilers, and water treatment.
  • Drive a proactive, reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) culture, shifting the team from a reactive "firefighting" mode to a planned and strategic operational state.
  • Evaluate and recommend new technologies, tools, and maintenance methodologies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the maintenance department.
  • Ensure all maintenance activities are performed to the highest standards of workmanship and in accordance with industry best practices and company policies.
  • Lead daily team meetings to review safety protocols, discuss pending work orders, and communicate departmental goals and priorities effectively.
  • Spearhead the facility's asset management program, ensuring accurate asset registers, condition assessments, and long-term asset care strategies are in place.

Secondary Functions

  • Support cross-functional teams with technical data and analysis for process improvement and capital projects.
  • Contribute to the site's long-term capital investment strategy and technology roadmap.
  • Collaborate with Production, Quality, and EHS departments to translate business needs into maintenance and engineering requirements.
  • Champion and participate in site-wide continuous improvement events, such as Kaizen and 5S workshops.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • CMMS Proficiency: Advanced knowledge of Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (e.g., SAP PM, Maximo, Fiix, UpKeep).
  • Preventive/Predictive Maintenance (PdM): Expertise in developing and managing PM programs and utilizing PdM technologies (vibration analysis, thermal imaging, oil analysis).
  • Budget & Financial Management: Proven ability to manage OPEX and CAPEX budgets, control costs, and perform financial justification for projects.
  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Mastery of RCA methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams, FMEA) to solve complex problems.
  • Technical Systems Knowledge: Strong understanding of industrial mechanical, electrical, PLC, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems.
  • EHS/OSHA Compliance: In-depth knowledge of industrial safety standards and environmental regulations.
  • Inventory Management: Skills in managing MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) spare parts inventory and storerooms.
  • Reliability Engineering Principles: Familiarity with RCM, MTBF, MTTR, and other key reliability metrics.

Soft Skills

  • Leadership & Team Building: Exceptional ability to lead, motivate, and develop a diverse team of technicians and supervisors.
  • Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
  • Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking: Superior analytical and diagnostic skills to resolve urgent and complex issues efficiently.
  • Project Management: Strong organizational and project management skills to handle multiple priorities and large-scale projects.
  • Decision-Making: Confident and data-driven decision-making ability, especially under pressure.
  • Vendor & Contractor Management: Adept at negotiating with and managing third-party service providers.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant technical field OR equivalent combination of a technical diploma and extensive, progressive experience in industrial maintenance.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Engineering.
  • Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) or similar certification.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Business Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5-10 years of progressive experience in an industrial maintenance environment, with at least 3-5 years in a direct leadership or supervisory role.

Preferred: Experience within a high-volume manufacturing, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, or similar regulated 24/7 production environment. A demonstrated track record of successfully implementing a reliability-centered maintenance program and driving significant improvements in equipment uptime and maintenance costs.

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