Plant Engineering Manager
Job Description
A large-scale food production facility is seeking an experienced Plant Engineering & Maintenance Manager to lead all engineering, reliability, and maintenance operations within the plant. This role is responsible for ensuring maximum equipment up time, infrastructure reliability, regulatory compliance, and execution of capital initiatives. The successful candidate will provide strategic and tactical leadership to engineering and maintenance teams while driving operational excellence, asset optimization, and continuous improvement across the facility.
Key Responsibilities
Engineering & Maintenance Leadership
- Direct and oversee all plant engineering and maintenance functions.
- Lead engineers, maintenance supervisors, and technical teams; establish performance expectations and development plans.
- Promote a safety-first, accountable, and results-oriented culture.
Asset Reliability & Preventive Maintenance
- Develop and manage predictive and preventive maintenance programs to minimize unplanned downtime.
- Establish maintenance strategies for all critical assets to maximize lifecycle performance and control repair costs.
- Oversee maintenance of production systems, facility infrastructure, utilities, instrumentation, and electrical distribution.
Capital Projects & Infrastructure Planning
- Identify, scope, and prioritize capital and expense projects aligned with plant objectives.
- Lead project design, budgeting, scheduling, vendor selection, and execution.
- Conduct equipment replacement and lifecycle cost analyses, including depreciation and operational impact assessments.
- Ensure projects are delivered on time and within approved budgets.
Operational & Technical Support
- Partner cross-functionally to resolve escalated technical issues.
- Support new equipment installation, process changes, layout improvements, and product line expansions.
- Evaluate and implement emerging technologies to improve reliability and efficiency.
Continuous Improvement & Performance Metrics
- Develop and track maintenance KPIs to improve reliability, cost control, and operational effectiveness.
- Apply structured continuous improvement methodologies to reduce waste and increase throughput.
- Generate performance and project reports for plant leadership.
Vendor & Budget Management
- Source and evaluate contractors and suppliers; negotiate service agreements.
- Manage departmental budget and resource allocation.
- Maintain accurate maintenance, engineering, and compliance documentation.
Safety, Environmental & Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure adherence to food safety, GMP, sanitation, and corporate regulatory standards.
- Maintain environmental compliance programs and reporting.
- Conduct safety audits, risk assessments, and training initiatives.
Talent Development
- Recruit, develop, coach, and evaluate team members.
- Drive accountability and performance management across the department.
Job Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related field)
Equivalent technical training and experience will be considered. - 8+ years of engineering or maintenance leadership experience in food or beverage manufacturing.
- Prior supervisory or management experience required.
- Demonstrated experience with:
- Preventive and predictive maintenance systems
- Capital project management
- Budget ownership
- Environmental and regulatory compliance
Additional Information
Email: cpaisley@irgsolution.com
Subject: Plant Engineering Manager- Dodge city, KS