Engineering & Maintenance Manager (Beef)

Position Summary

The Engineering & Maintenance Manager is responsible for ensuring the reliability, efficiency, and continuous operation of all processing equipment and facility infrastructure within a beef manufacturing plant. This role leads maintenance strategy, capital projects, and engineering initiatives to maximize uptime, ensure regulatory compliance, and support production goals in a high-volume, food-safe environment.

Key Responsibilities

Maintenance & Reliability

• Develop and execute preventive and predictive maintenance programs for all plant equipment.
• Minimize downtime through effective troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Establish and track KPIs such as equipment uptime, mean time between failures (MTBF), and maintenance costs.
• Manage spare parts inventory and critical asset availability.

Engineering & Continuous Improvement

• Lead process and equipment improvement initiatives to increase efficiency, yield, and throughput.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing and reliability engineering principles to optimize operations.
• Support automation and digitalization efforts within the plant.

Capital Projects

• Plan, budget, and execute capital expenditure (CapEx) projects including equipment upgrades, expansions, and new installations.
• Coordinate with vendors, contractors, and internal stakeholders to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Ensure proper commissioning, validation, and documentation of new systems.

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure all equipment and facility designs meet USDA, FSIS, HACCP, and food safety standards.
• Maintain compliance with OSHA and environmental regulations.
• Support audits and inspections; address any findings promptly.

Utilities & Facility Management

• Oversee plant utilities including refrigeration systems, boilers, compressed air, water systems, and wastewater treatment.
• Ensure efficient energy usage and support sustainability initiatives.
• Maintain facility infrastructure including buildings, grounds, and critical systems.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, train, and develop maintenance and engineering teams.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability.
• Promote a culture of safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Budget & Cost Control

• Develop and manage maintenance and engineering budgets.
• Control operating expenses while maintaining equipment reliability and performance.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising safety or quality.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering (or related field).
• 7-10+ years of experience in maintenance and engineering within food processing, meat, or protein manufacturing.
• 3-5+ years in a leadership or supervisory role.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of industrial maintenance systems, CMMS, and reliability programs.
• Experience with refrigeration systems (ammonia systems preferred), processing equipment, and automation/PLC systems.
• Familiarity with USDA/FSIS, HACCP, and OSHA requirements.

Leadership Competencies

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Effective leadership and team-building capabilities.
• Excellent communication and project management skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing environment.