The Technical Manager is a key member of the Plant Management Team responsible for leading all maintenance, technical improvement, and engineering support activities across production equipment, utilities, facilities, and internal transport systems.   Operating in a highly automated, 24/7 manufacturing environment, this leader oversees a ~30-person technical organization that includes corrective maintenance, preventive maintenance, facilities management, and small-project execution teams.

The role is accountable for developing and executing the plant maintenance strategy, optimizing equipment reliability and plant efficiency, reducing technical downtime in partnership with production, achieving maintenance KPIs, and supporting strategic capital projects through close collaboration with Global Engineering.

The Technical Manager creates a culture of ownership and capability at the site and delivers results through proactive strategies and tool implementation. The candidate also drives a proactive maintenance culture, ensures successful ownership of new equipment after project completion, and champions workplace safety and a zero-accident culture while delivering results that directly impact overall plant performance. 

This is an onsite position with a work schedule of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.  Occasional domestic and international travel is required.  Participation in an on-call rotation also is required.

Maintenance Strategy & Execution

• Develop, implement, and execute the proactive and reactive plant maintenance strategy and maintenance plan.
• Ensure effective execution of corrective, preventive, and predictive maintenance programs.
• Drive a proactive maintenance culture that improves equipment reliability and asset performance.

Equipment Reliability & Plant Performance

• Maximize equipment uptime, reliability, and overall plant efficiency in a highly automated 24/7 manufacturing environment.
• Reduce technical downtime and eliminate recurring equipment failures through root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support achievement of production, quality, and operational performance objectives.

Engineering, Projects & Technical Improvements

• Lead and support technical improvement initiatives across production equipment, utilities, facilities, and internal transport systems.
• Partner with Global Engineering on strategic capital projects and major equipment installations.
• Ensure successful commissioning, handoff, ownership, and long-term maintenance of new equipment following project completion.
• Manage small capital and improvement projects that enhance plant performance and operational capability.

Safety, Compliance & Facilities Management

• Champion a zero-accident culture and ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain safe, reliable, and compliant plant facilities, utilities, and infrastructure.
• Drive continuous improvement in workplace safety and risk reduction across all technical operations.

KPI & Operational Results

• Deliver maintenance KPIs related to safety, equipment reliability, downtime reduction, planned work compliance and total work order completion, and cost performance.
• Deep TPM knowledge able to build and lead the site’s Progressive Maintenance (PM) pillar
• Monitor and improve maintenance effectiveness through data analysis, reporting, and performance management.
• Ensure optimal utilization of maintenance resources, spare parts, and technical budgets.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Production, Quality, Safety, Finance, Planning and Logistics and other functional teams to resolve technical issues and optimize costs and overall manufacturing performance.
• Serve as an active member of the Plant Management Team, contributing to business performance, strategic planning, and operational excellence.
• Align maintenance and engineering priorities with plant and business objectives and growth plans.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop the technical organization across corrective maintenance, preventive maintenance, technical planning, facilities management, and project execution.
• Foster a high-performance, accountable, and continuous improvement culture within the technical team.
• Build technical capability and succession readiness to support current and future plant needs and planned growth initiatives.

Expected knowledge:

• Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) experience with an emphasis on the PM pillar is a must.
• Strong knowledge in the electrical, mechanical, and automation fields
• Familiarity with packaging machines, ovens, conveying systems, and highly-automated industrial environments
• Programmable Logical Controls (PLC) - Allen Bradley and/or Siemens
• Experience with Ultimo or other similar maintenance/reliability and planning software tools
• Must be able to perform duties following all regulatory GMP/FSMA food hygiene practices

Experience

• More than 7 years of leadership experience in maintenance or technical service
• Prior work experience in the food industry is strongly desired
• Exposure to project management essentials

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a technical field.  Master’s degree preferred.