Maintenance & Reliability Lead — Automation and Packaging

Why this role?

• Be the reliability champion who keeps production running safely, cleanly, and efficiently.
• Grow a high-performing maintenance team through coaching, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Work at the intersection of automation, utilities, and food safety standards.

What you'll do

• Serve as a management team member driving Safety, Quality, and Productivity in a food plant.
• Audit equipment and facility systems for reliability; plan and execute upgrades that increase uptime.
• Lead Preventive/Predictive programs using the CMMS for work orders, purchasing, spares, and asset history.
• Troubleshoot controls and automation: PCs, PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks.
• Own advanced electrical diagnosis: power distribution, motor controls, VFDs, servos, robotics.
• Restore operation of automated packaging systems and process equipment (pumps, valves, meters, mixers).
• Resolve hydraulic/pneumatic issues and maintain plant utilities (steam, hot water, compressed air, refrigeration).
• Interpret electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic drawings.
• Uphold corporate programs for food safety, culture, quality, and sanitation.
• Model safety-first leadership and enforce safe work practices.

Food safety in action

• Lead by example to meet top-tier manufacturing and hygiene standards.
• Ensure adherence to Ken’s Food Safety and GMP policies.
• Confirm maintenance work protects product and environment from contamination.
• Require immediate reporting of suspicious activity in/around the site.
• Continuously scan work areas for potential contamination sources.

Leadership

Directly supervise Maintenance personnel: recruit, train, schedule, assign, evaluate performance, reward, and discipline. Address employee concerns and resolve issues consistent with policy and law.

What you bring

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 3–5 years leading a maintenance team in a manufacturing/food processing setting.
• Language: Comfortable reading technical/business publications and regulations; writing reports/procedures; and presenting to varied audiences.
• Math: Fluent with whole numbers, fractions, decimals; compute rate, ratio, percent; interpret bar charts.
• Reasoning: Strong problem definition, data collection, analysis, and conclusion skills; able to interpret complex technical instructions.
• Licensure: No specific certificates/licenses/registrations required.

Essential mental alertness

• Remain vigilant and work safely at all times.
• Execute tasks requiring high cognitive ability and sound judgment.
• Be free from mental/physical impairments that hinder safe performance.
• Respond swiftly and appropriately to operating conditions.
• Work without undue fatigue and sustain focus.
• Estimate time and distance accurately.
• Quickly retain and recall instructions.
• Maintain concentration amid changes and alarms.
• Cope with emergencies and sudden environmental shifts.
• Show a caring and committed safety mindset.

Department

Maintenance

Accessibility and compliance

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Typical work environment

Expect exposure to moving mechanical parts and airborne particles; frequent risk of electrical shock; and occasional wet/humid conditions, heights, caustic chemicals, outdoor weather, extreme cold/heat, explosives, and vibration. Noise is typically loud.

Other

“Other duties as assigned” applies as operational needs evolve.