Location: Utica, NY
Department: Maintenance
Reports to: VP of Operations
Job Type: Full-Time
We are seeking an experienced Director of Maintenance to lead a 17-person multi-skilled maintenance team responsible for the safe, compliant, and reliable operation of seven production lines, three industrial ovens, and ammonia-based refrigeration and freezer systems. This role is critical for ensuring uptime of essential production utilities, driving asset reliability, and supporting plant-wide initiatives in a high-volume dough manufacturing environment.
Oversee daily operation, maintenance, and repair of all production equipment, utilities, building systems, and facility grounds.
Ensure dependable performance of ammonia refrigeration, compressed air, boilers, HVAC, electrical distribution, water systems, and wastewater systems.
Develop and implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs to maximize equipment life and minimize downtime.
Maintain full compliance and documentation for FDA, USDA, SQF, OSHA, EPA, and local building and fire regulations.
Manage contractors across refrigeration, HVAC, electrical, structural, and other service providers.
Maintain effective spare parts inventory and ensure vendor performance meets company standards.
Own and drive compliance with OSHA PSM (29 CFR 1910.119), EPA RMP (40 CFR Part 68), and EPCRA/SARA Tier II requirements.
Lead all PSM program elements including PHAs, MOC, mechanical integrity, incident investigation, training, and contractor safety.
Maintain Risk Management Plans and coordinate emergency response activities with local authorities.
Champion a strong safety culture with proactive risk identification and mitigation.
Lead and support internal/external inspections and audits related to safety and food quality.
Drive sustainability efforts with a focus on reducing energy usage, minimizing waste, and improving water efficiency.
Lead, mentor, and develop maintenance supervisors, technicians, and administrative support.
Establish and track performance metrics for safety, reliability, and maintenance execution.
Foster effective collaboration with Production, Quality, Sanitation, Engineering, and other departments.
Manage annual maintenance and capital budgets.
Lead and support capital projects including facility expansions, refrigeration upgrades, and major equipment installations.
Ensure all projects adhere to scope, budget, safety process, and schedule expectations.
Utilize CMMS platforms such as Fiix, eMaint, SAP, or similar systems to manage maintenance operations.
Apply KPI-driven analysis (MTBF, MTTR, downtime, PM compliance) to support continuous improvement efforts.
Evaluate and recommend technologies that enhance operational reliability and efficiency.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, or related field (or equivalent experience).
8+ years of progressive maintenance leadership experience in food or frozen manufacturing.
Strong technical expertise in ammonia refrigeration, utilities management, and production automation.
Demonstrated experience with SQF/GFSI, sanitation design, OSHA/EPA regulations, and PSM compliance.
Proven ability to manage budgets, lead capital projects, and oversee vendor relationships.
Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations. GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.
