Maintenance Manager | Food & Beverage Manufacturing | Cherokee, OK | $131K–$150K

🏭 Maintenance Manager
🗺️ Cherokee, OK
📍 Food & Beverages Industry | Onsite
💼 Mid-Senior Level | Management
📅 Full-time | 1 Position Available

✨ Compensation: $131,000 – $150,000 (confidential if posted externally)
🚚 Relocation: Limited assistance available
❌ Visa Sponsorship: Not available

🎯 Position Purpose

The Maintenance Manager will oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of maintenance practices that keep plant equipment, grounds, and production processes running efficiently. This leader will play a vital role in driving operational excellence, ensuring compliance, and fostering a culture of safety while leading the engineering and maintenance teams.

🛠️ Key Responsibilities

• Plant Operations & Layout: Develop and optimize plant processing lines to support operational changes or expansions.

• Safety & Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to OSHA regulations and all company safety policies.

• Team Leadership: Equip and guide engineering and maintenance teams with the tools, training, and knowledge needed to sustain facility operations.

• Budget & Projects: Oversee Capital and Expense Budget projects and ensure timely execution.

• Vendor & Contractor Management: Build strong working relationships with external contractors and vendors to ensure efficient project delivery.

• Cross-Department Collaboration: Partner closely with other departments to resolve daily operational challenges and drive plant-wide success.

• Continuous Improvement: Identify issues proactively and lead solutions in a structured, constructive manner.

✅ Qualifications

• Education: Associate’s degree in a relevant field (or equivalent experience).

• Experience: 5+ years of management experience in manufacturing (meat industry experience preferred).

• Licenses/Certifications: State Mechanical Contractor’s License.

• Technical Expertise:

• Strong mechanical aptitude with working knowledge of electrical & mechanical systems.

• Basic understanding of refrigeration systems.

• Familiarity with CAD and PLC equipment.

• Skills:

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability.

• Excellent project and priority management.

• Effective communicator and self-starter with leadership skills across all organizational levels.

• Computer literacy (Excel, MS Word).

⚙️ Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Ability to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods throughout the day.

• Occasional lifting of up to 40 lbs with proper technique.

• Work may require personal protective equipment (safety glasses, hearing protection, etc.).

• Exposure to extreme temperatures (-40°F to 110°F) and high-noise environments.

📌 Why This Role?

This is a fantastic opportunity for a hands-on Maintenance Manager ready to lead in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. You’ll take ownership of critical operations, drive continuous improvements, and make a direct impact on plant safety, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

Manufacturing Operations Manager | $106K–$150K | Consumer Products | Sanford, ME

Manufacturing Operations Manager

Location: Sanford, Maine
Job ID: 167229
Employment Type: Full-Time

💵 Compensation:

• Base Salary: $106,000 – $150,000/year

• Bonus Eligible: No

• Commission: No

• Overtime Eligible: No

🎁 Benefits:

• Full benefits package (medical, dental, vision, 401k, etc.)

• Relocation assistance available for the ideal candidate

• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays

• Career development and advancement support

• Opportunities for continuous improvement training (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.)

Lead. Innovate. Transform.

Are you a manufacturing leader ready to take the next step in your career? This exciting opportunity offers the chance to drive operational excellence, lead high-performing teams, and influence end-to-end production strategies at a dynamic consumer products facility in Sanford, Maine.

You’ll oversee production, warehouse, and finishing operations while fostering a safety-first, quality-driven, and continuous improvement culture. Bring your passion for innovation, people leadership, and efficiency—and make a measurable impact on global supply chain performance.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

🔧 Operations Leadership

• Oversee daily operations across production, making, finishing, and warehouse areas

• Lead supervisory teams and technicians to meet KPIs around quality, safety, and efficiency

• Drive a culture of accountability, performance, and collaboration

• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and EH&S to maximize productivity

• Champion Factory Performance & Reliability (FP&R) standards including People Capability, Visual Workplace, and Continuous Improvement

• Act as a visible, hands-on leader during audits, SOP reviews, and daily operations

• Build contingency plans to ensure business continuity during disruptions

💰 Financial Oversight

• Co-own plant financial performance with site leadership

• Drive savings initiatives through labor cost optimization and FTG (Fund-the-Growth) programs

• Analyze variances in materials, labor, and output to improve financial forecasting

• Optimize inventory, capital expenditures, and operating expenses to improve cash flow

• Monitor and revise site KPIs to align with evolving business goals

👥 People & Culture

• Execute labor strategies that promote employee relations, retention, and engagement

• Build and mentor a high-performing workforce, empowering both salaried and hourly teams

• Develop internal talent pipelines while fostering a culture of recognition and inclusion

✅ Quality, Compliance & Process Excellence

• Ensure all production activities align with GMP, FDA, and safety standards

• Own decisions regarding out-of-spec raw materials, WIP, and finished goods

• Guarantee team proficiency with SOPs for lot tracking, release procedures, code dating, and traceability

• Lead implementation of corrective/preventive actions for non-conformances

• Ensure validated cleaning, sanitization, and changeover procedures are followed

• Facilitate successful technology transfers for new products and processes

⚙️ Process & Equipment Optimization

• Set annual site goals for process capability; monitor and report on monthly progress

• Ensure process control tolerances, calibration routines, and SOP accuracy

• Identify and resolve equipment constraints in partnership with technical teams

• Oversee preventive maintenance and ensure team training on cleaning and batch procedures

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related discipline (required)

• 8+ years of progressive leadership in manufacturing operations

• Strong background in GMP, FDA/regulated environments, and ISO/OSHA standards

• Solid understanding of Quality systems and manufacturing audits

• Advanced proficiency with digital tools (e.g., Google Suite, Data Studio)

• Experience leading cross-functional teams and navigating matrixed environments

Preferred Qualifications

• SAP, WMS, and plant floor systems experience

• Certified or experienced in Lean Six Sigma or continuous improvement methodology

• Proven ability to manage ambiguity and multiple initiatives simultaneously

• Strong communicator with excellent coaching and feedback capabilities

• Project management skills with experience leading complex initiatives

Additional Details

• Seniority Level: Mid-Senior

• Management Experience: Not required, but leadership experience essential

• Travel: Occasional

• Visa Sponsorship: Not available

• Security Clearance: Not required

• Relocation Assistance: Yes, for the ideal candidate

Take Charge of Change

This role is built for a strategic, hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced, quality-first environment. If you're ready to elevate your impact, drive performance, and shape the future of manufacturing—this is your opportunity.