Talent.com
Maintenance Operations Manager

Maintenance Operations Manager

Middlebury Cheese CompanyMiddlebury, IN, US
3 days ago
Job type
  • Full-time
Job description

Middlebury Cheese Company, a Northern Indiana cheese maker, is seeking a Maintenance Operations Manager to lead our team. As a hands-on Maintenance Manager, you will ensure operational efficiency and equipment reliability while fostering team engagement and effectively prioritizing maintenance efforts. The ideal candidate will support continuous improvement initiatives, manage operations staffing and scheduling to meet customer demand, manage contractors, and develop and execute capital projects to maintain and enhance the plants infrastructure.

We are a subsidiary of the Michigan Milk Producers Association, the 10th largest dairy cooperative in the United States serving dairy farmer members in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Why youll love working here :

  • Competitive salary
  • health and wellness benefits with medical coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield, including mental health benefits
  • Disability insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Retirement including 401k with employer contributions
  • Personal and professional growth opportunities
  • Employee appreciation events and recognition awards
  • Employee wellness initiatives
  • Employees feedback and suggestion forums

Job Responsibilities :

Leadership & Team Management

  • Lead and manage the maintenance and operations team across a 3-shift schedule, building a culture of safety, customer service, ownership, and urgency.
  • Set clear performance goals, inspire team engagement, and enforce disciplined prioritization to transform a disengaged workforce into a high-performing unit.
  • Develop training programs to boost technical skills and empower rapid troubleshooting of mechanical and electrical systems.
  • Prepare annual operating budgets and track actual results versus budget focusing on labor efficiency, minimizing product shrink and downgrades and a focus on continuous improvement.
  • Provide decisive, hands-on leadership to resolve complex issues and model accountability.
  • Work with Human Resources to ensure staffing levels meet production needs

    • Process & Reliability Management

  • Ensure equipment readiness for milk reception and production startups, minimizing delays.
  • Oversee Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) programs to reduce unplanned downtime.
  • Implement Preventive (PM) and Predictive (PdM) maintenance strategies, prioritizing tasks that maximize plant uptime.
  • Implement and monitor KPIs (e.g., OEE, downtime reduction) tied directly to plant performance, holding the team accountable for measurable outcomes.
  • Lead root cause analysis for failures, driving swift and effective corrective actions.

    • Quality Control / Sanitation

  • Work with Quality / Sanitation to ensure all products are produced in compliance with company standards and regulatory requirements.
  • Implement and enforce quality control processes, including sampling and testing procedures.
  • Investigate any product quality issues and implement corrective actions.
  • Maintain and manage documentation for quality assurance purposes.
  • Work to achieve excellent ratings for SQF and other customers and regulatory inspections.

    • Health and Safety

  • Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and environmental regulations.
  • Monitor plant safety protocols and conduct regular safety meetings and drills.
  • Address any safety concerns or violations in a timely manner.
  • Ensure maintenance activities meet PMO, OSHA, FDA, and other regulatory standards.
  • Promote a safe working environment per IOSHA standards.

    • Continuous Improvement

  • Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance plant efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize maintenance processes.
  • Foster a culture of proactive problem-solving and innovation within the maintenance team.

    • Contractor Management

  • Select, oversee, and coordinate contractors for outsourced maintenance and project work, ensuring quality, timeliness, and adherence to budget.
  • Manage contractor relationships to support the plants needs while maintaining cost efficiency.

    • Capital Project Development

  • Develop and maintain a list of smaller capital projects to address immediate and future infrastructure needs, ensuring the plants long-term reliability and performance.
  • Assess the plants condition to identify both current repair and maintenance needs and future requirements, prioritizing projects based on impact and urgency.
  • Plan, execute, and manage capital projects under a defined complexity threshold, including budgeting, scheduling, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders.

    • Budget & Resource Management

  • Manage the operating budget, controlling costs and approving purchase orders.
  • Prioritize resource allocation to high-impact maintenance and capital project areas, delivering cost savings and efficiency gains.
  • Oversee stock room operations to maintain critical spare parts inventory.
  • Negotiate with vendors to secure timely delivery of materials.

    • Strategic Collaboration

  • Work with MMPA leadership to develop strategies that enhance operational efficiency.
  • Champion maintenance and capital project priorities across departments, aligning efforts with plant performance goals.
  • Collaborate with engineering to integrate control systems with operations.

    • Technical Oversight

  • Troubleshoot electrical control systems, focusing on industrial automation (e.g., Allen-Bradley).
  • Analyze system performance and provide technical recommendations.
  • Train staff on critical equipment maintenance.

    • Education / Experience :

    Required

  • 5+ years in a plant operations / industrial maintenance leadership role, ideally in food processing or dairy manufacturing.
  • Knowledge of industrial automation (e.g., Allen-Bradley), high-pressure steam, boilers, and pumps.
  • Ability to interpret electrical and mechanical drawings and troubleshoot systems.
  • Experience in continuous improvement initiatives and contractor management.
  • Proven ability to develop and execute capital projects, including budgeting and project management.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, and Project.
  • Willingness to be on call.

    • Preferred

  • Experience with Lean Six Sigma or Continuous Improvement methodologies (e.g., PDCA, DMAIC, Kaizen).
  • Familiarity with dairy processing equipment (e.g., pasteurizers, cheese vats).
  • Advanced certifications in maintenance management or leadership.

    • Personal Attributes

  • Strong leadership and team-building skills to motivate and unify a diverse team.
  • Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational abilities.
  • Decisive, tenacious, and results-oriented, with a track record of driving rapid performance improvements.
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate future plant needs and prioritize accordingly.
  • Committed to safety and compliance.

    • To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each responsibility satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the responsibilities.

    This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of responsibilities that are required of the role. Responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

    The Middlebury Cheese Company provides the opportunity for meaningful work that makes a difference in the dairy industry and in our communities. The diverse talents and perspectives of our employees help us to meet the needs of our member farms and the customers we serve.

    We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States.

    We are committed to maintaining a safe, healthy, and productive environment for all employees as one of our top priorities. As part of our commitment to your well-being and workplace safety, all applicants are required to undergo adrug screening and background check as part of the hiring process.

    We are not accepting unsolicited candidate introductions, referrals, or rsums from third-party recruiters or staffing agencies for this position.

    MMPA is an equal opportunity employer.

    PI0d160f06c447-31181-38452839

    Required

    Preferred

    Job Industries

  • Other
    • Create a job alert for this search

    Operation Manager • Middlebury, IN, US

    Related jobs
    • Promoted
    Assistant Maintenance Manager

    Assistant Maintenance Manager

    Pine Manor, Inc.Orland, IN, United States
    Full-time
    With our roots in northeast Indiana, we are a family-owned company that has been raising and processing chickens with the help of local farmers since the early 40s. Since our start all those years a...Show moreLast updated: 30+ days ago
    • Promoted
    Restaurant General Manager

    Restaurant General Manager

    Border Foods LLCDecatur, Michigan, US
    Part-time +1
    What began as an idea between two brothers to open a Mexican restaurant has since grown into one of the largest, privately held Taco Bell franchisees in America. At Border Foods, we work with a peop...Show moreLast updated: 30+ days ago
    • Promoted
    Manager HR Operations

    Manager HR Operations

    Hueman Direct HireGranger, IN, United States
    Full-time
    The HR Operations Manager at Beacon Health System will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our HR department.The position will focus on optimizing processes, leveraging technology, and ens...Show moreLast updated: 18 days ago
    • Promoted
    Assistant General Manager

    Assistant General Manager

    Border Foods LLCEast Leroy, MI, US
    Part-time
    What began as an idea between two brothers to open a Mexican restaurant has since grown into one of the largest, privately held Taco Bell franchisees in America. At Border Foods, we work with a peop...Show moreLast updated: 30+ days ago
    • Promoted
    Facilities Coordinator

    Facilities Coordinator

    Middlebury Cheese CompanyMiddlebury, IN, US
    Full-time
    Middlebury Cheese Company, a Northern Indiana cheese maker, is seeking a.Maintenance Operations Manager.As a hands-on Maintenance Manager, you will ensure operational efficiency and equipment relia...Show moreLast updated: 3 days ago
    • Promoted
    Preventative Maintenance Technician

    Preventative Maintenance Technician

    Middlebury Cheese CompanyMiddlebury, IN, US
    Full-time
    Middlebury Cheese Company, a Northern Indiana cheese maker, is seeking skilled.In this role, youll be responsible for.We are a subsidiary of the Michigan Milk Producers Association, the 10th larges...Show moreLast updated: 15 days ago
    • Promoted
    General Application

    General Application

    TekModo LLCThree Rivers, MI, US
    Full-time
    Three Rivers Michigan (On-site).If you are interested in joining our team, please submit your resume and clearly state the position(s) you are interested in and why you believe you would be a great...Show moreLast updated: 30+ days ago
    • Promoted
    Diesel Mechanic - 2nd Shift

    Diesel Mechanic - 2nd Shift

    Waste ConnectionsWarsaw, IN, US
    Full-time
    Diesel Mechanic - 2nd Shift (3pm - 1am.Our Diesel Mechanic will work directly with the Maintenance Manager to ensure safe diagnostics and repair of our truck fleet and equipment.We seek individuals...Show moreLast updated: 19 days ago
    • Promoted
    Facilities Maintenance Technician

    Facilities Maintenance Technician

    Middlebury Cheese CompanyMiddlebury, IN, US
    Full-time
    Middlebury Cheese Company, a Northern Indiana cheese maker, is seeking skilled.In this role, youll be responsible for.We are a subsidiary of the Michigan Milk Producers Association, the 10th larges...Show moreLast updated: 15 days ago
    • Promoted
    Maintenance Supervisor

    Maintenance Supervisor

    Dalton FoundriesWarsaw, IN, US
    Full-time
    Maintenance Supervisor 2nd Shift.This role is responsible for leading a group of 10–15 mechanics and electricians, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable operations across our facility.If you're a ...Show moreLast updated: 1 day ago
    • Promoted
    Electrical Maintenance Manager

    Electrical Maintenance Manager

    TradeJobsWorkforce46567 Syracuse, IN, US
    Full-time
    Electrical Maintenance Manater job duties : Accomplishes electrical maintenance human resource objectives by recruiting, s...Show moreLast updated: 30+ days ago
    • Promoted
    Building Maintenance Worker

    Building Maintenance Worker

    Middlebury Cheese CompanyMiddlebury, IN, US
    Full-time
    Middlebury Cheese Company, a Northern Indiana cheese maker, is seeking skilled.In this role, youll be responsible for.We are a subsidiary of the Michigan Milk Producers Association, the 10th larges...Show moreLast updated: 17 days ago
    • Promoted
    General Maintenance Technician

    General Maintenance Technician

    Middlebury Cheese CompanyMiddlebury, IN, US
    Full-time
    Middlebury Cheese Company, a Northern Indiana cheese maker, is seeking skilled.In this role, youll be responsible for.We are a subsidiary of the Michigan Milk Producers Association, the 10th larges...Show moreLast updated: 15 days ago
    • Promoted
    Maintenance Repairer

    Maintenance Repairer

    Middlebury Cheese CompanyMiddlebury, IN, US
    Full-time
    Middlebury Cheese Company, a Northern Indiana cheese maker, is seeking skilled.In this role, youll be responsible for.We are a subsidiary of the Michigan Milk Producers Association, the 10th larges...Show moreLast updated: 15 days ago
    • Promoted
    Maintenance

    Maintenance

    McDonald'sMishawaka, IN, US
    Full-time
    I want a satisfying career with good benefits and great opportunities for advancement.I have a lot to offer and I want to grow. The Job for Me Get a job that inspires your best and moves you forwar...Show moreLast updated: 30+ days ago
    • Promoted
    OTR CDL A Drivers Needed-Top 50% average $96,542 / $.63 to $.66 cpm - 21 Days Out

    OTR CDL A Drivers Needed-Top 50% average $96,542 / $.63 to $.66 cpm - 21 Days Out

    Shaffer TruckingVandalia, MI, US
    Full-time
    Shaffer Trucking offers a 21-Day Out Moving National Freight.Salary : Top 50% average $96,542 per yearCPM : Starting pay $. Experience : One-year verifiable tractor trailer experience with a class A CD...Show moreLast updated: 1 day ago
    • Promoted
    Maintenance Technician

    Maintenance Technician

    Middlebury Cheese CompanyMiddlebury, IN, US
    Full-time
    Middlebury Cheese Company, a Northern Indiana cheese maker, is seeking skilled.In this role, youll be responsible for.We are a subsidiary of the Michigan Milk Producers Association, the 10th larges...Show moreLast updated: 17 days ago
    • Promoted
    Technician, Maintenance III

    Technician, Maintenance III

    Southwire Company, LLCBremen, IN, United States
    Full-time
    A leader in technology and innovation, Southwire Company, LLC is one of North America's largest wire and cable producers. Southwire and its subsidiaries manufacture building wire and cable, utility ...Show moreLast updated: 30+ days ago