Reliability Lead

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Posted Date:
Aug 1, 2026

Requisition Number: 128752

Job Location
:
Bluffton, Indiana
- Onsite 5 days a week (no remote)

Travel
:
Up to 20%

The Reliability Lead – Indiana Hub & Bethlehem is responsible for the overall maintenance and asset reliability of process equipment and will lead the maintenance strategies & drive process efficiency in support of the Hershey Lean program. This role will work closely with the cross-functional Factory Leadership Teams, corporate partners, and valued vendors to prioritize day-to-day focus based on risk, business need, and opportunity.

This role will be based at the Bluffton, Indiana plant, but will be a shared resource with responsibility for all four factories in the Indiana Hub. These four factories are all part of The Hershey Company’s Salty Snacks business, manufacturing pretzels for brands like Dot’s Pretzels, puffed corn snacks for Pirate’s Booty, and popcorn for Skinny Pop. This is an exciting time of growth for the Salty Snacks business as we invest in new capacity and integrate new factory teams into the Hershey culture, leveraging our 130+ years of food manufacturing expertise.

The Reliability Lead – Indiana Hub will report to the Sr. Technical Assurance Manager for the Indiana Hub, which includes Bluffton, Plymouth, and Whitestown, IN, as well as Bethlehem, PA. Based in Bluffton, IN, periodic travel will be required to the other Indiana factories, Bethlehem, and occasional travel to other Hershey sites, vendors, or training/trade shows. This position will collaborate with Factory Managers, Factory Engineering Managers, and Maintenance Managers across the Indiana and Kansas Hubs, as well as the broader Hershey manufacturing network, playing a key role in developing our maintenance practices.

• Management of the maintenance planning and scheduling processes, through work-order (SAP) prioritization and development of the schedule for maintenance activities.
• The Reliability Lead will drive the improvement of maintenance processes to ensure sustainable asset reliability, including preventative and predictive measures through the analysis of plant maintenance data. Emphasis at any given time will be determined by business priorities, plant performance needs, and asset risk.
• Collaborates with the Technical Assurance group to ensure asset management and inventory accuracy and is responsible for driving related maintenance financial efficiency.
• Assist in development of the 5-year capital plan
• Manage capital projects
• Accountable for the daily management systems supporting continuous improvement efforts, including defect handling and breakdown elimination (root cause analysis), while supporting equipment centerline and autonomous maintenance activities.
• Participates in the daily shift huddles and direction setting meetings, reporting out on performance metrics and counter measures.
• Engages with Mechanics & Operators, providing training and coaching to promote ownership of equipment and processes.
• Time is intentionally directed where it will deliver the greatest value, including:
• Assessing and…