Maintenance Lead, Maintenance Technician ​/ Mechanic

Job Purpose

The responsibility of the Maintenance Lead position is to direct daily operation and maintenance support for manufacturing. When the Maintenance Supervisor is absent, the Lead covers all responsibilities. The Lead will be responsible for coordinating work streams and prioritizing activities based on plant performance and the maintenance plan. Responsibilities include coordinating schedules with the Planners and Clerk, verifying jobs are being completed safely and correctly, assigning work, ordering parts, and ensuring the team is utilizing CMMS systems effectively.

• Oversee maintenance area in the absence of the Maintenance Supervisor.
• Coordinate work activities with departments, outside contractors, and vendors, and prioritize production demands.
• Diagnose equipment failures and coordinate necessary repairs while minimizing production downtime.
• Be knowledgeable in professional maintenance, proper equipment installation, and food safety and sanitation expectations in a food plant.
• Act as a training mentor, train less experienced maintenance technicians, and coordinate training activities for the department.
• Demonstrate superior competency while overseeing routine equipment maintenance.
• Lead teams professionally, promoting skill development.
• Lead efforts to identify and define best‑practice maintenance standards and drive team ownership of these applications.
• Start/stop equipment and locate documentation (SOPs, drawings, etc.) as needed.
• Properly size equipment components including gearboxes, motors, sprockets, sheaves, pumps, fans, pipe flow, etc.
• Follow safety programs and requirements (hot‑work policy, confined space, fall protection, proper rigging, lockout/tag‑out) and all safety programs utilized by Idahoan Foods.
• Follow and promote GMPs as defined by Idahoan Foods company policy.
• Understand basic electrical and controls safety requirements within the maintenance department.
• Complete routine paperwork and have a thorough understanding of M3 for maintenance.
• Respond to on‑call plant needs and coordinate resources to address emergency downtime scenarios.
• Enforce all company Food Safety and Food Quality programs, policies, and practices.

• Education and/or Experience
  • Two years of trade school or five years of experience in maintenance.
  • Ability to use and inspect all necessary mechanical tools, both manual and power.
  • Ability to work from PIDs, PFDs, drawings, equipment schematics, and/or verbal instruction.
  • Current forklift certification (Idahoan Foods).
  • Current CPR & First Aid certification.
  • Willingness to complete professional development or continuing education every two years.
• Skills Matrix – Refer to skill matrix for Maintenance Lead requirements.
• Language Skills – Ability to prepare, format, proofread, and edit concise documents. Excellent oral and written communication, telephone skills, and thorough knowledge of grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Math Skills – Quantitative skills, percentages, decimals, and ability to chart numerical data.
• Reasoning Ability – High self‑confidence and maturity to make decisions. Problem‑solving with minimal direction, detail oriented, strong organizational skills, flexible, team player, excellent interpersonal skills.
• Computer Skills
  • Proficient with Windows applications:
    Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, E‑mail.
  • Effective use of CMMS (M3) to generate work orders, research equipment hierarchy, PMs, work history.

• Work Environment:
  The position requires heavy lifting (up to 50 lb), standing on concrete floors for extended periods, moving parts and loud noise, working with sanitizers and cleaning chemicals. Flexible shift work as assigned by the Supervisor. Clean job site and tools; store tools and equipment in designated places. Work on ladders, scaffolds, forklift cages, pits using proper safety precautions. Wear personal protective equipment.

• Respect & Value Our People
• Stay in Front of Challenges While Reducing Costs
• Delight Our Customers
• Food Quality & Safety