Maintenance Lead – Reliability & CI

• Department:
  Operations
• Compensation: USD 33.65 - USD 38.46 - hourly

Running with Sasquatch is more than just a clever marketing campaign. As a Jack Link’s team member, Running with Sasquatch means we roll up our buffalo plaid sleeves and do the hard work first. We don’t shy away from challenges. In fact, we push hard and take risks. True to our North Woods roots, we’re a bunch of ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things by driving results with innovation, creativity and a clear sense of urgency.

Like our awesome protein products, we have an unwavering passion for quality, and you won’t find anything artificial here. What you see is what you get… authentic, humble and fun people who Run with Sasquatch!

Running with Sasquatch takes a team. We invite you to run with us, succeed with us, and celebrate with us. Most importantly, Feed Your Wild Side with us on our journey to be the dominant global leader of branded protein snacks!

Jack Link's Protein Snacks is a global leader in snacking and the No. 1 meat snack manufacturer worldwide. Still family-owned and operated with headquarters in Minong, Wisconsin, Jack Link’s also has a large corporate hub in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, and operates a total of 11 manufacturing and distribution facilities in four countries. Jack Link’s produces high-quality, great-tasting protein snacks that feed the wild sides of consumers around the world.

Jack Link's Protein Snacks family of brands includes Jack Link's, Lorissa's Kitchen, World Kitchens Jerky, Bifi and Peperami.

The Maintenance Lead – Reliability & CIsupports daily manufacturing plant operations by ensuring production equipment is reliable, well-maintained, and performing at target efficiency. This role focuses on day-to-day troubleshooting, Preventive maintenance support, and process improvement initiatives that drive uptime, safety, and product quality. Working closely with Maintenance Technicians, Plant Operations, and Food Safety Quality, the Production Engineer provides technical expertise and daily hands‑on maintenance support to sustain production and improve long-term equipment health.

DIRECT REPORTS

• As part of the maintenance team, support the plant operations team to diagnose and resolve equipment failures and performance issues.
• Provide technical support to maintenance personnel during troubleshooting and repair activities.
• Support preventive and predictive maintenance programs to extend equipment life and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Develop and standardize maintenance procedures and technical documentation for key equipment.
• Analyze downtime and reliability data to identify recurring issues and implement corrective actions.
• Conduct root cause analyses and implement solutions to prevent reoccurrence.
• Participate in daily maintenance and production meetings to align priorities and resources.
• When needed, lead and/or support production equipment setups, changeovers, and cleaning.
• Support site maintenance as needed.
• All other duties as assigned.

• Evaluate maintenance and operational practices for efficiency and cost reduction opportunities.
• Work with Maintenance Technicians and operators to improve changeovers, cleaning procedures, and setups.
• Assist in training maintenance and plant operations personnel on equipment functionality and best practices.
• Recommend upgrades or modifications to improve maintainability and performance.
• Lead or support improvement projects to enhance reliability, throughput, and product consistency.

• Support capital and reliability projects related to equipment replacement, rebuilds, and upgrades.
• Participate in project scoping, design, installation, and start‑up commissioning.
• Ensure all project activities meet food safety, safety, and environmental standards.

• 2+ years of formal education in chemical, mechanical, electrical or similar fields or equivalent work experience.
• 3+ years of experience in maintenance or reliability…