Maintenance and Engineering Manager

Company Name

Confidential (Paper & Packaging Manufacturer)

Oxnard, California

Maintenance & Engineering Manager

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity within a paper mill undergoing significant operational and cultural transformation. The organization is intentionally evolving from a reactive, “firefighting” maintenance culture into a structured, predictive, reliability-driven environment.

The Maintenance & Engineering Manager will play a critical role in leading that transformation. This is not a steady-state maintenance position, it is an opportunity to build systems, develop people, and create sustainable processes that allow the mill to run more efficiently, consistently, and independently. The incoming leader will have immediate visibility into organizational gaps and the authority to implement meaningful change across maintenance practices, workforce capability, and operational discipline.

The role also carries meaningful complexity due to ongoing organizational changes, including restructuring of engineering resources, reliance on external contractors for capital execution, and workforce adjustments within a union environment. The successful candidate will step into a department that has experienced turnover, capability gaps, and evolving expectations, providing an opportunity to stabilize, lead, and elevate performance across the team.

From a career perspective, this position offers clear upward mobility. The organization is developing its next generation of plant leadership, and this role is viewed as a stepping stone toward broader operational leadership responsibilities, including potential advancement into production or mill leadership roles. For candidates seeking a platform to demonstrate impact and accelerate their career growth, this role offers both the challenge and visibility to do so.

The company operates a smaller, strategically important recycled paper mill producing approximately 600 tons per day with a workforce of just over 100 employees. Compared to larger facilities, this environment is less complex, but highly impactful, allowing leaders to influence outcomes directly and see the results of their decisions quickly.

The organization is in the midst of a broader evolution, moving away from siloed departments and dependency on individual knowledge toward a more structured, process-driven model built on accountability, training, and consistency. Leadership is actively investing in upgrading systems, improving reliability, and building a stronger operational foundation.

This is a business that recognizes the need for change and is committed to executing it. There is strong involvement from corporate leadership, particularly on the maintenance and reliability side, providing support while also setting expectations for modernization and continuous improvement.

Located in Oxnard, California, the mill offers an exceptional quality of life. The area provides access to coastal living, mild climate conditions year-round, and proximity to destinations such as Malibu and Santa Barbara, making it an attractive relocation opportunity for candidates seeking both professional growth and lifestyle benefits.

The Maintenance & Engineering Manager reports directly to the Mill Manager, a hands-on leader who is actively driving transformation within the facility. He brings a strong operational mindset and is focused on building a sustainable organization that relies on processes, systems, and team development rather than individual heroics.

He is transparent, practical, and focused on outcomes. His leadership approach emphasizes accountability, continuous improvement, and building a team capable of operating independently without constant oversight. He values leaders who can develop people, challenge inefficiencies, and bring structure to evolving environments.

He works closely with corporate maintenance leadership, ensuring alignment with broader company strategies while maintaining a strong presence within the mill. For the right candidate, this creates an environment of both support and high visibility, offering exposure to key…