Maintenance Manager

IN DEMAND Recruitment & Consulting Inc. is currently recruiting for an experienced MAINTENANCE MANAGER for our client, a well-established manufacturing organization located in the Pryor, Oklahoma area.

This is an excellent opportunity for a results-driven maintenance professional with a strong background in paper manufacturing and/or paper machine operations to take ownership of plant maintenance, equipment reliability and continuous improvement initiatives within a large-scale industrial manufacturing environment.

Our client is seeking a hands-on, technically strong leader who combines mechanical expertise, strategic planning capabilities and a passion for developing high-performing maintenance teams.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in improving equipment reliability, maximizing plant performance, controlling maintenance costs and establishing a proactive maintenance culture.

• Lead, manage, coach and develop the plant maintenance team, promoting a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Champion workplace health and safety practices, ensuring compliance with established safety policies, lockout/tagout procedures, PPE requirements and confined-space regulations.
• Develop and execute preventative and predictive maintenance programs designed to improve equipment reliability, reduce unplanned downtime and maximize asset performance.
• Oversee site-wide mechanical maintenance operations, ensuring equipment and systems operate safely, efficiently and reliably.
• Utilize LEAN manufacturing principles to identify operational inefficiencies, improve maintenance processes and support ongoing continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and implement maintenance strategies, asset reliability programs and long-term equipment improvement plans aligned with plant objectives.
• Lead maintenance planning and scheduling activities, including equipment shutdowns, major repairs and planned maintenance outages.
• Prepare, manage and monitor maintenance operating budgets and capital expenditure plans, ensuring effective cost management and return on investment.
• Identify, prioritize and manage capital improvement projects, equipment upgrades and asset replacement initiatives.
• Establish, monitor and improve maintenance KPIs, including equipment availability, downtime, maintenance costs, reliability and work order performance.
• Collaborate closely with Production, Engineering, Operations and other departments to ensure maintenance activities support production schedules, capacity targets and quality standards.
• Manage external contractors, equipment suppliers and service providers to ensure quality, safety, cost effectiveness and timely project completion.
• Drive improvements in maintenance planning, work execution, equipment standardization and overall plant efficiency.
• Mentor and develop maintenance supervisors, technicians and skilled trades personnel, supporting professional development and succession planning.
• Participate in annual business planning, strategic initiatives and operational performance reviews.

• MUST HAVE direct experience in paper manufacturing and/or paper machine maintenance and operations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering Technology or a related technical discipline is preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive manufacturing operations leadership experience in maintenance, engineering or reliability may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum 2 years of experience leading a maintenance department, including direct responsibility for supervising, coaching and developing employees.
• Strong technical knowledge of industrial mechanical systems, production equipment, preventative maintenance and reliability improvement practices.
• Proven experience maintaining and troubleshooting paper manufacturing machinery and associated plant equipment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of workplace safety requirements, including lockout/tagout, PPE, confined-space procedures and safe maintenance practices.
• Experience implementing effective maintenance planning and scheduling systems to improve equipment availability and reduce downtime.
• Working knowledge of LEAN manufacturing, continuous improvement methodologies and root cause analysis.
• Experience developing, tracking and improving maintenance performance metrics and KPIs.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and managing operating budgets and capital expenditure projects.
• Strong project…