Head of Engineering and Maintenance

Location: Freeland, PA. This job is FT - On Site (NO hybrid or remote)

PLEASE, APPLY ONLY IF YOU HAVE THE SKILLS AND THE SENIORITY TO RUN THIS ROLE! AND EXPERIENCE IN A FOOD or PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING FACILITY

The Engineering & Maintenance Manager is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing all maintenance and engineering activities within the food production facility.

This role ensures the reliability, safety, and efficiency of all equipment, utilities, and infrastructure
, while driving continuous improvement through preventive maintenance, Cap Ex initiatives, facility expansions, and operational excellence programs
.

The ideal candidate combines hands-on maintenance expertise, engineering knowledge, and strong project management capabilities
, with the ability to connect strategy and execution on the plant floor.

• Lead daily maintenance operations, ensuring maximum uptime, reliability, and performance
• Develop and optimize preventive and predictive maintenance programs (CMMS, data-driven approach, RCA)
• Drive a culture of breakdown elimination and continuous improvement
• Partner cross-functionally with Production, Quality, and Engineering teams
• Lead Cap Ex projects, equipment installations, and facility expansions
  , ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery
• Manage contractors, vendors, and external partners
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, FDA, USDA, GMP, HACCP
• Own and manage maintenance budget, KPIs (OEE, cost, efficiency), and sustainability initiatives
• Build, coach, and develop a high-performing maintenance team

• Strong combined background in both Maintenance AND Engineering
• Candidates with only maintenance or only engineering experience will not be considered
• Proven experience in industrial/manufacturing environments (food preferred, pharma also highly relevant)

• Solid experience managing Cap Ex, installations, expansions, or complex plant projects
• Ability to manage the “big picture”, not just technical execution
• Preferred profiles:
• Engineering + Project Management + some maintenance exposure →
  good fit
• Pure project managers without maintenance exposure are not suitable

• ~10–12 years experience if well-balanced across maintenance & engineering
• More senior profiles (15–20+ years)

• Experience with automation systems, utilities (HVAC, refrigeration, boilers, compressors)
• Strong understanding of preventive/predictive maintenance systems
• Ability to read CAD drawings and electrical diagrams

• Experience managing teams and driving performance
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills

• Hands-on and plant-oriented
  , not purely theoretical
• Comfortable balancing technical depth + operational execution
• Experienced in project ownership and cross-functional coordination
• Able to operate in a fast-paced, sometimes unstructured environment
• Solutions-driven with strong accountability

• Industry: Food or pharma
• International profiles (e.g., TN visa) considered only if already experienced in the U.S.

• Competitive base salary + annual bonus