Maintenance Manager

About Sara Lee Frozen Bakery

Sara Lee desserts have always stood for incredible flavor and superior value in the frozen food aisle and away from home markets. The Sara Lee Frozen Bakery collection of top brands includes Sara Lee®, Chef Pierre®, Van’s®, Bistro Collection®, Superior on Main® and Cyrus O’Leary’s®.

Sara Lee Frozen Bakery is proud to take these iconic brands into a new era and to continue the evolution that transformed one small Chicago bakery into an American institution. Using carefully sourced ingredients and time-honored recipes, the company is committed to making life’s moments a little sweeter, putting its customers first, and discovering new ways to make everyone’s favorite foods even better.

Our vision is to be the world’s most beloved bakery by creating irresistible foods, growing with our customers, and delivering value for all. We will achieve success through collaboration and innovation in an environment where employees feel empowered to execute with speed. We believe that each of us has unique points of difference and experience to offer, and we never accept the status quo.

If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, continually seek process improvements, and a strong sense of customer service, then this is the right environment for you.

The Maintenance Manager will lead a team of 70 maintenance employees in a food manufacturing plant. This role is critical in ensuring the reliability, efficiency, and safety of the plant’s equipment and systems. The Maintenance Manager will develop and implement maintenance programs, manage a large team, and work closely with production to minimize downtime and ensure compliance with safety and food‑quality standards.

• Lead a maintenance team of 70 employees, including supervisors, technicians, and support staff.
• Foster a collaborative and safe work environment, promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
• Ensure adequate staffing and training for all maintenance roles, managing scheduling, performance evaluations, and professional development.
• Address and document employee‑relations issues in accordance with company policy.
• Provide regular feedback to direct reports through performance appraisals, commendations, and disciplinary actions.
• Develop and oversee preventive and predictive maintenance programs to maximize equipment reliability and minimize downtime.
• Implement and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to equipment performance, downtime, and maintenance efficiency.
• Prepare and manage the maintenance budget, focusing on cost‑effective solutions without compromising safety or equipment integrity.
• Manage spare‑parts inventory and procurement processes to ensure timely availability of critical components.
• Ensure that maintenance activities comply with local, state, and federal regulations, including OSHA, food safety, and environmental standards.
• Lead the implementation of safety programs and ensure all maintenance staff are properly trained and adhere to safety protocols.
• Oversee the installation, maintenance, and repair of all machinery, equipment, and systems within the plant.
• Collaborate with engineering, production, and quality assurance teams to ensure optimal equipment performance and compliance with food‑safety standards.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance equipment reliability, reduce costs, and improve overall plant efficiency.
• Work closely with production and quality departments to resolve issues related to machinery performance or failures.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Maintenance Management, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of work experience in the food‑processing industry managing a diverse, technical staff.
• Experience with CMMS systems and TPM methodology.
• In‑depth knowledge of food‑industry processes, equipment, and technologies.
• Knowledge of financial indicators and analysis; experienced in budget development and management.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Project, PowerPoint).
• Strong knowledge of safety regulations (OSHA, hazard communications, accident…