Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country

Job Number #172386 - Topeka, Kansas, United States

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world.

Are you ready to drive technical excellence and lead a high-performing engineering team at our facility? As the Plant Engineering Manager, you will be at the heart of our operations, influencing the performance and reliability of plant technical systems while developing a strategic 5‑year capital plan. You will own the facility’s capital budget and lead transformative energy management projects that directly impact our corporate EHS and Quality standards.

• Lead a multidisciplinary technical team, including Maintenance and Project Engineers, to exceed plant KPIs and foster a culture of cross‑functional collaboration.
• Functions as a member of the Strategic Leadership Team which establishes clear direction and continuous improvement expectations for the plant, leads and supports change, and provides effective career development and planning for direct reports.
• Develops and manages the overall facility capital and the facility maintenance expense budget.
• Coordinates with the EOHS manager and Quality manager to ensure contractors follow all guidelines for safety, quality, food safety and food sanitation.
• Ensures training for newly implemented methods and systems to continuously improve technical skill level.
• Develops and maintains the plant’s 5‑year strategic capital plan and overall capital plan implementation.
• Leads all plant energy management and optimization projects.
• Ensures appropriate EMO’s (Experimental Manufacturing Orders) are conducted to verify that process/equipment meets design specification and that personnel are trained appropriately.
• Support implementation of Quality Assurance and Food Safety initiatives. Ensure personnel adhere to Hill’s policies, safety standards, and Good Manufacturing Practices.

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field (Engineering, Science, or related).
• Minimum of 8 years of manufacturing experience, with a focus on engineering or project management.
• Minimum of 5 years managing capital and departmental budgets.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a people leadership or supervisory role.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (such as SAP) and collaborative digital tools (Google Suite).

• Master’s degree (MS) or MBA.
• Experience with in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry, particularly food processing.
• Proven leadership experience with the ability to prioritize and facilitate progress in a fast‑paced environment.
• Data‑driven decision‑making skills and a strong background in contractor negotiation.
• Knowledge of Maintenance systems such as AM/PM, TPM, or Predictive Maintenance.

Salary Range $ - $ USD

Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit‑sharing, and long‑term incentives for Executive‑level roles.

Benefits:
Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements. Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays. Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws.

Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities.