Facilities Maintenance Team Lead, Food Processing

Location: Romeoville | Department: Maintenance | Reports to: Sr. Maintenance Manager

Shift: 2nd shift, Monday–Friday, 2:00 pm–10:30 pm | Job Type: Full-time | Expected Hours: ~48/week | Pay: $34.00–$37.00 per hour + $1.00 shift differential

A day in the life

At 2:00 pm in Romeoville, you take the handoff from first shift and walk the floor of a USDA food production facility. You verify that conveyors, high-speed wrappers, checkweighers, cartoners, case packers, barcoding systems, erectors, and supporting utilities are set for a smooth start. A line goes down—your diagnostic mindset kicks in. You interpret electrical control schematics, trace a 460V motor circuit, swap a faulty relay, and bring the system back online. A contractor arrives for scheduled work—you verify scope and safety. A wastewater tech calls in out for the week—you step in to keep compliance on track. Before shift end, you schedule PMs, issue work orders, coach a tech on safe welding technique, and confirm the building is compliant with city and fire regulations for the next day’s run.

What you’ll lead and do

• Coordinate maintenance activities and priorities, assisting the Maintenance Manager and covering leadership gaps as needed.
• Partner with maintenance supervisors, sanitation, production, and logistics to resolve facilities issues (lighting, plumbing, electrical) across the plant.
• Champion safety across departments; train team members on lift operation and safe welding practices; reinforce LOTO, ladder safety, and related programs.
• Coach wastewater technicians; provide vacation coverage of a week or longer when required.
• Plan and schedule preventive maintenance; issue work orders and ensure timely completion.
• Rapidly respond to breakdowns; ensure all equipment is production-ready prior to start-up.
• Test, troubleshoot, and repair 110/230/460V systems: motors, starters, relays, timers, panels, breakers, conduit, and wiring; perform minor PLC programming/troubleshooting.
• Read and apply electrical control schematics for effective diagnostics.
• Oversee contractor activities; assist the maintenance supervisor with contractor scheduling.
• Maintain a safe, clean environment for employees and visitors; uphold workmanship and safety standards in all assigned tasks.
• Fabricate parts and modify equipment as needed; perform other duties as assigned or volunteered.

Your background

• High school diploma or equivalent; strong reading, writing, and basic math skills.
• 5+ years of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic experience in USDA or FDA-regulated food manufacturing.
• Proficient communicator (verbal and written); able to take direction, set priorities, and work self-directed within a team.
• Hard-working, dependable, safety- and quality-minded; bilingual English/Spanish preferred (not required).

Tools and tech you’ll use

• PLC platforms: Allen-Bradley, Siemens (minor programming and troubleshooting).
• Conveyor systems and high-speed packaging equipment.

Food safety and quality

• Immediately escalate any food safety or quality concerns to supervision and/or Quality Assurance.
• Promptly report any risks or signs of out-of-spec product, equipment, packaging, or raw materials to a designated manager for immediate resolution.