Maintenance Manager - Food Service - Baltimore, MD (47892)

Maintenance Manager

Holly Poultry has been providing poultry to the Baltimore area for over 60 years, and has expanded across the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast, serving small urban grocers through national food-service distributors.

The Maintenance Manager is responsible for theplanning, coordination, execution and continuous improvement of all maintenance activities within the production facility, ensuring reliable operation of equipment, utilities, refrigeration systems and building infrastructure. The role supports production, quality, safety and cost goals by leading the maintenance team, driving preventative and predictive maintenance programs, managing downtime and ensuring compliance with food safety / regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a robust preventive and predictive maintenance program covering production equipment, utilities, refrigeration/freezer systems, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, conveyors, motors, etc.
• Lead, mentor and manage a team of maintenance technicians, support, and contract personnel, including hiring, training, performance review, coaching and succession planning.
• Respond to equipment breakdowns and emergencies, direct root-cause troubleshooting and corrective actions to minimize downtime.
• Support installation, commissioning and maintenance of capital equipment, expansions or facility renovations.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Production, Quality Assurance, Continuous Improvement Safety, and Operations to align maintenance priorities with business needs.
• Use and maintain a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to track work orders, equipment history, spare parts inventory, downtime, maintenance KPIs and ensure documentation.
• Manage maintenance budget: parts, supplies, contractor services, capital expenditures and labor.
• Ensure maintenance activities comply with safety (OSHA, LOTO, etc.), food manufacturing regulatory requirements (USDA, FDA, SQF/BRC, GMPs)and environmental standards.
• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for maintenance tasks, conduct audits, inspections and continuous improvement initiatives (TPM, lean, reliability engineering).
• Monitor and report metrics such as equipment availability, maintenance cost per unit, downtime hours, spare parts turn, etc.
• Stay current on industry best practices, new equipment technologies, predictive maintenance tools (vibration, infrared, lubrication), and recommend upgrades or replacements as needed.
• Maintain a safe and effective work environment – ensure the maintenance team follows lockout/tagout procedures, permit to work, and PPE protocols.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial) or related field preferred. Equivalent experience considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of maintenance management or supervisory experience in a food manufacturing, CPG or industrial environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic/hydraulic, refrigeration and automation systems.
• Experience managing in a cold-storage or refrigerated manufacturing environment is an advantage.
• Demonstrated leadership, communication, team development and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with CMMS software and maintenance planning/scheduling.
• Familiarity with food safety/sanitation, GMPs, SQF/BRC, USDA/FSIS regulations is a plus.
• Ability to manage budgets, contractors and spare parts inventory.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including nights or weekends if required for plant operations.
• Knowledge or certification in reliability methodologies (e.g., TPM, Six Sigma, Lean) is a plus.
• Candidate must successfully pass post-offer/pre-employment drug and background screen.

Environment & Conditions

• Manufacturing plant environment, potentially chilled/freezer zones, exposure to heavy machinery, noise, and industrial materials.
• Must be able to move around production floor, climb ladders, inspect equipment, lift moderate weights (up to ~50 lbs) as needed.
• Fast-paced environment with a strong emphasis on safety, quality and up time.

Holly Poultry, Inc. and its subsidiaries are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.