MAINTENANCE SUPERINTENDENT I

JOB DESCRIPTION INFORMATION

Position Title: Maintenance Superintendent

Position Type: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Salaried Exempt

Department: Maintenance

Location: Columbia, MO

Business Unit: JBS Prepared Foods – Principe Foods

Experience Required: Minimum 7 years of maintenance leadership experience in a food manufacturing, meat processing, or industrial manufacturing environment, including supervisory or management responsibilities.

JOB SUMMARY

The Maintenance Superintendent is responsible for leading and managing all maintenance operations within a state-of-the-art Italian meats manufacturing facility. This position provides strategic and hands-on leadership for maintenance teams, reliability programs, utilities, preventive and predictive maintenance initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts.

The Maintenance Superintendent ensures safe, reliable, and efficient operation of all plant assets while supporting production, food safety, quality, and cost objectives. This role is accountable for developing maintenance personnel, driving equipment reliability, reducing downtime, improving plant performance, managing departmental costs, and implementing long-term maintenance strategies that support business growth.

The Maintenance Superintendent reports directly to the Plant Engineer and serves as a key member of the plant leadership team. This position partners closely with Operations, FSQA, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Corporate Technical Services to achieve plant performance objectives and drive operational excellence.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop Maintenance Technicians and Electricians.
• Establish clear performance expectations and drive accountability throughout the maintenance organization.
• Develop training programs to increase technical capabilities and promote internal talent development.
• Conduct performance reviews, succession planning, and employee development initiatives.
• Foster a culture of safety, ownership, teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Maintenance & Reliability

• Own all maintenance KPIs including equipment uptime, downtime reduction, PM compliance, maintenance labor efficiency, and work order completion.
• Develop and execute preventive, predictive, and condition-based maintenance programs.
• Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) processes and ensure corrective actions are implemented and sustained.
• Maintain and improve equipment reliability across production, packaging, utilities, refrigeration, and facility systems.
• Drive equipment reliability, preventive and predictive maintenance strategies, and continuous improvement initiatives to maximize plant performance and reduce downtime.

Operational Support

• Provide technical leadership and troubleshooting support for production equipment and facility systems.
• Ensure maintenance activities are aligned with production schedules to maximize efficiency and minimize downtime.
• Coordinate planned shutdowns, maintenance outages, and equipment installations.
• Support startup and commissioning activities for new equipment and production lines.
• Partner with Operations to identify and implement process improvements that improve productivity and equipment performance.

Asset Management

• Develop long-term asset management and replacement strategies.
• Participate in capital planning, installation, startup, and project execution.
• Ensure all technical documentation, drawings, manuals, and maintenance procedures are accurate and properly maintained.
• Identify opportunities for automation, technology upgrades, and operational efficiency improvements.

Cost Management

• Develop and manage annual maintenance operating budgets.
• Control maintenance spending while ensuring equipment reliability and plant performance.

• Manage maintenance inventory, ensure critical spare parts are available, and maintain relationships with suppliers and service providers.

• Monitor maintenance labor, contractor expenses, and utility costs.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising safety, quality, or reliability.

Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure all maintenance activities comply with USDA, OSHA, GMP, SQF, HACCP, and company standards.
• Support food safety and quality programs through proper equipment maintenance and sanitary design practices.
• Lead maintenance readiness for internal, customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.
• Ensure compliance with all environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements.

Safety Leadership

• Promote zero-incident safety culture.
• Lead safety investigations and corrective action implementation.
• Ensure compliance with Lockout/Tagout, confined space, electrical safety, and contractor safety programs.
• Promote safe work practices and ensure all maintenance personnel receive required safety training.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Industrial Maintenance, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Experience

• Minimum 7 years of maintenance leadership experience in food manufacturing, meat processing, or industrial manufacturing.
• Proven experience leading maintenance teams in a high volume manufacturing environment.
• Experience developing and managing maintenance budgets.
• Strong project management and continuous improvement experience are preferred.

Technical Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership, team development, and employee coaching skills.
• Knowledge of preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Experience with maintenance planning, scheduling, and work order management systems.
• Working knowledge of PLCs, automation, controls, and electrical and mechanical systems.
• Strong troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to drive equipment reliability and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience managing maintenance budgets, costs, and resources.
• Strong organizational, planning, and project management skills.
• Effective communication and collaboration across all plant departments.
• Knowledge of food manufacturing regulations, food safety, and quality requirements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and maintenance management systems.
• Self-motivated, results-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

 WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work in a food manufacturing environment with exposure to temperature variations, noise, moving equipment, and refrigerated areas.
• Frequent walking throughout production and maintenance areas.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to respond to plant emergencies during off-hours when necessary.
• May be required to work extended hours, weekends, and holidays based on business needs.
• Ability to travel occasionally for training, meetings, or project support.

POSITION IMPACT

The Maintenance Superintendent plays a critical leadership role in ensuring the reliability, efficiency, safety, and long-term sustainability of plant operations. This position directly impacts equipment performance, production uptime, operating costs, employee development, food safety compliance, and the overall success of the facility.

More About Us

Since 1945, Principe Foods has combined Italian heritage and craftsmanship to produce premium Italian meats and charcuterie. As part of JBS Prepared Foods, we are committed to delivering high-quality products, developing our people, and driving operational excellence.

Why Join Us? 

• Career growth and advancement opportunities.
• Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits package.
• 401(k), medical benefits, and tuition assistance.
• Safety-focused, team-oriented culture.

EOE, including disability/vets