Maintenance Supervisor

Maintenance Supervisor

The Maintenance Supervisor provides day-to-day leadership for a unionized maintenance team in a dry blend and baking facility producing breading, breadcrumbs, and related food products. This role ensures equipment reliability, supports safe and efficient production, and maintains compliance with food safety standards while operating within the guidelines of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The supervisor fosters a respectful, collaborative environment and partners closely with Production, Quality, Sanitation, and union leadership to maintain smooth operations.

Key Responsibilities

Maintenance Leadership in a Union Setting

• Lead, coach, and support a team of union maintenance technicians while upholding the terms of the CBA.
• Assign work based on seniority rules, job classifications, and established labor practices.
• Maintain consistent, fair application of policies, work rules, and disciplinary procedures.
• Collaborate with union stewards on issues related to staffing, overtime, grievances, and work assignments.
• Build strong working relationships with technicians by promoting transparency, respect, and open communication.

Equipment Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Oversee mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic repairs on mixers, sifters, conveyors, ovens, grinders, packaging lines, dust collection systems, and pneumatic transfer systems.
• Ensure timely response to breakdowns to minimize downtime while following union protocols for call-ins, overtime, and shift coverage.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions to prevent recurring equipment failures.

Preventive & Predictive Maintenance

• Manage the preventive maintenance (PM) program and ensure technicians complete PM tasks according to schedule.
• Maintain accurate PM documentation for audit readiness and regulatory compliance.
• Use CMMS data to identify trends and recommend predictive maintenance strategies.

Food Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure all maintenance work follows GMPs, allergen-control procedures, and hygienic design principles.
• Support SQF, BRC, or other GFSI certification requirements through documentation, equipment inspections, and audit participation.
• Oversee maintenance of dust collection systems to reduce combustible dust hazards.
• Partner with Quality and Sanitation to ensure equipment repairs support food safety standards.

Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Enforce OSHA, NFPA, and plant safety policies, including lockout/tagout, confined space, and hot work procedures.
• Conduct safety training and ensure technicians follow safe work practices.
• Support capital projects, equipment installations, and line upgrades while coordinating with union leadership on staffing and work assignments.
• Recommend improvements to increase equipment reliability and reduce waste.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that respect job classifications and bargaining unit boundaries.

Inventory & Documentation

• Manage spare parts inventory and coordinate with purchasing to maintain critical stock.
• Ensure accurate documentation of work orders, PMs, parts usage, and equipment history. Maintain CMMS accuracy and use system insights to guide maintenance planning.
• Participate in incident investigations and implement corrective actions.

Qualifications and Skills

Qualifications

Required

• Associates degree in a technical discipline or 5+ years of maintenance experience in food manufacturing, preferably dry blend, bakery, or grain based operations.
• Experience supervising or leading maintenance teams in a unionized environment.
• Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills.
• Knowledge of GMPs, food safety regulations, and sanitation requirements.
• Ability to interpret CBAs, work rules, and seniority based systems.
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and equipment manuals.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree with technical training in industrial equipment, automation, or electrical systems.
• Experience with combustible dust environments or dry ingredient handling.
• Familiarity with PLCs, VFDs, and basic automation troubleshooting.
• CMMS experience (SAP PM, etc.).
• Certifications such as OSHA 30, HVAC, Industrial Maintenance Technician, or related trade credentials.

Core Competencies

• Consistent, fair leadership aligned with union expectations.
• Strong communication and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to balance operational needs with contractual obligations.
• Problem solving mindset with a focus on root cause analysis.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.