Rendering Maintenance Manager
Position Summary
The Rendering Maintenance Manager is responsible for the overall maintenance, reliability, and performance of all rendering plant equipment, systems, and infrastructure. This role provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for the maintenance function, ensuring safe, environmentally compliant, and efficient operations through effective preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance practices.
The Rendering Maintenance Manager leads maintenance personnel and contractors, oversees asset reliability initiatives, manages maintenance budgets and capital projects, and drives continuous improvement efforts to maximize equipment uptime and operational performance. This position maintains 24/7 accountability for critical plant assets and serves as a key partner to operations in achieving production, safety, quality, environmental, and cost objectives.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities Leadership & People Management
- Lead, develop, and supervise maintenance supervisors, mechanics, technicians, and contractors.
- Establish clear performance expectations and hold team members accountable for safety, reliability, and operational results.
- Provide coaching, training, employee development, and succession planning to build a highly skilled maintenance organization.
- Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
Maintenance & Reliability
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs.
- Drive equipment reliability initiatives to improve uptime, asset life, and operational efficiency.
- Analyze equipment failures and lead root cause investigations to prevent recurring issues.
- Ensure effective maintenance planning, scheduling, and execution of work activities.
- Maintain asset management systems, equipment histories, and maintenance records.
Safety, Environmental & Regulatory Compliance
- Promote and enforce a strong safety culture throughout all maintenance activities.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, environmental requirements, company policies, and industry best practices.
- Administer and enforce Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), confined space entry, hot work, contractor safety, and other critical safety programs.
- Support internal and external audits and lead corrective actions as needed.
Financial & Operational Management
- Develop and manage maintenance budgets while effectively controlling maintenance expenditures.
- Monitor and improve key performance indicators including:
- Equipment Availability
- Downtime
- Preventive Maintenance Completion Rates
- Maintenance Costs
- Reliability Metrics
- Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities while improving asset performance and reliability.
Capital Projects & Continuous Improvement
- Support, manage, and execute capital improvement projects and major equipment installations.
- Coordinate contractors and external service providers to ensure work is completed safely, on time, and within budget.
- Partner with Operations, Engineering, Environmental, and Safety teams to drive continuous improvement initiatives throughout the facility.
Working Conditions
- Maintain availability for plant emergencies and operational issues on a 24/7 basis.
- Frequently work in industrial environments with exposure to heat, noise, odors, moisture, moving equipment, and outdoor conditions.
- Must be able to climb ladders, stairs, work at elevated heights, and access equipment throughout the facility.
Education and Experience Requirements Required
- Minimum of 7-10 years of industrial maintenance experience.
- Minimum of 3-5 years of maintenance leadership or supervisory experience.
- Experience managing maintenance personnel, contractors, and maintenance programs.
- Experience managing maintenance budgets and controlling expenditures.
Preferred
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, Maintenance Management, or a related field.
- Equivalent combinations of education, technical training, and experience may be considered.
- Experience in rendering, poultry processing, food manufacturing, feed manufacturing, or similar industrial environments.
- Working knowledge of CMMS systems, reliability-centered maintenance practices, and predictive maintenance technologies.
Key Competencies
- Maintenance & Reliability Leadership
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Root Cause Analysis
- Budget & Cost Management
- Capital Project Management
- Safety & Regulatory Compliance
- Team Development & Coaching
- Continuous Improvement
- Problem Solving & Decision Making
- Communication & Collaboration