Maintenance Manager

Maintenance Manager

Palmetto Gourmet Foods, Inc. Location: South Carolina Department: Operations / Manufacturing Reports To: Plant Manager

Position Summary

Palmetto Gourmet Foods is seeking an experienced and results-driven Maintenance Manager to lead the maintenance function within our food manufacturing operation. This role is responsible for maximizing equipment reliability, minimizing downtime, improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), and driving continuous improvement initiatives across production and packaging operations.

The ideal candidate will possess a strong engineering background, extensive experience in food manufacturing, and demonstrated success implementing Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, and preventive maintenance programs. Experience supporting or managing noodle production lines, food processing equipment, packaging systems, and automated manufacturing environments is highly preferred.

This leader will oversee maintenance personnel, capital improvement projects, reliability initiatives, and the long-term maintenance strategy to support Palmetto Gourmet Foods' growth and operational excellence objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Maintenance Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of maintenance technicians, mechanics, electricians, and maintenance supervisors.
• Establish a culture focused on safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, training, performance management, and succession planning within the maintenance department.
• Ensure maintenance resources are aligned with production demands and business objectives.

Reliability & Asset Management

• Develop and execute comprehensive preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Improve equipment uptime, reliability, and operational performance through structured reliability engineering practices.
• Monitor and improve key performance indicators (KPIs), including: 
  • Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
  • Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)
  • Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)
  • Maintenance costs
  • Planned versus unplanned maintenance
• Utilize CMMS systems to manage work orders, maintenance planning, and asset history.

Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

• Lead Lean Manufacturing initiatives focused on waste elimination, efficiency improvements, and process optimization.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and Corrective Action programs.
• Implement and sustain TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) methodologies.
• Partner closely with production leadership to improve throughput, quality, and equipment performance.
• Drive standardization of maintenance procedures and best practices.

Engineering & Technical Leadership

• Provide engineering expertise in troubleshooting complex mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and automation systems.
• Support process improvements and equipment upgrades through sound engineering principles.
• Lead capital projects from concept through implementation, including equipment installation, commissioning, and validation.
• Collaborate with equipment manufacturers and vendors to enhance system performance.

Food Manufacturing Operations

• Ensure all maintenance activities comply with food safety, GMP, HACCP, SQF, and regulatory requirements.
• Support production operations while maintaining strict sanitation and quality standards.
• Implement maintenance procedures that minimize contamination risks and support food safety objectives.
• Maintain readiness for customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.

Noodle Production & Processing Equipment

• Provide technical leadership for noodle manufacturing and processing equipment, including: 
  • Mixing systems
  • Dough preparation equipment
  • Sheeting and forming systems
  • Drying systems
  • Conveyors
  • Packaging equipment
  • Automated production lines
• Identify process and equipment improvements that increase line efficiency, consistency, and product quality.

Financial & Strategic Management

• Develop and manage the annual maintenance budget.
• Evaluate and justify capital expenditure projects through ROI analysis.
• Manage maintenance inventory, spare parts programs, and contractor relationships.
• Support strategic growth initiatives through maintenance and engineering planning.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of progressive maintenance leadership experience within food manufacturing or consumer packaged goods manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and automation systems.
• Experience implementing preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Demonstrated success leading Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Experience using CMMS software and reliability management tools.
• Strong project management and team leadership skills.

Preferred

• Experience managing maintenance operations within a noodle, pasta, bakery, or food processing manufacturing facility.
• Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP).
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent.
• Experience with PLCs, VFDs, industrial controls, and automated production systems.
• Knowledge of TPM methodologies.
• Experience with high-speed packaging equipment.

Key Competencies

• Lean Manufacturing Leadership
• Continuous Improvement
• Reliability Engineering
• Root Cause Analysis
• Food Manufacturing Systems
• Maintenance Planning & Scheduling
• Capital Project Management
• Team Development
• Strategic Thinking
• Change Management
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

Success Metrics

The successful Maintenance Manager will be measured by:

• Improvement in production line uptime and reliability
• Reduction in unplanned downtime
• OEE improvement across manufacturing lines
• Maintenance cost control and budget management
• Successful execution of capital projects
• Employee engagement, retention, and development
• Food safety and audit performance
• Continuous improvement savings and operational efficiencies

About Palmetto Gourmet Foods

Palmetto Gourmet Foods is committed to delivering high-quality food products through operational excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement. We seek leaders who are passionate about developing people, optimizing processes, and building world-class manufacturing operations that support our continued growth and commitment to customers.

EEO Statement 

PGF provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, or service in the military. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training. 

Palmetto Gourmet Foods is a drug free workplace.