Preventive Maintenance Assistant Manager

Promising career mobility with compensation & benefits are provided to the qualified candidateSummary:Our award-winning client is seeking a Preventive Maintenance Assistant Manager to join their team. This key management role is responsible for driving asset reliability, leading a unionized team, reducing downtime, and ensuring the continuous, dependable performance of critical production lines.The ideal candidate has a proven background in progressive maintenance methodologies (PM/AM) and supervisory experience within a food manufacturing environment.Responsibilities:Asset Reliability & Optimization:Lead the Progressive Maintenance (PM) agenda through Small Group Activities (SGA) on critical equipment, facilitating the successful transfer of PM responsibilities to Autonomous Maintenance (AM) teams.Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for equipment breakdowns and implement corrective actions to increase Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and reduce Mean Time to Repair (MTTR).Collaborate with the Reliability Engineer on the development and execution of Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) and Time-Based Maintenance (TBM) programs.Manage and oversee the plant's lubrication program to ensure proper execution and compliance.Develop and maintain equipment centerlines to guarantee consistent and optimal performance.Prioritize, plan, and execute all identified abnormalities, focusing on safety and quality concerns first.Support and ensure successful vertical startups for all assigned production lines.People, Leadership & Labor Management:Directly manage, develop, and coach the maintenance team, providing training and building skills within the maintenance and repair cell.Act as the primary liaison for union-related issues, fostering strong, productive labor relations and managing union work rules.Lead daily maintenance meetings and drive clear accountability for safety, quality, and line efficiency targets.Assist in the recruitment and hiring process for mechanics, including interviewing and extending offers.Develop a skill matrix for trades technicians and operators, leading training initiatives to close critical skill gaps.Mentor Team Leads and co-manage tooling/workshop areas, ensuring strict Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance.Planning, Budgeting & CMMS:Manage the budget for maintenance operations, identifying and executing low-cost improvement projects to reduce maintenance expenditures.Develop, prioritize, and assign maintenance activities using the SAP Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), ensuring data integrity and organization.Create detailed shutdown schedules and scopes of work for major PM activity windows and weekend outages.Coordinate weekly and weekend shift layouts based on plant needs and resource availability, providing coverage for Team Leads as needed.Work with the stockroom to investigate part information, aiming to reduce obsolete inventory and improve stockroom accuracy.Required Qualifications:A Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering is desirable; an Associate’s degree or relevant non-degree technical training will be considered.Minimum of 3 years experience as a Maintenance Lead or Supervisor in a manufacturing environment is required, with food manufacturing experience strongly preferred ("the bullseye").A minimum of 2 years of supervisory experience leading a maintenance team or similar role is preferred.Experience with a CMMS (SAP preferred) and scheduling systems (Kronos).Proven experience in project management, operational leadership, strong decision-making skills, and the ability to build and maintain cross-functional relationships.Work Schedule & Benefits:Schedule: Full-time, Monday–Friday (7:00 AM – 3:00 PM), with the expectation of working overtime and weekends as needed. Must be available for on-call consultation during other shifts.Benefits: Full benefits package includes health insurance, wellness/family support programs, life/disability insurance, retirement savings plans, paid leave, paid holidays, and vacation time. Many benefits are subsidized or fully paid by the company.