Maintenance Manager/Plant Engineer

Tuffy’s Pet Foods Inc. is looking for a Maintenance Manager/Plant Engineer to join our team.  Tuffy’s is a super-premium Pet Food Manufacturer and has been producing a full line of Dry Pet Foods since 1964.    We are located Perham, MN and in the heart of lakes country.  Tuffy’s is privately held and is part of KLN Family Brands an extremely progressive company that has invested heavily in both Pet Food and Human Food areas.  We pride ourselves on taking care of our customers and team members and giving back locally and well beyond our community.

The Maintenance Manager/Plant Engineer is a key member of the Tuffy’s Leadership Team and is responsible for planning, directing, and guiding the maintenance, electrical, controls, and part room groups and reports to the General Manager.  This leader will oversee the day to day operations of these departments as well as process improvements and future equipment, building, and service installations.

The successful candidate will be a strong leader, manager, and team builder and will have demonstrated a thorough knowledge of planning, installing, maintaining, and improving mechanical, electrical, utilities systems.  This individual will need to be able to collaborate with other managers to accomplish the organizations goals and strategic plans. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads, directs, and provides guidance for repairs, process improvements, and equipment sourcing, design, approval, installation, and commissioning in support with facilities goals and plans
• Responsible for improving asset utilization, uptime and production throughout by implementing proven maintenance and reliability improvement processes including preventive/predictive maintenance programs
• Ensures responsive and proactive maintenance support to all plant customers by implementing sound work management processes
• Responsible for professional and technical training and development of all associates;  Coaches and develops a diverse, high performing and engaged team to meet established goals and build organizational capability
• Responsible for departmental budgeting, capital and utility budgeting for the facility, process improvement initiatives, and infrastructure planning and installations including building, equipment, and utilities (gas, steam, electric, water and sewer)
• Manages facility capital projects in conjunction with Project Manager and other Department Managers from ideation through commissioning
• Has key reports in maintenance, electrical, and controls that are responsible for day to day activities of directing, controlling and coordinating all phases of these Departments but is responsible for oversight in these areas
• Oversees parts room acquisitions and operations that provides repair parts for critical process equipment as well as necessary consumables for the plant
• Maintains good working relationships with other organizational units in the plant and fosters collaborative relationship with all other departments
• Manages facilities and equipment maintenance and operations to produce quality products in an efficient and profitable manner within budget by accomplishing objectives at the best cost
• Ensures company goals and policies are clearly communicated and understood including: Safety, Food Safety, Regulatory, Quality, Volume, Costs, and Profitability
• Oversees required regulatory reporting and communication involving emission, chemical disposal, recyclables, storage amounts and use of hazardous material to MPCA, Ottertail County and/or any other regulatory or municipal body

Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree or higher or equivalent work experience
7+ years of maintenance in pet food or human food manufacturing 

10+ years of increasing levels of supervisory roles of people & processes required

Excellent Leadership, Communication, Organizational, and Coaching skills

Experience in milling, meat processing, food extrusion, and packaging equipment highly valued.

Working knowledge of ISO, Lean, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement strategy and/or TPM.

Through knowledge of GMP’s and requirements of Safety and Food Safety.

Strong experience in Equipment Preventive Maintenance Management and of plant maintenance software

Proficient in MS Office applications