Plant Maintenance Manager

Within our 300-person manufacturing facility in Allendale – Leprino is seeking a Maintenance Manager to lead the plant’s maintenance function, strengthen equipment reliability, and provide the technical and maintenance support needed to meet production goals. In this role, you will guide maintenance supervisors and their teams, coordinate closely with production and engineering leaders, and oversee maintenance planning, utilities, budgets, safety, and equipment performance. You will also contribute technical expertise to capital projects and help develop the people, systems, and practices that support reliable plant operations.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the plant maintenance function and guide Maintenance Supervisors in planning and completing maintenance work.
• Build maintenance leadership and technical capability through coaching, training, feedback, and employee development.
• Coordinate maintenance priorities and workforce schedules with production teams to improve equipment uptime.
• Oversee preventive, corrective, and emergency maintenance for production equipment, plant systems, and utilities.
• Analyze equipment performance and recurring issues to improve reliability and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Lead department safety by providing appropriate training, equipment, tools, and clear expectations for safe work.
• Develop and monitor the Maintenance department budget, control costs, and coordinate spare-parts inventory.
• Partner with production and quality teams to support equipment performance, sanitation, food safety, and product quality.
• Support capital projects by defining scope, specifying equipment and controls, coordinating installation, and supporting start-up.
• Coordinate maintenance of electrical, refrigeration, hydraulic, pneumatic, process control, and power generation systems.
• Work with contractors, vendors, engineering partners, and plant teams to coordinate repairs and technical services.
• Improve maintenance processes, scheduling, training, and equipment practices to strengthen plant reliability.

You Have At Least (Required Qualifications):

• Eight years of experience in food manufacturing, including experience supporting industrial maintenance, equipment, or plant engineering operations.
• Two years of progressive leadership experience within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Two years of direct leadership experience managing supervisors or other people leaders.
• Working knowledge of industrial equipment and maintenance systems, including electrical operations, process controls, hydraulics, refrigeration, pneumatics, and maintenance scheduling.
• Experience coordinating maintenance activities that support production equipment, food safety, sanitation, and plant operating requirements.

We Hope You Also Have (Preferred Qualifications):

• A bachelor’s or associate degree in Engineering, Industrial Maintenance, or a related technical field.
• Experience in dairy, cheese, or other complex food manufacturing operations.
• Direct leadership experience guiding maintenance supervisors and their teams.
• Experience supporting capital equipment projects, equipment installation, commissioning, preventive maintenance programs, or plant reliability improvements.

At Leprino, we believe in equal employment opportunity and make employment decisions based on each individual’s unique talents, experience, skills, and knowledge; we do not discriminate on the basis of any personal characteristics. We know we are better together and are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive culture in which all employees can thrive.

Offering You In Return:

A chance to be part of a global team of individuals passionate about producing and delivering high-quality products that help feed and nourish families around the world. Leprino could not be where it is today without our incredible employees. That is why we share in our success together by rewarding you for your hard work. Hiring great people who are in it for the long run is our goal. Through competitive salaries and bonuses, life, medical/dental/vision coverage, voluntary benefits, employee assistance programs, wellness incentives, tuition assistance, vacation, ten paid holidays, sick time, paid parental leave, annual merit increases, as well as the LFC Profit-Sharing & 401(k) plan. Your impact will be noticed and rewarded, as you seek to further our company, our customers, and one another.

Our Story:

Leprino’s history dates back to the 1950s, when Jim Leprino first started making small batches of mozzarella for local markets and eateries in the Little Italy neighborhood of Denver. We’ve grown a bit since then. Today, Leprino is the world’s largest manufacturer of mozzarella and lactose, and a leading producer of whey protein. Still owned by the Leprino family, our sights are set to be the “World’s Best Dairy Food and Ingredient Company.” From a small corner grocery store we have grown to over 5,500 employees throughout the globe. Will you join us on our journey?