Maintenance Manager

Palmetto Gourmet Foods

Saluda, SC

Estimated pay: Est. $29–$45/hr (market estimate, not employer-stated)

Shift: Full time

**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 an