Senior Manager, Maintenance

Aspire Bakeries is a North American baking company with a leadership position in specialty frozen baked goods. Formed from leading bakery companies, its innovative food portfolio includes breads, artisan breads, buns, cookies, donuts, muffins and pastries from beloved brands like La Brea Bakery®, Otis Spunkmeyer®, and Oakrun Farm Bakery®. With 13 bakeries in North America, we are committed to driving innovation, predicting upcoming consumer trends and flavors, and exceeding our customers’ expectations. Aspire Bakeries champions the values of Integrity, Ownership, Customer Focus, Creativity and Care to help us deliver on People Safety, Food Safety, Quality and Collaboration.

As a Senior Manager, Maintenance, you will lead the design and implementation of preventive maintenance programs to optimize equipment performance and reduce downtime. You will oversee major equipment overhauls, troubleshoot and repair various systems, and manage HVAC/R installations and repairs. Your role includes developing work order systems, leading capital projects, ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards, and maintaining the facility's infrastructure. You will also be responsible for budget management, continuous improvement initiatives, and training plant employees in safe equipment operation.

Responsibilities:

• Designs and implements preventive maintenance programs for all equipment for cost and downtime reduction. Plans and executes major equipment overhauls for long-lasting, maintainable results on various pieces of equipment. Plans for and handles emergencies while continuing to maintain the preventive maintenance program so that emergencies are continually reduced.
• Responsible for troubleshooting (electrical, mechanical, hydraulics, pneumatics, and plumbing) and repairing equipment in a timely manner.
• Responsible for the installation and repairs of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration/ammonia equipment (HVAC/R).
• Develops and implements work order, backlog, control, and job assignment systems that gain requester and subordinate support.
• Lead, direct, and action on capital projects in line with business development. (  maintaining 1, 3 , 5 year plans) 
• Establish the required KPI measurements and associated reports to effectively manage and communicate the performance of the function.
• Ensure the correct resources are budgeted and available to action agreed objectives in a cost-efficient and timely manner.
• Agree, manage, and achieve the engineering department’s annual budget.
• Promotion of a continuous improvement culture within the work environment.
• Maintain a continuous drive for efficiencies/cost reduction.
• Ensures compliance with quality assurance, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), safety, and other company programs and procedures.
• Develops or revises standard operational and working practices and observes workers to ensure compliance with standards.
• Oversees the training of plant employees in proper and safe equipment operation.
• Responsible for the demolition and physical changes made to the buildings.  Maintains interior building structures for longer asset life at minimum cost.
• Sources and oversees installation of non-charter new machinery.
• Hires and oversees outside contractors and service providers as appropriate.
• Develops and maintains good housekeeping, waste management, air quality, and water quality.
• Maintains clean and organized work area.
• Understands and ensures compliance with local, county, and state health, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, wastewater, water quality, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and other government agency codes and regulations.
• Assists in inspections and audits by local, county, and state health departments; Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Brand Reputation through Compliance (BRC); Kosher/Organic certification organizations; NJDEP and customers.  Ensures compliance with policies and regulations formulated by these organizations as they relate to facilities.
• May travel to various locations to attend training or for other duties.
• Prepares yearly maintenance department budget. Manages maintenance activities within budget.
• Keeps management team abreast of maintenance activities.
• Participates as an active member of the management team.
• Other duties may be assigned.
• Works to maintain and improve on the quality, legality and safety of each product and the processes used in their manufacturing. Responsible for keeping assigned work area clean and tidy at all times and reporting any potential contamination and suspicious activity to a Supervisor immediately.

Qualifications:

• B.S. degree (A.A.) or better in at least one of the following preferred:
• Minimum of 5 years comprehensive food safety and quality experience with an extensive background in automated food processing plant, bakery preferred
• Comprehensive knowledge GMPs
• Electrical Construction and Maintenance; Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technologies; or Mechanical Engineering
• Knowledge of HVAC, refrigeration, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing repairs.
• Basic knowledge of programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
• Knowledge of equipment set-up, functions, operating procedures, and preventative maintenance techniques.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, operating and maintenance instructions, and governmental regulations.  Ability to read and interpret diagrams and blueprints.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information to and respond to questions from employees, managers, clients, customers, and the business community. Working knowledge of Spanish preferred.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Microsoft Word processing software, Excel spreadsheet software and Outlook email software; and preventative maintenance software. Knowledge of CAD software is helpful. 
• Travel as needed.

Benefits Designed with You in Mind

At Aspire Bakeries, we’re committed to supporting your well-being, professional growth, and financial stability. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

Health & Wellness:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Company-paid life insurance
• Optional voluntary benefits

Work-Life Balance:

• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off and holidays

Financial Security:

• Competitive 401(k) plan with a 100% vested company match
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage

Continuous Growth:

• Tuition reimbursement program
• Flexible Spending:
• HSA and FSA options

Performance-Based Rewards:
We value your hard work and dedication. That’s why we offer performance-driven incentive programs tailored to your role:

• Short-Term Incentive Plan (STIP): Recognizing individual and team achievements.
• Sales Incentive Plan (SIP): Rewarding excellence in sales performance.
• Bakery Incentive Plan (BIP): Focused on achieving bakery-specific performance goals.

At Aspire Bakeries, we believe that when you succeed, we all succeed. Join us and experience benefits that truly work as hard as you do!

Aspire Bakeries is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.