Engineering And Maintenance Manager
Ripple Foods
New Orleans, LA, USA
We are seeking an experienced Engineering & Maintenance Manager to lead maintenance and engineering operations at a 200+ employee manufacturing facility. This role is highly focused on transforming and strengthening the maintenance program, with a key objective of shifting from a reactive to a proactive, preventive maintenance culture.
This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for maintenance strategy, capital planning, team development, and cross-functional collaboration to drive operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities
Maintenance Strategy & Reliability
- Lead the transformation of the maintenance program from primarily reactive to a strong preventive maintenance (PM) structure
- Develop, implement, and optimize preventive and predictive maintenance programs
- Improve equipment reliability, reduce downtime, and increase overall plant efficiency
- Establish and maintain CMMS systems, maintenance procedures, and inventory controls
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead and develop a team including:
- Maintenance leadership
- Project engineering
- Systems/IT engineering support
- Set clear expectations, drive accountability, and support professional development
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, safety, and operational discipline
Capital Projects & Budget Management
- Develop and manage capital budgets and project plans
- Oversee capital projects from planning through execution
- Ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and aligned with business goals
- Identify and implement equipment upgrades and process improvements
Strategic Planning & Operations Support
- Partner with plant leadership to drive long-term operational and engineering strategy
- Support production goals related to efficiency, cost reduction, quality, and safety
- Lead process improvements, equipment optimization, and facility planning initiatives
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with operations, quality, supply chain, and leadership teams
- Support packaging and production operations within a regulated manufacturing environment
- Ensure alignment between engineering initiatives and overall business objectives
Compliance & Safety
- Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, safety standards, and environmental guidelines
- Support plant safety programs and ensure proper maintenance of facility systems
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field required
- 7+ years of experience in manufacturing environments with progressive leadership responsibility
- Proven experience developing and implementing preventive maintenance programs
- Strong background in maintenance, reliability, and equipment performance improvement
- Experience managing capital projects and budgets
- Knowledge of CMMS systems and maintenance best practices
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in food, pharmaceutical, chemical, or CPG manufacturing environments
- Background in packaging operations
- Experience leading maintenance transformations or turnaround initiatives
Work Environment
- Onsite leadership role within a manufacturing facility
- Fast-paced, team-oriented environment
- High visibility with plant and regional leadership
Why This Role Stands Out
- Opportunity to lead a major maintenance transformation initiative
- High-impact role with direct influence on plant performance and reliability
- Strong leadership visibility and cross-functional collaboration
- Ability to shape long-term engineering and maintenance strategy