Maintenance Manager

About the role

The Maintenance Manager at Grand River Foods holds a critical leadership position responsible for the complete oversight of maintenance operations across the facility. In this role, you will ensure that every maintenance activity aligns precisely with the company's established food quality and safety standards. You are tasked with fostering a culture of reliability, continuous improvement, and strict adherence to best practices among the maintenance team. This position requires ownership of planning, execution, and completion of all maintenance tasks in a timely and efficient manner. You will serve as the key liaison between production and maintenance departments to guarantee a seamless operational flow. Success in this role demands strict compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), safety protocols, and all relevant legislative guidelines. You will drive proactive maintenance strategies to minimize unplanned downtime and extend the lifecycle of critical production assets. The role involves analyzing performance metrics to identify trends and implementing corrective actions that enhance overall equipment effectiveness. Building strong working relationships with internal stakeholders to understand their needs and deliver exceptional support is also a core component of this position.

This position is based at the Grand River Foods facility in Cambridge, ON, and is a full-time, salaried role. The position is currently open for backfill.

What you'll do

You will develop and implement a comprehensive preventive maintenance program designed to maximize equipment reliability and uptime. You will lead both scheduled and emergency maintenance repairs on production machinery, processing equipment, and facility infrastructure. A key responsibility involves performing detailed analysis of equipment failures to determine root causes and implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence. You will manage and optimize the maintenance budget, ensuring the cost-effective use of resources and robust inventory control. Coordination with production teams is essential to minimize downtime and ensure maintenance activities align perfectly with operational schedules. You will ensure strict compliance with all health, safety, and environmental regulations, fostering a safe working environment for all staff. The utilization of computerized maintenance management systems will be required to accurately track work orders, inventory, and maintenance history. Driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance maintenance processes, efficiency, and overall equipment performance is a core duty. You will provide technical guidance and mentorship to maintenance technicians to develop their skills and capabilities. Collaboration with external vendors and service providers will be necessary to manage contracts and ensure timely resolution of complex issues. Regular inspections of equipment and facilities will be performed to identify potential hazards and areas for improvement. You will support the development and execution of safety protocols specifically related to maintenance activities. Close collaboration with engineering and quality assurance departments will ensure maintenance activities meet regulatory and quality standards. Promoting a culture of safety and housekeeping within the maintenance department to ensure a clean and organized work environment is also expected.

Requirements

To be considered for this role at Grand River Foods, candidates must possess a diploma or certificate in Maintenance Management, Engineering, or a related technical discipline. A minimum of five years of progressive experience in a maintenance leadership role within a manufacturing or food processing environment is required. Demonstrated expertise in troubleshooting and repairing mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic systems is essential. Strong knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), safety standards, and relevant legislative guidelines is mandatory. Proven ability to lead, supervise, and develop a team of maintenance professionals effectively is a prerequisite. An excellent understanding of production processes and the ability to collaborate effectively with production management is required. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to interpret technical documents and schematics, are necessary. Effective communication and interpersonal skills are required to interact with all levels of the organization.

While not mandatory, experience in the food processing industry is preferred. Knowledge of specific maintenance management software or enterprise asset management systems is also considered a valuable asset.

Practical notes indicate that this is a full-time salaried position. The role requires flexibility to respond to urgent maintenance needs outside standard hours due to interaction with production schedules. Work is performed in a manufacturing environment with inherent hazards; adherence to safety protocols is non-negotiable.