Job Description

Job Location: Tipton Plant - Tipton, CA 93272
Position Type: Full Time
Salary Range: $130,343.00 - $135,706.00 SalaryJob

Summary
The Senior Maintenance Manager is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of facility maintenance, utilities, building systems, infrastructure, grounds, and reliability programs across Ventura Coastal operations. This position ensures that all facilities, production support systems, utilities, equipment, and physical assets are maintained in a safe, compliant, reliable, and cost-effective manner to support business objectives and uninterrupted operations.
The Senior Maintenance Manager provides leadership to maintenance management, facility personnel, contractors, and support teams while driving continuous improvement in asset reliability, preventive maintenance, facility upgrades, energy management, safety, and regulatory compliance.
This role serves as a key business partner to Plant Leadership and Operations, ensuring facilities and infrastructure support current production demands and future growth initiatives. The Senior Maintenance Manager is responsible for maintenance budgets, facility capital projects, contractor management, utility systems, and long-term asset management planning.
This position reports to the Fruit and Citrus Processing Operations Director.
Primary Responsibilities
Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance
- Food Safety is the responsibility of all Ventura Coastal manufacturing employees. All employees must be aware of CCPs within their area and properly document required activities.
- Report food safety, quality, safety, environmental, or facility concerns immediately to management.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable food safety, OSHA, environmental, and facility regulations.
- Promote and maintain GMP, sanitation, and workplace safety standards throughout all facility operations.
Facility Operations & Maintenance Leadership
- Lead, develop, and mentor Maintenance Managers, Supervisors, Planners, Technicians, and facility support personnel.
- Establish department goals, performance expectations, accountability measures, and development plans.
- Ensure all facilities, utilities, infrastructure, and production support systems operate at maximum reliability and efficiency.
- Develop and execute preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs.
- Drive equipment reliability initiatives and root cause analysis programs to reduce downtime and improve asset performance.
- Partner with Production and Plant Leadership to support operational objectives and minimize disruption to manufacturing activities.
- Maintain facility readiness to support current operations and future business growth.
Utilities & Infrastructure Management
- Oversee operation, maintenance, and reliability of all utility systems, including:
- Ammonia refrigeration systems
- Boilers
- Air compressors
- Electrical distribution systems
- Water and wastewater systems
- HVAC systems
- Building automation systems
- Ensure utility capacity and reliability meet production requirements.
- Develop energy management strategies focused on efficiency and sustainability.
- Manage facility infrastructure improvements and modernization efforts.
Capital Projects & Asset Management
- Develop annual facility maintenance and capital expenditure budgets.
- Lead facility-related capital improvement projects including renovations, infrastructure upgrades, equipment installations, and expansion initiatives.
- Manage project scope, schedules, budgets, contractors, and project execution.
- Support engineering and operations teams with technical expertise related to facility improvements.
- Develop long-term asset management and replacement strategies for critical infrastructure.
Contractor & Vendor Management
- Manage relationships with external contractors, service providers, utility vendors, and equipment suppliers.
- Ensure contractors comply with all safety, food safety, and company requirements.
- Negotiate service agreements and monitor vendor performance.
- Evaluate contractor effectiveness and cost efficiency.
Continuous Improvement & Reliability
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on reliability, safety, energy efficiency, and maintenance effectiveness.
- Utilize maintenance metrics and KPIs to improve department performance.
- Implement best practices in maintenance planning, scheduling, work order management, and asset lifecycle management.
- Support Lean Manufacturing and operational excellence initiatives.
Employee Relations & Leadership
- Promote a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
- Partner with Human Resources to address employee relations matters, performance management, coaching, and corrective action.
- Ensure all maintenance and facility personnel receive appropriate technical and safety training.
- Maintain strong working relationships with Plant Directors, Operations Leadership, and support departments.
General Responsibilities
- Act professionally with employees, customers, contractors, vendors, and visitors.
- Demonstrate reliable attendance, punctuality, and professionalism.
- Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.
- Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

Required Qualifications
- Minimum 10 years of progressive facility, maintenance, engineering, or operations leadership experience.
- Minimum 5 years of leadership experience managing maintenance, facilities, or technical teams.
- Strong knowledge of facility infrastructure, utilities, maintenance systems, and industrial operations.
- Demonstrated success managing maintenance budgets, facility capital projects, and contractor relationships.
- Experience implementing preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
- Strong understanding of OSHA regulations, facility compliance requirements, and industrial safety practices.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive organizational change.
Preferred

Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Industrial Technology, Operations Management, or related field.
- Food processing, beverage manufacturing, citrus processing, or consumer packaged goods experience.
- Experience with CMMS systems and maintenance reliability programs.
- Knowledge of ammonia refrigeration systems and industrial utility operations.
- Project Management certification or equivalent experience.
- Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement experience.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong leadership and team development skills.
- Excellent project management and organizational abilities.
- Advanced troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills.
- Strong financial and budget management capabilities.
- Ability to prioritize multiple projects and competing business demands.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, ERP systems, CMMS platforms, and reporting tools.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments.
- Approximately 70% plant environment and 30% office environment.
- Frequent walking, climbing stairs, accessing equipment platforms, and navigating industrial environments.
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
- Frequent travel between company facilities, including Visalia and Tipton.
- Availability to respond to critical facility or utility emergencies as needed.
This job description is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the Company reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the Company may deem appropriate.