Maintenance & Facilities Manager

OVERVIEW

Perfetti Van Melle (makers of Mentos, Airheads, Dentyne, Trident and Bubblicious!) is one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of confectionery and chewing gum with global brands that are being enjoyed in more than 150 countries worldwide. We’re currently seeking a passionate and enthusiastic Maintenance & Facilities Manager to join our growing team. 

WHAT YOU WILL DO

The Maintenance and Facilities Manager is responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of all plant equipment, utilities, and infrastructure. This role leads the maintenance team and external contractors in executing preventive and corrective maintenance programs, optimizing asset performance, and ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory standards. Additionally, the role oversees facilities management to maintain a clean, functional, and secure working environment.
A key responsibility includes the management of spare parts and MRO inventory—ensuring critical components are available when needed, optimizing stock levels, controlling costs, and streamlining procurement processes to support maintenance efficiency and minimize downtime. The Maintenance and Facilities Manager also supports long-term capital planning and continuous improvement initiatives aligned with operational excellence and business continuity goals.

Key Duties Include:

1. Maintenance & Equipment Reliability
- Plan, schedule, and lead preventive and corrective maintenance of production lines, packaging machines, refrigeration systems, and utilities.
- Ensure all food processing equipment operates efficiently, minimizing unplanned downtime and supporting consistent product quality.
- Monitor and improve maintenance KPIs such as OEE, MTTR, MTBF, and equipment availability.
- Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis (RCA) efforts, implementing long-term corrective actions to prevent reoccurrence.
2. CMMS & Maintenance Planning
- Manage the plant’s CMMS (e.g., SAP PM, Fiix, eMaint), ensuring accurate records of work orders, asset history, and parts usage.
- Develop maintenance schedules aligned with production planning to minimize disruption while maintaining equipment reliability.
3. Facilities & Utilities Oversight
- Oversee operation and maintenance of critical utility systems such as HVAC, chilled water, compressed air, boilers, and wastewater treatment.
- Maintain facility infrastructure (floors, walls, lighting, roofs, pest control barriers) in compliance with food safety regulations.
- Coordinate with EHS and QA to ensure sanitary design principles are applied to equipment and facilities.
4. Food Safety & Compliance
- Ensure all maintenance activities comply with GMP, HACCP, SQF/BRC, and food safety audit requirements.
- Support internal and external audits by maintaining proper documentation, sanitation of equipment, and adherence to hygienic zoning.
- Lead corrective action implementation related to equipment and facility non-conformances.
5. Spare Parts & MRO Management
- Oversee spare parts and MRO inventory to ensure critical components are on hand without overstocking.
- Implement inventory controls and procurement strategies to support uptime and cost efficiency.
- Manage vendor relationships and negotiate service and supply contracts aligned with operational needs.
6. Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, train, and develop the maintenance and facilities team, including mechanics, electricians, and utility operators.
- Build a culture of ownership, continuous improvement, and accountability within the team.
- Provide technical guidance and prioritize safety, food safety, and quality in daily activities.
7. Project & Capital Improvement Management
- Scope, justify, and manage capital projects related to equipment installation, utility upgrades, or facility expansion.
- Collaborate with Engineering and Operations to commission new equipment and support trials or new product introductions.
8. Safety & Environmental Responsibility
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and local safety regulations.
- Conduct safety audits, risk assessments, and promote a proactive safety culture within the team.
- Ensure Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), confined space entry, and hot work procedures are followed.
9. Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Production, QA, Engineering, and EHS to align maintenance efforts with production schedules and quality standards.
- Participate in daily operations meetings to identify and prioritize equipment or facility needs.
- Support continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives such as TPM, 5S, and Kaizen events.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU

- Required Associate degree in technical field, industrial, mechanical or electrical engineering preferred
- 5 – 7 years maintenance / engineering experience required.
- 3 years experience in a supervisory or managerial role.
- Mechanical, Electrical and Utilities System, strong understanding of manufacturing equipment, HVAC, plumbing, boilers, compressors, refrigeration, etc.
- Food manufacturing experience is preferred
- Preventive and Predictive Maintenance; Knowledge of maintenance planning, CMMS systems and reliability engineering principles
- Facilities Management; Understanding of building systems, cleaning, security, grounds maintenance and general facility upkeep
- Spare Parts and MRO management; familiarity with inventory control, procurement processes, vendor relationships
- Regulatory Compliance; Knowledge of OSHA, EPA, local building codes, food safety standards (e.g. GMP, HACCP)
- Lean and TPM Tools; RCA, BDA, Autonomous Maintenance, Focus Improvement, PDCA, DMAIC
- Capital Project Management; Understanding of budgeting, planning and executing facility improvement or expansion projects
- Energy and Sustainability; Awareness of energy usage, sustainability practices and cost saving opportunities.
- Leadership and Team Development
- Planning and Scheduling
- Budgeting and Cost Control

WHAT WE OFFER

At Perfetti Van Melle, we are committed to fostering a welcoming workplace, where all individuals, regardless of background or identity, are valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives to the sweet success of our candy-loving community. Additionally, we have a core value of Care For Our People and we are proud to offer benefit programs that support our team members' goals and well-being including:  

- PTO package including vacation, sick, personal, and pay it forward time off    
- 13 paid holidays    
- 401k with Company Match up to 8%, ranking in the top 1% of the country 
- Annual Bonus potential and merit-based increases   
- Comprehensive Health Insurance     
- Annual well-being subsidy  
- 20 weeks Maternity & 12 weeks Paternity leave options   
- Sam's Club or Costco annual membership reimbursement    
- Tuition-Free College Program or Free Continued Education (BA, Masters, etc.)  
- Modest monthly candy allotment (Airheads, Airheads Xtremes, and Mentos)  

 Join a 2025 NKY Best Workplace today!

Perfetti Van Melle, USA is 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, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other applicable statutorily protected group status under local, state, or federal law.