8th Avenue Food & Provisions is a growing organization made up of businesses that produce and sell quality products including pasta, peanut butter, granola, and fruit and nut trail mixes to retail, foodservice and ingredient customers. The company was formed in October 2018 through a combination of Post Holdings’ private brands businesses and is owned by Post Holdings and funds affiliated with Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. (“THL”), a private equity firm.

SUMMARY:

The Maintenance Lead is responsible for supervising plant mechanical and electrical technicians and outside labor force, scheduling maintenance tasks and PM programs, and assuring that plant equipment meets OSHA regulations.

MAJOR DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Maintenance Leadership – Provides consistent positive leadership to achieve required results through all maintenance technicians.  Delegates work assignments to technicians.  Ensures that daily maintenance schedules, objectives and targets are communicated to, understood by and successfully addressed by all technicians.  Frequently moves throughout the plant to check on technicians and equipment.  Identifies maintenance problems and applies solutions as appropriate.  Alerts management and appropriate personnel in production/other departments to any/all problems that interfere with achieving production targets.  Assist technicians and production employees as required.  Complete reports as required.

Resource Management – Technicians - Maintains continuous contact with technicians to ensure that they understand maintenance assignments, are carrying out assigned duties and receive assistance in the event of problems.  Schedules and assigns technicians to maintenance tasks.  Schedules overtime as needed.  Ensures that all technicians are properly trained.  Uses various techniques including coaching, small group meetings, one-on-one sessions, positive recognition and/or discipline to cause technicians to achieve desired results.

Resource Management – Materials – Ensures that all machinery/equipment is working properly.  Coordinates maintenance and/or repairs of equipment as needed.  Check to see that all materials – spare parts, specialty tools, fluids, etc. – are available when needed.  Reports any shortages immediately to Plant Purchaser and/or Plant Engineer.

Safety – Ensures that the work area is free of all hazards and technicians follow all safety rules and regulations.  Develops and maintains personal knowledge of safety rules and regulations.  Conducts daily area tour (hazard analysis) and resolves any/all safety issues in an expedient fashion. 

Quality & Sanitation – Notifies and coordinates with QA representatives to resolve any issues or problems.  Ensures that all technicians are knowledgeable of Good Manufacturing Principles (GMP) and sanitation regulations.  Conducts frequent tours of plant to check that machinery is working properly and technicians are performing maintenance assignments in accord with GMPs and quality assurance standards.

Preventive Maintenance Program – Schedules PM with Production to align with run schedule.  Assigns PM to technician by shift/area.  Spot checks PM to ensure work is being accomplished.  Tracks weekly, cycle down and shutdown PMs with administrator to completion.  Modifies PM as required to maintain equipment.  Generates new PM as deemed necessary on existing and new equipment.

PRODUCT QUALITY & FOOD SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• As an employee of 8th Avenue you share in the responsibility for producing a food product that meets established specifications of the highest quality and is safe and wholesome.
• It is every 8th Avenue employee’s responsibility to immediately report any incident or situation that may compromises any of the above factors or issues to their immediate Supervisor and if unavailable to the Quality Assurance Technicians and/or a manager at the plant.

DIMENSIONS: 

The Maintenance Lead position is an essential position in the plant and is responsible for the successful operation of plant production through its maintenance program.  Due to the high visibility of this position, incumbents are required to maintain a consistently positive, professional demeanor.  In addition, the position includes the following:

1. Responsible for maintenance technicians depending on shift and plant assignment.
2. Position requires shift, weekend and overtime work as scheduled.
3. Position is eligible for pre-approved and documented overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40 hours worked in a workweek.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES/EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION/ REQUIRED TO SUCCESSFULLY PERFORM MAJOR DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: 

1. Good Planning and Organization Skills
2. Excellent Communication Skills – Verbal, Written, and Listening
3. Must be able to understand English both verbal and written.
4. Delegating, Coaching, and Checking
5. Problem Analysis and Decision-Making Skills
6. Interpersonal Skills, Patience, Able to Resolve Conflict
7. Good Basic Math and Quantitative Skills
8. Mechanical Aptitude and Knowledge of Machinery
9. Working Knowledge of Electricity and Mechanics
10. Knowledge of Food Manufacturing Processes; Good Manufacturing Practices; OSHA Regulations; Quality Assurance and Sanitation Standards

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Must be able to return to plant on any shift and be able to work extended hours
2. Must be able to have access to plant equipment – requires climbing & bending
3. Must be able to lift 75 lbs.
4. Must be able to work in hot and humid environments with temperatures of 100 degrees plus.
5. Must be able to work in areas that may have wheat flour dust or other food ingredients.
6. Must be able to work in loud/high noise volume areas.
7. Must have visual acuity for reading instructions and observing work processes.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: 

1. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience 
2. 5-8 Years relevant experience; four years supervisory experience preferred
3. Other manufacturing/industrial experience will be considered

Other Skills/Knowledge Desired

Boilers – Conveyors – Extruders – Packaging - Dryers/Drying – Palletizers – Pneumatics - Material Handling – Hydraulics – Welding - Vacuum Systems – Machinist – Blowers - PLC