Sr. Manager, Engineering - Kemps

We are currently seeking a Sr. Manager, Engineering to join our team in Rockford, IL, that produces cultured dairy products.  In this newly created role, you will oversee and manage all aspects of the engineering and maintenance functions optimizing productivity and maintaining the facility’s infrastructure and equipment.  As a people leader, you will direct a team of maintenance supervisors and technicians and work closely with plant management to accomplish goals while demonstrating Kemps’ Culture of Excellence principles. 

Kemps is a farmer-owned brand of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a dairy marketing cooperative owned by more than 12,500 family farmers. Our mark matters and it represents the wholesomeness of dairy that we share with our communities and loved ones. DFA manufactures a variety of dairy products, including cheese, butter, fluid milk, ice cream, dairy ingredients and more, under well-known and established regional brands. Our fingerprints touch thousands of brands across the marketplace, and we’re passionate about delivering the simple pleasures of dairy to people everywhere, straight from our family farm-owners. At Country Fresh we are proud to provide families with fresh delicious dairy products.

By joining DFA, you can help us continue to make a difference that matters. We care deeply about the well-being of our neighbors and friends, and we celebrate the diversity of our company and our world. It takes an incredible team to deliver the goodness of dairy and enrich our communities – come join us!  

Responsibilities include, but not limited to:

• Ensure mechanical and electrical expertise is available to production and other departments to maintain production systems, utilities, buildings, and grounds in a 24-hour 7-day per week operation. 
• Collaborate with plant management and corporate staff to utilize equipment to improve employee safety, production quality, equipment reliability and overall equipment effectiveness utilizing Continuous Improvement techniques and a Management Operating Structure (MOS). 
• Design, specify, and commission capital projects which deliver project scope, on-time and on-budget, meeting agreed to stakeholder expectations.
• Utilize a computerized maintenance management system to optimize asset utilization through scheduled preventative maintenance.
• Develop, report, and analyze key maintenance performance indicators as a means to create and implement corrective actions.
• Remain current with latest and emerging industry regulations and codes relative to mechanical and electrical systems design and operation.
• Ensures corporate policies and standards are followed in both capital project implementation as well as daily maintenance.
• Shares best practices within the Maintenance Department.
• Promote a safe and environmentally sound workplace that complies with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Provide management of employees directly or through supervisors to ensure effective selection, retention, development, disciplinary action, and performance management.  If a collective bargaining agreement exists, may participate in negotiations, grievances or other contract related activities and discussions.  
• Cooperate in a cross-functional manner as a change agent with all departments within the Company.
• Engage in the typical responsibilities of a manager requiring planning, evaluating, organizing, integrating, and delegating.

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline strongly preferred.
• 8+ years’ experience in engineering or maintenance functions in a food manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience of maintenance personnel is required.
• Experience with PLC programming.
• Environmental compliance experience.
• Union (for union facilities), Safety, and Workers Compensation experience preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Auto CAD.
• Experience managing budgets and capital projects.
• Experience leading and following Safety/Security Policies and Procedures.

Benefits:

• Health and Welfare benefits begin 1^st of the month after start date
• 401(k) with company contribution
• Competitive pay
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Career growth opportunities – we promote from within!
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits
• Service recognition and employee rewards
• Employee referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Work for dairy farm families

An Equal Opportunity Employer