Maintenance & Continuous Improvement Manager

DITSCH USA creates memorable pretzel experiences! We bake artisan pretzels available for both food service and retail markets. As a leading producer of pretzels, we are committed to freshness and providing clean-label products. The quality of our irresistible products comes from more than 100 years of experience and craftsmanship in the ART OF PRETZEL MAKING!

The Maintenance and Continuous Improvement Manager is responsible for overseeing maintenance operations, reliability programs, and process optimization across multiple bakery facilities with sheeting and dividing lines. This is a hands-on, multi-site leadership role focused on maximizing equipment uptime, maintaining facility infrastructure, and driving continuous improvement initiatives that enhance productivity, efficiency, and quality.

Key Responsibilities

Maintenance Operations and Reliability

• Oversee all aspects of maintenance activities across multiple bakery facilities.
• Lead, train, and develop maintenance teams to ensure effective scheduling, troubleshooting, and timely work order completion.
• Develop, implement, and monitor preventive and predictive maintenance programs to improve equipment reliability and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Ensure all equipment, including sheeters, dividers, mixers, proofers, and ovens, operates safely and efficiently.
• Analyze downtime trends and reliability metrics (MTBF, MTTR) to identify and correct recurring issues.
• Manage CMMS utilization and ensure accurate maintenance records and reporting.
  
  

Continuous Improvement (CI)

• Champion continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, and root cause analysis methodologies.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and process improvement workshops with cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with production and engineering teams to streamline processes and eliminate waste.
• Track and report performance metrics (OEE, yield, and energy efficiency) to monitor and sustain improvements.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and proactive problem-solving.
  
  

Facility and Utility Management

• Oversee maintenance of facility systems including HVAC, refrigeration, compressed air, water, plumbing, electrical, and general building infrastructure.
• Coordinate and manage facility upgrades, renovations, and compliance projects.
• Partner with vendors and contractors for specialized repairs and major installations.
• Ensure all maintenance and facility activities comply with safety, food safety, and environmental regulations.
  
  

Capital Projects and Budget Management

• Plan, manage, and execute capital improvement projects, equipment installations, and upgrades.
• Develop maintenance and facility budgets, monitor spending, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Manage spare parts inventory and procurement processes to support equipment reliability.
• Prepare technical reports and recommendations for leadership review.
  
  

Safety, Compliance, and Food Safety

• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure adherence to OSHA, EPA, and company safety standards.
• Partner with Quality Assurance and Sanitation teams to maintain GMP and SQF compliance.
• Participate in internal and external audits, providing maintenance and facility documentation as required.
• Ensure proper lockout/tagout, confined space, and hazardous material procedures are consistently followed.
  
  

Leadership and Collaboration

• Serve as the technical and leadership resource across all company sites.
• Build strong partnerships with production, engineering, and quality teams to ensure alignment of maintenance and CI objectives.
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and performance feedback to site maintenance leaders.
• Communicate clearly with stakeholders and corporate leadership regarding priorities, progress, and risks.
• Support multi-site coordination by sharing best practices and standardizing processes where applicable.
  
  

Qualifications And Experience

• 7 years of progressive maintenance leadership experience in bakery or food manufacturing, preferably in multi-site operations.
• Hands-on technical expertise with bakery processing equipment such as sheeters, dividers, mixers, proofers, and conveyors.
• Strong working knowledge of ingredient distribution systems, mechanical and electrical systems, pneumatics, hydraulics, and refrigeration (CO2 or ammonia preferred).
• Proven experience in implementing and sustaining Continuous Improvement programs.
• Demonstrated success improving equipment reliability, reducing downtime, and increasing OEE.
• Strong analytical, project management, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with CMMS, Microsoft Office, and maintenance data analysis tools.
• In-depth understanding of safety, food safety, and environmental compliance standards.
• Ability to travel regularly between sites.
  
  

Education And Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, or related discipline preferred; equivalent experience accepted.
• Certifications such as CMRP, PMP, Lean, or Six Sigma are preferred and highly valued.
  
  

The physical requirements are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the job's essential functions. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

For more information, visit www.ditsch.com/en

• Recruiters* We are not accepting resumes/referrals from outside recruiters unless we have signed a contract. We value our relationships with our recruiting partners and all potential candidates. As a recruiter, if you share a resume/referral and we do not have a signed agreement, we still may contact the candidate and reserve the right to not engage your recruiting partnership.
  
  

Ditsch USA, is an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.