What are the responsibilities and job description for the Maintenance Reliability Manager position at Fresh Del Monte Produce Company?
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is a global leader in the production, distribution, and marketing of fresh, value-added, and shelf-stable fruits and vegetables under our Fresh and Foods divisions. Our diverse product portfolio proudly bears the Del Monte® brand and also includes prepared fruits and vegetables, juices, beverages, snacks, and desserts - available in over 80 countries worldwide. With operations spanning more than 35 countries, we’ve proudly been nourishing families for over 135 years.
Benefits We Offer Include:
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Employer-paid life & disability insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- 7 Company Paid Holidays
- 24/7 Telemedicine & Employee Assistance Program
- Optional voluntary benefits (legal, accident, identity protection)
- Eligibility on the first of the month following your hire date
Purpose of Position:
Del Monte Foods is the Foods Division of Fresh Del Monte, a global grower, producer and marketer of fresh, value-added, and shelf-stable produce. Del Monte Foods has a powerful portfolio of brands, including the iconic Del Monte®, Contadina® and S&W®. We are currently seeking a Maintenance Reliability Manager.
The Maintenance Reliability Manager is responsible for leading the site maintenance reliability strategy at the Plover facility to improve equipment uptime, reduce lifecycle costs, strengthen preventive maintenance systems, and improve overall asset performance. This role serves as a key leader within the Maintenance & Reliability function and supports long-term site reliability
initiatives, maintenance planning, and asset management strategies.
This position plays a critical role in developing and implementing maintenance systems that improve equipment reliability, reduce unplanned downtime, optimize spare parts strategies, and support safe, efficient plant operations. During pack season, the role focuses heavily on maintenance execution and operational support. Outside of pack season, the role is responsible for maintenance strategy development, preventive maintenance optimization, predictive maintenance initiatives, and long-term reliability improvements across the site.
The Maintenance Reliability Manager works closely with maintenance planners, storeroom personnel, engineers, production leaders, corporate engineering, contractors, and maintenance technicians to support operational excellence, reduce equipment losses, and improve asset performance. This role has direct responsibility for the Maintenance Planner/Scheduler and Storeroom Clerk functions.
Accountabilities:
Maintenance Strategy and Reliability Leadership
- Lead the development and execution of the site maintenance and reliability strategy for the Plover facility.
- Establish maintenance programs that improve equipment uptime, reduce breakdowns, and lower overall maintenance costs.
- Develop, maintain, and improve preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, and reliability-centered maintenance programs.
- Lead efforts to improve overall asset reliability, extend equipment life, and reduce emergency maintenance work.
- Create and implement site maintenance standards, equipment care expectations, and reliability best practices.
- Partner with production, engineering, and operations leaders to align maintenance priorities with business needs and production goals.
- Provide leadership and direction on reliability initiatives, equipment strategy, and maintenance planning activities.
Asset Management and Preventive Maintenance
- Analyze equipment failures, downtime trends, maintenance history, and reliability data to identify recurring issues and opportunities for improvement.
- Lead root cause analysis efforts for major failures, chronic downtime issues, and high-cost maintenance events.
- Validate corrective actions through data, maintenance history, and equipment performance results.
- Use reliability data and maintenance metrics to identify failure patterns, improve PM programs, and reduce repeat issues.
- Conduct lifecycle cost analysis on equipment and communicate findings to site leadership to support maintenance and capital decisions.
- Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities related to maintenance processes, labor utilization, spare parts, equipment performance, and downtime reduction.
- Support site initiatives related to lean manufacturing, TPM, OEE improvement, and maintenance process optimization.
Predictive Maintenance and Technical Support
- Partner with PdM resources to implement appropriate predictive maintenance technologies such as vibration analysis, thermography, oil analysis, ultrasound, and other condition-monitoring tools.
- Evaluate equipment performance data to determine where predictive maintenance tools can improve reliability and reduce failures.
- Support troubleshooting efforts for complex equipment issues and provide technical guidance to maintenance and operations teams.
- Provide technical expertise on equipment upgrades, modifications, maintenance procedures, and asset replacement decisions.
- Support development of maintenance procedures, troubleshooting guides, work instructions, and technical documentation.
- Stay current on new maintenance technologies, industry best practices, and reliability methodologies to support ongoing site improvements.
Leadership and Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Lead and develop the Maintenance Planner/Scheduler and Storeroom Clerk functions to support effective maintenance execution and spare parts management.
- Build strong working relationships with maintenance technicians, production teams, engineers, quality, safety, procurement, and contractors.
- Partner with planners and schedulers to improve maintenance scheduling, labor utilization, backlog management, and work order completion.
- Collaborate with operations leaders to balance maintenance needs with production demands and plant priorities.
- Provide coaching, guidance, and support to maintenance personnel on equipment reliability, preventive maintenance, and
- maintenance best practices.
- Present maintenance performance, reliability metrics, downtime trends, and improvement plan to site leadership.
- Lead maintenance-related projects, audits, and continuous improvement efforts across the site.
Safety, Food Safety, and Compliance
- Support compliance with all company safety policies, GMPs, environmental requirements, and food safety standards.
- Maintain responsibility for safe maintenance practices, lockout/tagout compliance, contractor safety, and equipment-related risk reduction.
- Support maintenance readiness for audits, inspections, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations.
- Participate in quality walks, safety observations, and site audits to identify maintenance-related risks and corrective actions.
- Reinforce accountability for maintaining safe, reliable, and compliant equipment throughout the facility.
Minimum Skills Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Maintenance, Reliability, Industrial Technology, manufacturing, or a related field required.
- Previous experience in a leadership role within food manufacturing, beverage, consumer packaged goods, or a comparable industrial environment preferred.
- Equivalent combinations of education, certifications, military experience, technical training, maintenance leadership experience, and reliability expertise that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered.
- Minimum of 5–8 years of maintenance, reliability, engineering, or manufacturing experience in a food manufacturing or industrial environment.
- Prior leadership experience within maintenance, reliability, engineering, planning, or asset management functions required.
- Strong knowledge of preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, root cause analysis, asset
- management, and reliability principles.
- Experience with CMMS systems, SAP, maintenance planning systems, and work order management
- processes.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Ability to interpret maintenance data, equipment trends, downtime reports, and performance metrics.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence all levels of the organization.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, lead projects, and work effectively across departments.
- Working knowledge of food safety requirements, GMPs, OSHA standards, and maintenance compliance expectations.
- Strong Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and reporting skills. SQL proficiency and experience automating inventory control reporting SAP super user experience.
- Knowledge of predictive maintenance technologies and condition-monitoring tools.
- Experience with TPM, OEE improvement, lean manufacturing, and continuous improvement
- initiatives.
- CMRP, CMRP-related training, PdM certifications, vibration analysis certifications, or other maintenance reliability certifications.
- Experience supporting capital projects, equipment installations, and maintenance process improvements preferred.
- Knowledge of storeroom management, spare parts optimization, and inventory control.
***Please note: This position does not qualify for relocation expenses.***
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is a global leader in the production, distribution, and marketing of fresh and fresh cut fruits and vegetables. Our diverse product portfolio also includes prepared fruits and vegetables, juices, beverages, snacks, and desserts—available in over 80 countries worldwide. With operations spanning more than 35 countries, we’ve proudly been nourishing families for over 135 years.
We are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Fresh Del Monte and its affiliates do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We also participate in E-Verify* where applicable, to ensure employment authorization eligibility. Driven by our core values - Excellence, Care, Passion, Trust, and Creativity - we invite you to explore our career opportunities and join our FRESH team.