What are the responsibilities and job description for the EQUIPMENT MANAGER position at Knife River Northwest?
At Knife River, we take care of our teams because we know they are the foundation of our success. We are one of the nation's largest construction materials producers and contractors, and our goal is to build strong teams that, in turn, build strong communities. Join us and make an impact that will last for generations.
Knife River Prestress (KRPI) is a leading precast concrete manufacturer serving commercial, industrial, infrastructure, parking, data center, and institutional markets across the western United States.
This is a multi-plant leadership role supporting KRPI's operations. The KRPI Equipment Manager aligns maintenance practices between plants, improves equipment reliability, supports CAPEX execution, and partners with plant and corporate teams to strengthen long-term asset performance.
Position Summary:
The KRPI Equipment Manager leads maintenance strategy, standard work, asset reliability, and maintenance execution across KRPI's Northwest plants. This role partners with plant leaders, maintenance teams, the KRPI VP Operations, the Divisional Asset Manager, and corporate functions to align maintenance practices, strengthen preventive maintenance, support CAPEX development and implementation, and reinforce Knife River's safety-first culture.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead maintenance strategy, execution standards, and reliability across KRPI plants.
- Align preventive maintenance, work order discipline, spare parts planning, downtime tracking, repair prioritization, and follow-through between plants.
- Partner with plant leadership and maintenance supervisors to schedule work, review progress, resolve barriers, and support consistent execution.
- Support asset planning, CAPEX development and implementation, reliability improvements, and maintenance-related compliance requirements.
- Support troubleshooting, repairs, fabrication, equipment upgrades, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
- Assure safety policies and procedures are followed and immediately address unsafe actions, conditions, processes, or behaviors.
- Coach and support maintenance leaders and team members with a professional, accountable, standards-based leadership style.
- Perform other duties as assigned to support safe, reliable, and productive KRPI operations.
Required Qualifications:
- Progressive maintenance, asset management, millwright, industrial mechanic, reliability, or related leadership experience in manufacturing, construction materials, industrial, or heavy equipment environments.
- Demonstrated leadership experience aligning teams, standardizing practices, coaching leaders, communicating priorities, and driving accountability.
- Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively with plant operations, maintenance teams, regional asset management, and corporate functions.
- Reliable, safety-minded, organized, and able to prioritize work under pressure in fast-moving plant environments.
- Ability to teach, troubleshoot, build systems, and support continuous improvement in maintenance planning and execution.
- Ability to pass applicable pre-employment screening, including background check, physical or functional exam, and drug screen.
Why Join KRPI?
- Lead high-impact maintenance and reliability work supporting safety, uptime, quality, productivity, and asset performance.
- Join a PEOPLE-first company focused on safety, teamwork, training, accountability, and operational excellence.
- Build a long-term career with strong benefits, AIP bonus opportunity, profit share, and advancement potential.
Relevant military experience may include maintenance leadership, equipment repair, machinery technician, diesel technician, construction mechanic, facility maintenance, fleet maintenance, or maintenance supervisor experience.
Benefits:- Medical, dental, vision, HSA/FSA, life insurance, EAP, 401(k) with company match, PTO, and paid holidays.
- AIP bonus opportunity, profit sharing, safety incentives, recognition, and applicable development programs.
- Supportive culture focused on safety, reliability, asset stewardship, continuous improvement, and practical leadership.
Knife River Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Employment is subject to applicable pre-employment screening consistent with company policy and law.
How to Apply:
To be considered for this position, candidates must complete and submit an employment application at jobs.kniferiver.com by the posting deadline noted above. If unable to complete an application online you may print and send completed application to any Knife River NW address or stop in one of our locations to complete an application.
Knife River is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status or any other protected category under applicable state/federal law.
If you are an individual with a qualified disability as defined by federal, state, or local law and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application for any reason, please contact your state employment agency or you may call 541-693-5900 to speak with a human resources representative.
Subject to pre-employment drug testing and background check.
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.