What are the responsibilities and job description for the VP of Engineering and Maintenance position at Steuben Foods Inc.?
VP of Engineering & Maintenance
The VP of Engineering & Maintenance is responsible for leading the strategic direction, planning, and execution of all engineering and maintenance functions. The VP will oversee capital projects, engineering design, preventative maintenance programs, and regulatory compliance, while aligning departmental objectives with business goals. This position plays a critical role in driving efficiency, minimizing downtime, and supporting long-term growth.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership
Steuben Foods is committed to equal employment opportunity. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
The VP of Engineering & Maintenance is responsible for leading the strategic direction, planning, and execution of all engineering and maintenance functions. The VP will oversee capital projects, engineering design, preventative maintenance programs, and regulatory compliance, while aligning departmental objectives with business goals. This position plays a critical role in driving efficiency, minimizing downtime, and supporting long-term growth.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership
- Develop and execute the overall engineering and maintenance strategy aligned with company objectives
- Lead, mentor, and develop engineering and maintenance teams
- Partner with operations, quality, research and development, supply chain, accounting, and HR to drive cross-functional alignment
- Establish KPIs to measure performance, efficiency, and equipment reliability
- Develop and manage budgets for engineering and maintenance. Monitor spending and identify cost-saving opportunities
- Oversee design, development, and implementation of engineering projects
- Ensure all systems, equipment, and processes meet safety, quality, and regulatory standards
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, cost reduction, and innovation
- Manage vendor selection, contractor performance, and project timelines
- Develop and implement preventative maintenance programs
- Oversee CMMS/EAM systems to ensure accurate tracking of maintenance activities
- Drive initiatives to reduce downtime and improve equipment reliability
- Ensure troubleshooting and resolution of equipment and system issues
- Ensure compliance with all OSHA, FDA, USDA, and other regulatory requirements
- Maintain adherence to GMPs, food safety, and quality standards
- Promote a strong safety culture within engineering and maintenance teams
- Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in engineering and maintenance
- Strong background in manufacturing environments, preferably in food, beverage, or dairy processing
- Experience with liquid foods processing systems, including aseptic and/or ESL processing (preferred)
- Proven experience with CMMS/EAM systems
- Strong leadership and team development skills
- Advanced problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
- Financial and budget management experience
- Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Deep understanding of engineering principles and maintenance strategies
- Ability to drive change and implement process improvements
Steuben Foods is committed to equal employment opportunity. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Salary : $150,000 - $200,000