Maintenance & Operations Supervisor - Ammonia Refrigeration

The Plant & Maintenance Supervisor is responsible for leading day-shift production operations at the Burlington facility from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Assigned production employees and the Lead Operator report to this position. In addition to guiding production, the supervisor has overall responsibility for coordinating and performing facility maintenance. The role oversees the ammonia refrigeration system, completes required daily inspections and minor maintenance, performs maintenance and troubleshooting on mechanical equipment, and coordinates qualified third-party resources for larger, specialized, or more complex maintenance work.

Lead Day-Shift Production Operations:

• Lead assigned production employees and the Lead Operator in executing the daily production plan safely, efficiently, and in accordance with food safety, quality, and customer requirements.
• Provide clear daily priorities, coordinate staffing and work assignments, monitor operating conditions and production performance, and address issues that could affect safety, quality, service, or throughput.
• Ensure required shift communication, production records, inspections, housekeeping, sanitation, and handoff activities are completed.
• Partner with the Plant Manager and supporting functions to coordinate product flow, scheduling, maintenance needs, sanitation, and customer requirements.

Perform and Coordinate Facility Maintenance:

• Own overall maintenance coordination and equipment reliability for the Burlington facility.
• Personally perform and guide daily preventive and corrective maintenance activities based on safety, operational risk, and production needs.
• Oversee the ammonia refrigeration system, including required daily inspections, operating checks, documentation, and minor maintenance within the individual’s training and qualifications.
• Perform maintenance and troubleshooting on mechanical equipment and coordinate appropriate support for electrical, controls, refrigeration, and other specialized work.
• Engage, direct, and oversee qualified third-party resources for larger, specialized, or more complex maintenance activities.
• Use production employees to support appropriate basic maintenance activities when trained, qualified, and safely assigned.
• Ensure maintenance work is completed safely, documented appropriately, and communicated, including equipment status, outstanding risks, and follow-up needs.
• Support maintenance planning, parts and material needs, contractor coordination, and responsible use of the maintenance budget.

Safety and Production Team Leadership:

• Supervise, train, coach, and hold assigned production employees and the Lead Operator accountable for safe work, food safety, quality, attendance, performance, and completion of responsibilities.
• Ensure employees and contractors follow company policies, operating procedures, safe-work practices, permit requirements, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Lead the immediate response to equipment failures, safety concerns, ammonia refrigeration issues, product quality concerns, and other abnormal operating conditions. Escalate significant issues as appropriate.
• Support employee development through cross-training, qualification, feedback, and clear accountability.
• Promote a culture of safe operations, equipment care, timely problem-solving, and continuous improvement.

• Prior experience as a maintenance technician, operations lead, production lead, or similar hands-on industrial role.
• Demonstrated experience troubleshooting and repairing mechanical production equipment.
• Prior experience operating, inspecting, maintaining, or supporting industrial ammonia refrigeration systems.
• Experience guiding production employees while personally performing and coordinating facility maintenance.
• Experience coordinating qualified contractors and technical resources for larger, specialized, or complex maintenance work.
• High School graduate or equivalent required.
• Working knowledge of trades classifications and functions (electrical & mechanical)
• Demonstrated mechanical maintenance and troubleshooting experience with industrial equipment and the ability to coordinate contractors and technical resources.
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft 365 and maintenance or production systems as required.
• Ability to work odd hours, weekends, and rotating shift schedule required. 

Preferred

• Industrial refrigeration or ammonia refrigeration training, certification, or demonstrated operating experience.
• Technical degree, trade certification, or equivalent industrial maintenance experience.