HEAD OF MAINTENANCE - Food Manufacturing & Distribution
Swanson Meats - Minneapolis, MN
Reports Directly to Ownership
BUILD SOMETHING THAT MATTERS
Swanson Meats is looking for a high-level maintenance leader to take full ownership of our maintenance team, equipment reliability, preventative maintenance systems, and continuous improvement across our production facility.
We have invested millions into our plant, equipment, and expansion—and now we need the right person to bring it all together. This is an opportunity to step into a growing operation, build structure where it’s needed, and make a lasting impact on how the business performs.
If you’ve ever walked into a plant and thought, “this operation could run better,” this is your opportunity to prove it.
WHAT YOU WILL OWN
- Overall equipment uptime and reliability across three production rooms
- Development and implementation of a preventative maintenance (PM) program
- Transitioning the plant from a reactive to a proactive maintenance culture
- Leadership, accountability, and development of the maintenance team
- Equipment performance, troubleshooting, and rapid response to breakdowns
- Building structure: documentation, training systems, and standard procedures
- Spare parts inventory, vendor relationships, and cost control
- Supporting installation and integration of new equipment and production lines
- Identifying opportunities to improve throughput, reduce labor, and increase efficiency
OUR OPERATION
- 100 employees in a fast-growing production environment
- Three production rooms (grind, cut, value-added) with a mix of processing and packaging lines
- Equipment includes: Vemag, Multivac, VC999, Handtmann, NuTec, Tipper Tie, Grasselli, Cryovac systems, metal detection, and refrigeration
- Equipment is in good condition—we need someone to optimize, maintain, and elevate performance
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
- 5+ years of maintenance experience in food manufacturing or similar production environment
- Proven ability to lead and develop a team while remaining hands-on when needed
- Strong mechanical and troubleshooting skills across processing and packaging equipment
- Experience building or improving preventative maintenance systems
- Someone who brings structure, good communication, accountability, and follow-through
- A problem-solver who thinks beyond repairs and looks for ways to improve the operation
- Ownership mindset—someone who takes pride in uptime, performance, and team success
- Experience in USDA/FDA regulated environments strongly preferred
WHO THIS ROLE IS NOT FOR
- Someone looking for a purely administrative or desk-based management role
- Someone who prefers a reactive “fix it when it breaks” environment
- Someone uncomfortable with accountability, structure, and driving change
- Someone who is not willing to be hands-on when needed
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE (FIRST 6–12 MONTHS)
- A structured, enforced preventative maintenance program is fully in place
- Equipment uptime and consistency have measurably improved
- Maintenance shifts from reactive to proactive
- Production leaders trust maintenance to solve problems quickly and correctly
- The team is more organized, accountable, and confident
- Clear improvements in efficiency and labor utilization are identified and executed
WHY THIS ROLE IS DIFFERENT
- You are not walking into a broken plant—you are optimizing a growing one
- You will have the autonomy to build systems the right way
- Direct access to ownership and the ability to influence real decisions
- Significant investment already made—now it needs the right leader to maximize it
- Ownership is committed to investing in the tools, equipment, and resources needed to succeed
- Opportunity to leave a lasting mark on a business that is scaling
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
- Starting At: $100,000+ (depending on experience)
- Performance-based bonus tied to measurable improvements in uptime, downtime reduction, and operational efficiency
- Yearly Incentives will be set after 6 months of employment
- 80% company-paid health insurance
- 401(k) with 3% match
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- Employee meat allowance, after 1 year of employment you will receive $100 per month in credit for employee purchases. Not redeemable for cash.
WORK SCHEDULE
- Monday – Friday standard schedule
- Occasional evenings or weekends for critical issues or equipment installations
- This is a hands-on leadership role with flexibility based on operational needs
ABOUT SWANSON MEATS
Swanson Meats is a family-owned premium meat processor and distributor based in Minneapolis, MN, with over 60 years of experience serving high-end restaurants and retail accounts. We have experienced strong growth in recent years and are currently expanding our production capabilities.
We are building for the future—and this role will play a key part in that.
FINAL THOUGHT
In your first 90 days, you will evaluate our current operation and present a plan to improve uptime, structure, and overall maintenance performance.
If you are the type of person who takes pride in building systems, improving performance, and owning results, we want to hear from you.
Pay: From $100,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
