Director of Maintenance
Master Mechanic | Department Head | Hands-On Operations Leader
Madison Mill | Ashland City, Tennessee
If you have a passion for keeping complex equipment running, this is the job you have been waiting for.
Madison Mill is hiring a Director of Maintenance to lead the maintenance and reliability function for one of the most capable specialty millwork operations in North America. More than a dozen Weinig moulders. Production lines spanning rough mill operations, mouldings, hot embossing, fingerjointing, sanders, lathes, coatings, packaging, dust collection, knife grinding, machine shop, and more. A 65-year-old business we are continuing to invest in — and that runs every day for customers who range from marquee big-box retailers to mom-and-pop hardware stores. We are looking for a master craftsman-leader who can keep our complex equipment running and lead a team to do the same.
We have invested in the equipment. We have the customer base. We are continuing to grow. What we need is a partner who can bring deep maintenance expertise to bear across our plant — make what we already do better, prevent the breakdowns that cost us, and help us bring new capabilities online.
If that is you, keep reading.
Why Madison Mill
For more than 65 years, our customers have trusted us to make exceptional wood products — dowels, mouldings, tool handles, closet rods, garden stakes, drying racks, and hundreds of other items that put real wood into people's hands and homes around the world. We are growing. We are investing in our equipment, our facility, and our people. And we are building a team of craftsmen-leaders who take pride in the work and want to be measured on results.
We are American-made and Tennessee-crafted. We are handshake people — we keep our commitments and we expect the same. We are problem-solvers, not problem-finders. We measure twice, cut once. And we have fun doing what we do.
For the right candidate, this is a chance to step into a senior, high-impact role with the autonomy, equipment, and team to do the best work of your career — and a company that will back you with real training, real tools, and a real seat at the table.
The Role
This is a senior, hands-on role for a craftsman-leader. You will own the maintenance and reliability of the entire plant — production equipment, electrical systems, compressed air, dust collection, conveyors, buildings, grounds, and utilities. You will diagnose, troubleshoot, and repair the things nobody else on the team can fix. You will design and execute the preventative maintenance programs that prevent failures before they cost us. You will lead, train, and develop a great team of maintenance professionals. And you will help us bring new equipment and capabilities online.
You will report to the Production Manager and operate as a peer to the heads of our other production departments. You are not just a department supervisor — you are a leader of the business.
Key Activities and Responsibilities
Lead the Maintenance Team
- Own daily operations — safety, response time, work quality, schedule adherence, and cost — for the maintenance function;
- Manage the safe operation of department personnel, tooling, vehicles, and shop facilities;
- Build, develop, and lead a team of maintenance technicians — determine staffing, set priorities, assign work, train, coach, and conduct performance reviews;
- Cultivate a positive, professional working environment committed to excellence;
- Coordinate closely with production departments to balance reactive and planned work, communicate repair timelines, and minimize disruption.
Master the Equipment
- Diagnose, troubleshoot, and repair complex production equipment — Weinig moulders, Locatelli equipment, sanders, saws, dowel machines, dust collection, compressed air, conveyors, and more;
- Perform electrical (analog and digital), hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, and PLC/CNC troubleshooting and repair;
- Maintain buildings, grounds, and utility systems including HVAC, plumbing, lighting, and life safety;
- Respond to unscheduled, routine, and emergency maintenance issues with appropriate urgency;
- Communicate clearly with production about repair timelines and impact on the schedule.
Build Reliability Through Preventative Maintenance
- Develop, execute, and continuously improve a preventative maintenance program for all critical equipment;
- Track and report on key reliability metrics — uptime, OEE, MTBF, MTTR — and use them to prioritize investment and improvement;
- Identify recurring failures and implement permanent fixes — root-cause analysis, not band-aids;
- Maintain accurate equipment documentation, schematics, manuals, and maintenance logs;
- Maintain a spare parts inventory sufficient to support critical equipment uptime, balanced against carrying cost.
Manage Vendors, Capital, and Facilities
- Direct and coordinate the activities of vendors and contractors engaged in repair, installation, and maintenance work;
- Lead capital equipment installations, relocations, and major upgrades;
- Make capital recommendations for items needing replacement or new capability;
- Initiate and manage purchase orders for parts, tools, and contracted services;
- Ensure compliance with company and governmental safety and environmental regulations.
Run It Like a Business
- Control departmental expenses — parts, consumables, and contracted services — to budget;
- Manage vendor relationships and negotiate competitive terms;
- Use our IT systems — including Asana, email, Microsoft Office, and any maintenance management software — to plan work, communicate priorities, and track results;
- Drive continuous improvement in maintenance practices and infrastructure;
- Perform other duties and special projects as required to support the success of the business.
Requirements
- At least 8 years of progressive maintenance experience in a production manufacturing environment — wood products experience strongly preferred;
- Hands-on expertise across electrical (analog and digital), hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical systems;
- Familiarity with sophisticated woodworking equipment (Weinig, Locatelli, Timesavers, scanning systems, robotics, and similar) preferred;
- CNC and PLC controls experience strongly preferred;
- Track record of leading or developing maintenance teams in a fast-paced production environment;
- Demonstrated success building or improving preventative maintenance programs;
- Comfortable reading schematics, electrical diagrams, hydraulic and pneumatic prints, and manufacturer specifications;
- Experience with a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) preferred;
- Comfortable with email and Microsoft Office, and willing to learn task management tools (Asana) and other digital systems we use to run the business;
- Strong written and verbal communication — able to lead a team meeting, write a clear procedure, and communicate timelines and tradeoffs with production leaders;
- Holds or willing to earn a forklift operator's license;
- Spanish-language ability a plus;
- High school diploma or equivalent required; formal technical training, skilled trades certifications, or additional degrees a plus but not required;
- Must be willing and able to perform physical labor in a manufacturing environment, including standing and walking through a full shift, working in tight spaces, climbing ladders, and lifting up to 50 pounds;
- Available for after-hours emergency response and planned off-hours maintenance during equipment downtime;
- Formal technical training (manufacturer schools, journeyman programs, electrical or mechanical certifications, etc.) is a plus, and we will invest in additional training for the right candidate.
Skills We Are Looking For
- High capability with hands-on execution in a fast-paced environment;
- Ability to balance reactive and planned work, manage multiple priorities simultaneously, and motivate a team to do the same;
- Command of detail — confident catching potential failures, unsafe acts, and small problems before they become big ones;
- Strong root-cause analysis instincts — drives to permanent fixes, not workarounds;
- Maintains composure under pressure — the calm center when something is broken and production is waiting;
- Ability to escalate issues appropriately and lead group meetings as the functional expert;
- Hungry to keep learning — seeks out new techniques, equipment knowledge, and process improvements;
- Enforces compliance with company controls and SOPs without making it personal.
Qualities We Are Looking For
- A strong internal standard of excellence — high attention to detail and uncompromising integrity;
- Team player — conducts themselves as a leader of the business, not just the department;
- Process-minded — builds repeatable systems instead of one-time fixes;
- Action-oriented and entrepreneurial — focused on business outcomes;
- Effective problem-solver who anticipates issues and recruits the help required to solve them — does not look the other way or wait for someone else;
- Confident working with and upgrading existing infrastructure and resources;
- Embraces continuous improvement — open to coaching, and never satisfied with yesterday's best;
- Ownership mindset — meets commitments and deadlines without being chased;
- Wants more responsibility over time;
- Lives our values: shares joy in the work, keeps handshake commitments, and leaves things better than they were found.
The Details
Status: Full-time, salaried
Compensation: Commensurate with experience. Targeting $85,000 to $115,000 base salary, plus a meaningful performance-based bonus tied to plant reliability and department results.
Benefits: Health insurance, paid time off, formal technical training as required, and ongoing professional development support
Relocation: Relocation assistance available for the right candidate
Schedule: Salaried leadership role. The Director must be present and engaged throughout plant production hours, will routinely work beyond a single shift, and must be available for emergency response and planned off-hours maintenance during equipment downtime. Consistent, full-time, on-site attendance is essential.
Physical Setting: Manufacturing plant in Ashland City, Tennessee
Work Location: On-site, in person
About Madison Mill
Based in Ashland City, Tennessee, Madison Mill is a leading manufacturer of specialty millwork. We make hundreds of items — dowels, mouldings, tool handles, closet rods, garden stakes, housewares like wooden drying racks, tiny button plugs, and many more. Wood products are special, and we are proud to put exceptional woodwork into people's hands and homes all around the world. Our craftsmen bring joy to craft projects, parades, gardens, and kitchen tables — and so much more.
Madison Mill hardwood products have been the trusted foundation for DIY creators and woodworking pros for nearly 65 years. Like an Appalachian forest, our roots run deep. Passionate about our products, our people, and our community — we are American-made.
Pay: $85,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
Application Question(s):
- This role requires experience maintaining industrial woodworking production equipment in a manufacturing environment. Do you have this experience?
Experience:
- Maintenance: 8 years (Required)
Work Location: In person
