Why This Role Is Critical:
The Richland nuclear fuel manufacturing plant delivers fuel to customers in the USA and overseas (Europe, Asia, and the Middle East).
Under the leadership of the Plant Maintenance Manager, the Maintenance Department supports the Richland facility to secure the critical goal of safe and reliable operations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Plant Maintenance Manager oversees all maintenance activities for a nuclear fuel manufacturing facility, including preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance for mechanical, electrical, and process systems. This leader directs maintenance staff, manages asset lifecycle strategies, ensures compliance with nuclear regulations, supports production operations, and drives continuous improvement in equipment reliability and work execution. The role collaborates closely with engineering, operations, safety, and regulatory teams.
The Plant Maintenance Manager ensures the safe, reliable, and compliant operation of all facility equipment that supports nuclear fuel manufacturing. This role is vital for maintaining plant safety, protecting workers and the community, meeting production targets, and ensuring compliance with Federal and State regulatory requirements. Strong leadership in this position reduces operational risks, minimizes equipment downtime, and strengthens the overall safety culture within the facility.
What You’ll Do Day-To-Day:
The Plant Maintenance Manager oversees all maintenance activities at the Richland manufacturing facility, a nuclear site licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). They manage subordinate Engineers, Supervisors, Technicians and support personnel, and Craft personnel who plan and perform plant modification and maintenance work. They are responsible for employee performance and development, and assists with strategic planning for the manufacturing facility infrastructure and process equipment maintenance and upgrades.
The Plant Maintenance Manager's key responsibilities include:
Lead and manage the maintenance organization, including a team of over 75 engineers, supervisors, technicians, and highly skilled craft labor, and contractors.- Promote a strong culture of nuclear safety, human performance, and continuous improvement.
- Develop and implement predictive, preventative, and corrective maintenance programs, that ensure asset reliability and regulatory compliance.
- Prioritize, schedule, and execute maintenance work to support production requirements and minimize downtime.
- Ensure all maintenance work is completed safely and in accordance with regulatory standards and internal procedures.
- Oversee maintenance planning, including procurement, spare parts management, and long-term asset planning.
- Drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions for equipment failures.
- Maintain readiness for audits and regulatory inspections; ensure accurate documentation and work records.
- Coordinate with engineering on facility modifications, reliability improvements, and equipment upgrades.
- Continuous improvement of the Plant Maintenance processes, methods, and tools, to maximize the department's performance, and the Plant's infrastructure and equipment overall effectiveness.
Additional duties include, but are not limited to:
Manages performance of periodic and on-call calibration of plant equipment.- Manages the spare parts program including physical inventory.
- Manages the plant equipment reliability program, including reliability engineering, to monitor and analyze the Plant equipment performance data, and achieve equipment availability targets.
- Implements best practices, standards and procedures for all maintenance activities.
- Optimize workloads and validate the demands for process improvements.
- Budgeting and cost control - Accountable for the maintenance budget development and adherence, including with monthly reviews and reporting.
- Ensures a systematic and comprehensive review on the impact and operability of systems during any maintenance activity.
Key competencies include, but are not limited to:
Strong leadership and team‑building abilities.- Excellent problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills.
- Effective communication across technical, operational, and regulatory compliance groups.
- Ability to interact effectively with all levels of staff, management and contractors.
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple competing tasks.
- Strong commitment to safety, quality, and procedural compliance.
- Data-driven mindset with experience using metrics to improve performance.
- Technical expertise - understanding equipment, systems, and engineering principles
- Strategic orientation
- Talent development
- Results oriented
- Customer focus
- Change champion
- Flexibility
- Innovative
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency with PC-based applications such as MS office
- Proficiency with SAP
- Ability to change priorities quickly, confront issues directly and work well as part of a team.
- Organization and Time Management - managing competing priorities, schedules, results driven.
Preferred skills include:
Applicable work experience at an NRC-licensed nuclear facility, or in a highly regulated environment
Advanced degree in an appropriate technical discipline related to work class manufacturing and industrial maintenance.
Directly related experience is to include maintenance of chemical processing equipment and/or various production related systems.
Five years or more leading at a manager level in an industrial production facility
What You'll Bring:
- Bachelor's Degree in a related field. Equivalent work experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
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Minimum of 10 years of related experience.
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Proficiency in directing planners and schedulers.
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Proficiency in reliability engineering, using tools like Kaizen, Lean Manufacturing, and Total Quality Management to conduct root cause analysis, identify and eliminate waste, improve processes, and enhance productivity.
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Experience managing both bargained and non-bargained workforces.
Total Rewards Package:
- Salary: $126,000 - $171,000, and may also include annual incentives and performance bonuses. The base salary range is a guideline. Individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location.
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Health & Wellness: Multiple medical plan options, dental & vision coverage, life insurance, long- and short-term disability, and optional supplemental plans (critical illness, accident, hospital indemnity, dependent life).
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Retirement: 401(k) with employer match.
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Paid Time Off: Up to 3 weeks of vacation, 8 sick days, and 13 paid holidays annually.
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Extra Perks: Lifestyle spending account, employer paid mental health support, education reimbursement, professional development opportunities, adoption assistance, parental leave, and employee assistance programs.
About Framatome:
Framatome has been shaping the future of nuclear energy in the U.S. for more than 60 years. Framatome Inc. is headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia, with more than 2,400+ employees across North America supporting nearly every nuclear plant in the nation.
From our facilities in Virginia, Washington, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and beyond, we deliver outage services, advanced nuclear fuel technologies, and next-gen reactor innovations that keep the lights on.
At Framatome, you will join a global team committed to creating reliable, carbon-free energy. Here, you can:
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Solve complex nuclear challenges that directly impact the climate.
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Build your career through technical fellowships, leadership roles, and global opportunities.
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Do your best work in a culture that values safety, innovation, and well-being.
Framatome is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities.
Offers are contingent on background check and drug screen (where applicable). Positions may involve access to information subject to U.S. export control regulations; applicants must meet eligibility requirements (see DOE 810 Appendix A).
