General Summary
The Maintenance Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, reliability, and performance of all facility and production equipment at Mama Lola’s. This is a hands-on management role requiring strong technical knowledge combined with the ability to lead people, manage budgets, and execute maintenance strategy in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
The Maintenance Manager oversees the Maintenance Department and partners closely with Production, Operations, QA, and Executive Leadership to maximize equipment uptime, control costs, ensure regulatory compliance, and support company growth. This position drives preventive maintenance strategy, manages capital projects, oversees vendor relationships, and builds a high-performing maintenance team capable of supporting scalable operations.
Success in this role requires disciplined execution, strong leadership, operational awareness, financial accountability, and a proactive approach to continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Facility & Equipment Reliability
· Oversee the overall health and operational readiness of the facility through structured inspections, preventive maintenance, and corrective maintenance programs.
· Develop, implement, and manage preventive maintenance (PM) systems for all production equipment and building systems.
· Ensure PM compliance, monitor KPIs (downtime, response time, cost per repair), and continuously improve maintenance performance.
· Manage spare parts inventory levels, purchasing, and cost control to ensure rapid response while minimizing excess inventory.
· Establish maintenance standards and documentation protocols to support operational consistency.
Leadership & Team Management
· Lead, supervise, and develop the Maintenance Department, including technicians across multiple shifts.
· Schedule and assign preventive and corrective work using MaintainX or similar CMMS platforms.
· Recruit, train, coach, and evaluate maintenance personnel to build a skilled and accountable team.
· Conduct performance reviews and address attendance, safety, and development opportunities.
· Review timecards and partner with Human Resources to manage payroll accuracy and overtime control.
· Foster a culture of safety, urgency, ownership, and teamwork.
Compliance, Safety & Food Manufacturing Standards
· Ensure full compliance with OSHA, HACCP, SQF, and all applicable food safety regulations.
· Oversee maintenance-related sanitation, structural integrity, and food safety risk mitigation.
· Enforce lockout/tagout (LOTO), confined space, hot work permits, and other critical safety procedures.
· Support internal and external audits by providing maintenance records, documentation, and corrective action follow-up.
· Partner with QA and Operations to ensure equipment design and maintenance practices meet food-grade standards.
Budgeting, Capital & Continuous Improvement
· Develop and manage the annual maintenance budget, including labor, parts, utilities, and capital expenditures.
· Analyze maintenance costs and drive initiatives that reduce downtime and extend equipment life.
· Identify, evaluate, and justify capital improvement projects with clear ROI analysis.
· Oversee installation and commissioning of new equipment and production lines.
· Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, reliability, and scalability.
· Standardize maintenance procedures and documentation to support growth.
Vendor & External Coordination
· Manage relationships with external contractors, service providers, and equipment vendors.
· Negotiate service agreements and control vendor performance and costs.
· Inspect and validate contractor work to ensure quality and compliance.
· Serve as liaison with landlords, property management, and the City of Phoenix for inspections and facility matters.
· Track utilities, service expenses, and anomalies; prepare and present monthly maintenance reports to leadership.
Additional Duties
· Support production troubleshooting and rapid response to minimize downtime.
· Assist in cross-functional initiatives that improve plant efficiency and product quality.
· Perform other duties as assigned to support operational excellence.
Required Skills & Competencies
· Strong mechanical and electrical knowledge with hands-on troubleshooting capability
· Demonstrated leadership and team development skills
· Strong budgeting, cost-control, and financial acumen
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills
· High initiative, accountability, and decision-making ability
· Strong organizational and documentation skills
Ability to prioritize in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
· Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
Education & Experience Qualifications
· Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, Operations Management, or related field preferred (or equivalent experience)
· Minimum of 5–7 years of maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably food manufacturing
· Minimum of 3 years of supervisory or management experience
· Proven experience developing and managing preventive maintenance programs
· Demonstrated experience in: Building and equipment maintenance, HVAC and facility systems, Construction coordination and oversight, Capital project execution
· Strong understanding of budgeting, ROI analysis, P&L impact, and cost control
· Experience with CMMS systems (MaintainX or similar)
· Strong knowledge of: Electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical systems, PLC troubleshooting, OSHA and workplace safety standards, HACCP, SQF, and food safety regulations
· Hands-on experience with food manufacturing equipment including conveyors, ovens, fryers, flammable materials handling, LOTO, and confined space procedures
· Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact professionally across all levels of the organization and with external partners
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $75,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Experience developing and managing preventive maintenance programs?
- Experience with CMMS Systems?
- Strong Knowledge of HACCP, SQF and Food Safety Regulations
- Hands on experience with food equipment ovens, conveyors, fryers, etc?
Education:
Experience:
- Maintenance : 5 years (Required)
- Management : 3 years (Preferred)
Language:
Ability to Commute:
- Phoenix, AZ 85040 (Required)
Work Location: In person
