Maintenance Manager
Work location – Tehachapi, CA
Report: Plant Director
Role Summary:
Provides leadership across all maintenance functions at the cement manufacturing plant, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient operation of plant equipment and infrastructure. accountable for protecting asset integrity, maximizing equipment availability, and driving maintenance excellence aligned with operational objectives, safety standards, and UNA Culture. The position translates reliability and maintenance strategies into disciplined operational execution across mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and reliability functions.
Purpose:
Ensure reliability, safety, and long term integrity of all plant assets through disciplined maintenance management, reliability engineering, and strong leadership of maintenance teams. The role supports operational continuity, cost efficiency, and sustainable plant performance.
Key Accountabilities:
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Lead all plant maintenance activities including mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and reliability functions across the facility.
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Ensure reliable and efficient operation of critical plant equipment including kiln systems, mills, crushers, conveyors, material handling systems, and utilities.
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Drive maintenance excellence through preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, and reliability-centered maintenance programs.
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Ensure best-in-class safety performance across maintenance activities, embedding a safety-first mindset and compliance with regulatory and company standards.
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Oversee maintenance planning, scheduling, and resource allocation to optimize workforce productivity and equipment availability.
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Manage the plant maintenance budget including labor, spare parts, services and contractor management.
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Lead root cause analysis and reliability improvement initiatives to reduce equipment failures and unplanned downtime.
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Ensure effective preparation and execution of major maintenance shutdowns including kiln outages and large equipment overhauls.
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Develop maintenance supervisors, planners and technical teams building strong capability, accountability and technical expertise.
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Partner closely with operations leadership to ensure alignment between production priorities and maintenance strategies.
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Support capital projects, plant upgrades and equipment modernization initiatives.
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Embed UNA Culture values across maintenance teams reinforcing leadership behaviors, collaboration, and performance discipline.
Knowledge:
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Deep expertise in maintenance management in the cement industry, manufacturing or asset-intensive environments such as cement, mining, aggregates, steel or similar sectors.
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Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems used in cement manufacturing plants including kilns, grinding mills, crushers, conveyors, and material handling equipment.
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Solid knowledge of reliability engineering practices including preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, condition monitoring, and root cause analysis.
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Strong financial acumen related to maintenance cost management, budgeting, and asset lifecycle management.
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Knowledge of safety regulations and industrial compliance frameworks applicable to heavy manufacturing operations in the United States.
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Understanding of plant operations, production processes, and operational constraints within industrial environments.
Problem Solving:
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Resolves complex equipment reliability challenges with high impact on plant availability, safety, and operational performance.
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Diagnoses equipment failures and operational issues through structured analysis and reliability methodologies.
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Balances operational priorities with long-term asset reliability and maintenance cost efficiency.
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Anticipates equipment risks and implements preventive actions to mitigate operational disruption.
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Navigates operational complexity and uncertainty with structured judgment and disciplined decision-making.
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Interactions and Influence
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Daily interaction with plant leadership, production managers, and operational teams.
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Direct leadership of maintenance supervisors, planners, reliability engineers, and technical personnel.
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Strong collaboration with supply chain, procurement, engineering, and safety functions.
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Engagement with equipment manufacturers, contractors, and specialized service providers.
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Communicates clearly and effectively with operational, technical, and leadership audiences.
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Drives alignment, accountability, and collaboration across maintenance and operations teams.
Impact:
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Direct: Equipment reliability, plant availability, and safe execution of maintenance activities across the facility.
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Indirect: Operational performance, cost efficiency, asset sustainability, and organizational capability within the plant.
Experience and Education:
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Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field.
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Minimum five years of experience in maintenance leadership roles within heavy industrial or manufacturing environments.
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Experience in cement manufacturing or similar asset-intensive industries strongly preferred.
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Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary maintenance teams and managing complex industrial maintenance operations.
Success Profile:
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Strong leadership presence with the ability to drive accountability and operational discipline.
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Structured problem solver capable of managing complex technical and operational challenges.
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High standards for safety, reliability, and maintenance performance.
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Resilient and calm under pressure within demanding industrial environments.
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Committed to continuous improvement and people development. Learns quickly in complex environments
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Builds high-performing teams aligned with culture and capable of influencing across operations and technical functions.
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Acts with integrity and models the UNA Culture.
About UNACEM North America:
UNACEM North America is part of the international Grupo UNACEM family. Our parent company, Grupo UNACEM, has a rich legacy that stretches back over 100 years, marked by technological innovation and a commitment to building a sustainable world. Headquartered in Lima, Peru, Grupo UNACEM was formed by merging leading cement companies and is now a reference point in the global construction materials industry. We have steadily grown our presence throughout Latin America, and today, our North American division is an integrated business leading the way for sustainable cement manufacturing in the US. In the United States, UNACEM North America operates two major cement plants—Drake Cement in Paulden, Arizona, and Tehachapi Cement in California. These facilities are recognized for their state-of-the-art technology and have established our company as a leader in the Southwest region. The Drake Cement facility was the first of its kind to be built in Arizona in 2008, and full production began in 2011. The Tehachapi cement plant has a rich history dating back to 1906. Our company culture is anchored in the UNA Values—nine guiding principles that are woven through every aspect of our business. At UNACEM, we: Collaborate as one team, fostering an environment built on trust and respect. Take responsibility for our actions, driven by a deep conviction to fulfill our purpose. Own our professional development, cultivating growth in a challenging environment. Live by the highest standards, as outlined in our Code of Ethics and Conduct. Prioritize health and safety, considering life to be our most important asset. Commit to creating economic, environmental, and social value for current and future generations. Strive to exceed expectations through continuous improvement and efficiency. Lead change by encouraging innovation and adaptability. Put the customer at the center of all our actions, working to provide sustainable solutions. As we look ahead, UNACEM North America is dedicated to ambitious sustainability goals. Grupo UNACEM’s global roadmap calls for all operations to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. We are making large-scale investments to modernize our plants, improve energy efficiency, adopt alternative fuels, and implement carbon capture technology. These efforts align with our broader purpose—to grow together and build a sustainable world for everyone. Joining UNACEM North America means being part of a forward-thinking company—one where each team member plays a pivotal role in building a more sustainable future. If you share our values and passion for innovation, we look forward to learning more about your background and how you could contribute to our mission.
