Director of Maintenance & Capital Projects

Are You?

✅ A seasoned maintenance leader who thrives in a fast-paced food or FMCG manufacturing environment

✅ Experienced in deploying large-scale capital programs and turning investment plans into operational reality

✅ A builder who wants to shape a maintenance organization from the ground up in a brand-new U.S. facility

✅ Someone who leads from the floor — equally comfortable in a boardroom budget review and on the shop floor with your team

About United Petfood

United Petfood is a Belgian family-owned, global private label producer of high-quality dry & wet pet food, biscuits, and snacks — operating 29 state-of-the-art production facilities across Europe and the United States. With a clear mission to make the world’s pets healthier, United Petfood combines European manufacturing standards with a fast-moving, entrepreneurial culture. The Mishawaka, Indiana facility is a critical part of the company’s U.S. growth strategy, and this role sits at the very center of that ambition.

The Opportunity

As the facility continues to grow through a multi-year, $30 million capital investment program, United Petfood is looking for a Director of Maintenance & Capital Projects to own both the plant’s day-to-day maintenance operations and the full execution of that investment program. This is not a role for someone who wants to maintain the status quo. It’s a role for someone who wants to build something — a high-performing maintenance organization, a culture of reliability, and a facility that reflects best-in-class European manufacturing standards on U.S. soil.

The split is approximately 70% maintenance leadership and 30% capital project execution.

What You’ll Own

Capital Project Leadership

• Lead strategic planning, scheduling, and execution of a multi-year, $30M facility expansion
• Translate project requirements into detailed scope, timelines, resource plans, and deliverables
• Manage engineering firms, construction contractors, and technical disciplines end-to-end
• Develop specifications, design reviews, quality control protocols, and commissioning plans
• Ensure all capital projects are delivered on time, on budget, and fully compliant with safety and food safety standards

Maintenance & Reliability Leadership

• Oversee all mechanical, electrical, and utilities systems across a 24/7 operation
• Lead and develop the Maintenance team — Supervisors, Technicians, Process Engineers, and Controls Engineers
• Drive preventive, predictive, and autonomous maintenance strategies to maximize up time
• Lead long-term asset management, equipment lifecycle planning, and reliability improvement
• Implement and optimize CMMS tools and maintenance KPIs to track performance

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Drive OEE improvement through root-cause analysis, Lean processes, and Value Stream Mapping
• Standardize maintenance processes and procedures across the plant
• Identify and implement improvements — with and without capital investment

Safety, Quality & Food Safety Compliance

• Ensure all activities meet GMP, OSHA, FDA, and BRC food safety standards
• Maintain full audit readiness and lead continuous improvement of food safety systems
• Manage departmental budgets including labor, maintenance, and capital spend

What You Bring

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field
• 7–10+ years of progressive maintenance and engineering experience in manufacturing
• Minimum 3–5 years in a leadership or management role
• Proven track record leading large-scale capital projects — construction and equipment installation
• Food, pet food, or FMCG manufacturing experience strongly preferred; process manufacturing considered

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of mechanical systems, electrical systems, utilities, automation, and material handling
• Experience with CMMS platforms and maintenance performance management
• Familiarity with GMP, FDA, OSHA, and food safety regulatory requirements
• Financial acumen — comfortable owning budgets and capital plans
• Advanced project management skills with experience managing contractors and external vendors

What We Offer Is More Than Just a Job

At United Petfood, you step into a company that is actively investing in its future — and investing in yours. This is a rare opportunity to join a global organization at a formative moment for its U.S. operations, with the autonomy to shape both a facility and a team from the ground up.

• Competitive base salary, commensurate with experience
• Performance bonus
• Comprehensive benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
• Retirement plan
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Relocation package for candidates outside the Mishawaka area
• A genuine seat at the table in a fast-growing, entrepreneurial global company