The Vice President of Engineering & Maintenance is a senior executive responsible for overseeing all aspects of engineering, plant maintenance, asset management, and infrastructure development across the enterprise. This role ensures the safety, reliability, efficiency, and regulatory compliance of production assets, utilities, and facilities in a multi-site food and beverage manufacturing environment. The VP provides strategic leadership in capital planning, maintenance best practices, engineering innovation, and cross-functional alignment to support sustainable growth and operational excellence.
Define and execute the enterprise-wide engineering strategy, aligning with corporate objectives for safety, capacity, quality, and sustainability.
Lead the development and enforcement of engineering standards, technical specifications, and equipment design protocols.
Oversee major capital projects, including facility expansion, process line upgrades, packaging automation, and utility infrastructure improvements.
Develop and implement world-class maintenance strategies (predictive, preventive, and reliability-centered maintenance) to ensure maximum equipment uptime and performance.
Establish and oversee enterprise asset management systems (EAM/CMMS) and total productive maintenance (TPM) programs.
Lead the standardization of maintenance practices, metrics, and spare parts management across all plants.
Lead cross-functional capital planning and manage project governance, budgeting, and execution for large-scale projects.
Drive integration of hygienic design principles, energy efficiency, and food safety into all capital and infrastructure initiatives.
Ensure all plant utility systems (HVAC, steam, water, compressed air, electrical) operate efficiently and reliably.
Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, FSMA, OSHA, EPA, and 3-A Sanitary Standards across engineering and maintenance activities.
Partner with Quality and EHS to embed GMP, HACCP, and process safety protocols into equipment design and maintenance programs.
Lead audit preparedness and corrective action planning for engineering-related findings.
Champion the adoption of automation, IIoT, digital maintenance tools, and data analytics to improve plant performance.
Identify and implement technologies that support sustainability, reduce downtime, and increase operational agility.
Promote continuous improvement culture across engineering and maintenance functions.
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of directors, engineers, maintenance managers, and technical experts across all sites.
Build engineering and maintenance capabilities to meet future business needs, including succession planning and talent development.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
Strategic engineering leadership and maintenance excellence
Capital project execution and infrastructure investment
Enterprise asset management and equipment reliability
Food safety, sustainability, and regulatory compliance
Innovation, automation, and digital transformation
Cross-functional collaboration and team development
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering or related field required
Master’s degree in Engineering Management, Business Administration (MBA), or similar discipline preferred
Certifications:
PE license, PMP, Six Sigma, or Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) a strong plus
Experience:
15+ years of engineering and maintenance leadership in food & beverage, CPG, or regulated manufacturing environments
7+ years in a senior leadership or VP-level role with multi-site responsibility
Proven track record in capital project delivery, utility system optimization, and maintenance excellence programs
Technical Skills:
Deep knowledge of food plant utilities, sanitary equipment design, automation, and GMP maintenance practices
Expertise in CMMS/EAM systems, root cause analysis, and reliability engineering
Familiarity with food safety regulations and engineering compliance (FDA, USDA, FSMA, 3-A)
Leadership & Soft Skills:
Executive presence and strategic thinking
Strong financial acumen and project governance capabilities
Collaborative leadership style with ability to influence cross-functional teams
Results-driven, innovative, and committed to continuous improvement