Director of Maintenance & Capital Projects
United Petfood, Mishawaka, IN, United States
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
✅
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