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Maintenance Superintendent

John Soules Foods, Gainesville, GA, United States


Job Title
Maintenance Superintendent

Location
Gainesville, GA

Department
Maintenance

Reports To
Maintenance Manager

Normal Work Schedule
The work schedule is determined by production demands and plant operations. This position requires flexibility to support multi-shift operations, extended hours, emergency maintenance coverage, and weekend support as necessary to maintain continuous plant operations.

Overview
John Soules Foods is a leading national producer of fully cooked and ready-to-cook chicken and beef products serving retail and foodservice customers across the United States. The company operates state-of-the-art food manufacturing facilities and is committed to safety, quality, operational excellence, and continuous improvement. The Gainesville facility operates in a fast-paced, high-volume Ready-to-Eat (RTE) production environment.

Job Summary
The Maintenance Superintendent is responsible for directing and overseeing all plant maintenance operations, including preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, utilities management, and equipment reliability programs. This role ensures the facility’s production equipment, refrigeration systems, utilities, and infrastructure operate safely and efficiently to support continuous food manufacturing operations.

The Maintenance Superintendent leads maintenance supervisors, technicians, and contracted service providers while establishing and maintaining preventative maintenance programs that minimize downtime, extend equipment life, and support operational performance. The role collaborates closely with operations, quality assurance, sanitation, engineering, and safety teams to ensure equipment reliability, regulatory compliance, and food safety requirements are consistently maintained. This position is a key member of the plant leadership team and plays a critical role in achieving production, safety, and cost objectives.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications (Required)

A minimum of seven years of maintenance leadership experience is required, preferably within a food processing or manufacturing environment. At least three years of supervisory or management experience overseeing maintenance teams in a high-volume industrial facility is required.

Demonstrated experience managing industrial maintenance programs including preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, equipment troubleshooting, and facility infrastructure is required.

Strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and refrigeration systems commonly used in food manufacturing facilities is required.

The candidate must possess working knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), food safety standards, and sanitation requirements within regulated food production environments.

Familiarity with regulatory compliance standards including Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations is required.

The role requires strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with the capacity to diagnose equipment failures, implement corrective actions, and improve system reliability.

Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills are required, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

A college degree in Industrial Maintenance, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Technology, or a related field is preferred.

Experience working within a BRCGS or similarly certified food safety system is preferred.

Prior experience managing ammonia refrigeration systems, boilers, compressed air systems, and industrial utilities is highly desirable.

Experience implementing reliability-centered maintenance programs, computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), and lean manufacturing initiatives is also preferred.

Supervisory Responsibilities
This position has direct supervisory responsibility over maintenance supervisors, maintenance technicians, and maintenance support personnel. The Maintenance Superintendent is responsible for workforce planning, training, performance management, corrective action, scheduling, and development of maintenance personnel across multiple shifts.

Key Responsibilities

NOTE: This description is not intended to be all-inclusive. An employee may perform other related duties to meet the organization’s ongoing needs; these duties are considered marginal.

The Maintenance Superintendent plans, directs, and manages all maintenance activities within the facility to ensure production equipment, utilities, and facility systems operate safely and efficiently.

The role develops and maintains comprehensive preventive and predictive maintenance programs designed to reduce downtime, improve reliability, and extend equipment lifecycle.

Oversees troubleshooting and repair of plant equipment including processing machinery, packaging equipment, conveyors, refrigeration systems, boilers, air compressors, and facility infrastructure.

Ensures that maintenance activities are completed efficiently while minimizing disruption to production schedules.

Collaborates with operations leadership to coordinate maintenance schedules, shutdowns, equipment installations, and process improvements.

Ensures maintenance resources are effectively allocated to meet production demands and maintain operational continuity.

Monitors maintenance performance metrics including downtime, mean time between failures, maintenance response time, and equipment reliability indicators.

Analyzes maintenance data to identify trends and implement corrective actions that improve equipment performance and operational efficiency.

Ensures all maintenance activities comply with company policies, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.

Enforces compliance with food safety programs, sanitation standards, lockout/tagout procedures, and all safety protocols.

Oversees contractor activities, equipment vendors, and service providers performing work within the facility.

Ensures all third-party work is completed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with company standards.

Develops and manages maintenance budgets including labor, parts, equipment, and capital expenditures.

Works with plant leadership to plan capital improvement projects, equipment upgrades, and facility improvements that support long-term operational objectives.

Supports continuous improvement initiatives focused on equipment reliability, maintenance efficiency, and plant productivity.

Collaborates with cross-functional teams to identify and implement process improvements and automation opportunities.

Provides leadership, coaching, and development to maintenance supervisors and technicians while fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and operational excellence.

Work Environment
This position operates within a cold, fast-paced food manufacturing environment. The employee will work in production areas with exposure to moving machinery, forklifts, refrigeration equipment, and industrial maintenance tools. The role requires adherence to all personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements and food safety standards. Production schedules and operational demands will dictate work hours.

Physical Demands
The position requires the ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time within the facility. Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer are also required. The employee must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times. The role requires the ability to travel throughout the facility to inspect equipment, oversee maintenance activities, and conduct facility assessments.

Travel Requirements
Limited travel may be required, estimated at less than 10 percent.

Work Location Requirement
This position is on-site in Gainesville, Georgia. The candidate must be able to reliably commute or relocate prior to starting employment.

Benefits

Vacation

Sick days

Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits

401k with company match

Telemedicine Onsite Clinic – Tyler and Valley

Free annual health screening

STD and LTD

Life insurance

Equal Employment Opportunity
John Soules Foods is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.

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