Dairy Farmers of America · 3 hours ago
Plant Engineering Manager
New Wilmington, PA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level, Lead/Staff
8+ years expDairy Farmers of America is seeking a Plant Engineering Manager to oversee and manage all aspects of the engineering and maintenance functions within the plant. The role involves leading a team to optimize productivity, maintaining facility infrastructure, and developing systems for preventative maintenance and operational efficiency.
AgricultureDairyDietary SupplementsFood Processing
Responsibilities
Manage all aspects of the engineering and maintenance functions, including the direct management of engineers and maintenance managers/supervisors. Provide direction, guidance, and support, fostering a positive work environment and promoting professional development
Ensure the site has an effective predictive/preventive maintenance program which has a maintenance strategy for all assets to remove unscheduled down time, increases the lifespan of assets by keeping them in optimal condition and contains maintenance strategies so assets are timely maintained to minimize costs associated with asset breakdowns
Oversee preventative maintenance programs for facility, electrical distribution, plant utility systems, architecture, process instrumentation, and all production machinery and equipment through assigned staff and outside contractors to support sustained plant operations and maximize operational efficiency
Collaborate with senior management to identify and prioritize capital improvement projects. Recommend expense or capital projects which are necessary or will improve productivity, safety, or operational efficiency
Oversee the design, planning, and execution of capital and expense projects, ensuring they meet budget and timeline as defined
Partner with others regarding the resolution of ongoing or escalated problems, the implementation of new procedures or process, the introduction of new equipment installation and layout, and products or product lines
Perform replacement analysis of equipment considering space costs, depreciation, service life, and maintenance costs; advise production management of information and recommend appropriate actions
Ensure good business communication practices at all levels to ensure key stakeholders are well informed and can appropriately respond as needed
Ensure all process changes, equipment changes, or product changes are understood by affected employees in a timely fashion. Engage and interact with staff on a regular basis assisting them with their concerns and questions
Source and evaluate vendors, contractors, and suppliers to obtain quality products and services at competitive prices. Negotiate contracts and agreements with external parties as necessary
Develop and utilize maintenance key performance indicators (KPI) to drive improvements to plant reliability. Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize plant operations and reduce waste
Identify opportunities to implement new technologies, processes, and methodologies to enhance plant performance
Conduct or coordinate regular safety inspections, risk assessments, and safety training programs
Generate reports on plant performance, maintenance activities, and project updates for management review
Maintain accurate documentation of maintenance records, engineering plans, and compliance documentation
Prepare and manage the department's budget, ensuring cost-effective allocation of resources
Manage assigned employees, including recruitment, scheduling, development, evaluation, performance management, and career development; hold self and employees accountable for results
Ensure all plant environmental policies and procedures reflect current DFA guidelines and regulatory requirements and proper reporting is completed
Follow all DFA good manufacturing practices (GMP) and work in a manner consistent with all corporate regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements
The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned as required
Qualification
Required
Undergraduate degree in engineering or related curriculum or technical training in related mechanical or electrical studies (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
8 or more years of engineering or maintenance experience in a food manufacturing environment that includes 1+ year of management experience; environmental compliance experience, PLC programming, and capital project and budget management experience
Strong leadership and team management skills with the ability to motivate and guide a diverse team
Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and equipment, along with a strong understanding of plant manufacturing or industrial regulations and safety protocols
Knowledge of architectural, mechanical, electrical, and process production engineering
Knowledge of continuous improvement (CI) tools and ability to use CI tools in projects
Strong organizational, planning, execution, and follow through skills
Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities
Skill in critical thinking, analysis, mathematical calculations, and statistical evaluations
Ability to develop scope, schedule, budget, and lead plant capex projects
Able to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, for a diverse range of internal and external audiences
Able to work in collaboration effectively and foster good teamwork
Able to handle challenging or conflict situations with tact and professionalism
Able to adapt and manage to change effectively
Must be able to read, write and speak English
Preferred
Certification and/or License - may be required during course of employment
Company
Dairy Farmers of America
Dairy Farmers of America is a milk marketing cooperative owned and served by farmers across the nation.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Dairy Farmers of America has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (2)
2024 (6)
2023 (1)
2022 (2)
2021 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$45MKey Investors
U.S. Department of Agriculture
2022-09-15Grant· $45M
Leadership Team
Dennis Rodenbaugh
Chief Executive Officer
Daniel Jones
Division Chief Financial Officer
Recent News
2025-12-15
Family Features
2025-11-04
Company data provided by crunchbase