Production & Maintenance Manager

The Opportunity

Unipak is seeking a hands-on Production & Maintenance Manager to strengthen and stabilize our production and maintenance operations.

This is not a role where the successful candidate will inherit fully developed systems, consistent processes, or a mature preventive maintenance program. Some foundational practices are still being built, and existing processes may need to be evaluated, redesigned, documented, and reinforced.

The person who succeeds in this position will be comfortable stepping into an evolving operation, identifying gaps, establishing priorities, and creating practical structure. This role requires someone who can address immediate production and equipment needs while building the systems, expectations, and team capabilities needed for long-term reliability.

This is an opportunity to make a visible impact, not simply maintain the status quo.

What You Will Be Expected to Build

• Clear and consistent production procedures, schedules, and performance expectations
• A practical preventive and predictive maintenance program
• Reliable systems for work orders, maintenance records, equipment history, and spare parts
• Greater accountability for safety, quality, productivity, and equipment care
• Useful operating metrics for downtime, output, scrap, labor, and maintenance performance
• Stronger communication between production, maintenance, quality, and leadership
• A culture that identifies root causes and follows through on corrective actions
• A capable, engaged team with clear roles, training, and expectations

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily production and maintenance activities while working to stabilize processes and improve performance.
• Assess current workflows, maintenance practices, staffing, equipment condition, and operating priorities.
• Develop and implement practical procedures, controls, and performance standards.
• Supervise, coach, and develop production and maintenance employees.
• Plan labor, equipment, materials, and workflow based on changing production requirements.
• Build and maintain preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Balance urgent equipment repairs with planned maintenance and longer-term reliability improvements.
• Monitor equipment performance, downtime, throughput, scrap, quality, and labor efficiency.
• Investigate recurring equipment and process failures and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Establish consistent expectations for housekeeping, equipment care, documentation, and shift handoffs.
• Maintain compliance with company policies and applicable environmental, health, and safety requirements.
• Manage spare-parts inventories and relationships with contractors, service providers, and equipment suppliers.
• Assist with operating budgets, capital projects, equipment upgrades, and facility improvements.
• Partner with operations, quality, engineering, supply chain, and senior leadership.
• Participate in hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and workforce planning.
• Provide calm, decisive leadership during equipment failures and operational disruptions.

What Success Looks Like

During the first year, the Production & Maintenance Manager will be expected to:

• Develop a clear understanding of current equipment, staffing, and process risks.
• Establish priorities and a realistic improvement roadmap.
• Reduce unplanned downtime and recurring equipment failures.
• Improve production scheduling, daily communication, and shift accountability.
• Introduce reliable maintenance planning, documentation, and follow-through.
• Create greater consistency without adding unnecessary complexity.
• Build trust with employees by setting clear expectations and addressing problems directly.
• Demonstrate measurable improvement in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and equipment reliability.

The Right Candidate

The right candidate will not be discouraged by incomplete systems or inconsistent practices. You should be comfortable working in an environment where priorities may shift, documentation may be limited, and some problems require immediate hands-on attention.

You will need to know when to address an urgent issue personally, when to delegate, and when to step back and correct the underlying process. Patience, resilience, sound judgment, and the ability to bring people through change are essential.

This position may not be a good fit for someone who expects to inherit a fully staffed department, mature systems, or established processes that only require routine oversight.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of experience in manufacturing, production, industrial maintenance, or a related environment.
• At least three years of supervisory or management experience.
• Demonstrated experience stabilizing, rebuilding, or improving production and maintenance operations.
• Working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and automated equipment systems.
• Experience developing preventive maintenance programs and using computerized maintenance management systems.
• Ability to distinguish urgent issues from important long-term priorities.
• Strong leadership, communication, organization, and decision-making skills.
• Experience introducing change while earning employee trust and cooperation.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, root-cause analysis, 5S, or other continuous-improvement methods.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and production or maintenance reporting systems.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; technical training or a related college degree is preferred.
• Experience in contract manufacturing, chemical manufacturing or food packaging is a plus.

Physical and Scheduling Requirements

• Ability to work throughout production and maintenance areas.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, climb, and lift up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Willingness to work outside standard business hours when operational or emergency needs require it.
• Ability to comply with required personal protective equipment and safety procedures.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Company sponsored life insurance
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• 401(k) with up to 4% company match
• The authority and opportunity to make meaningful operational improvements

Join Our Team

If you are energized by building structure, solving difficult operational problems, developing people, and turning an evolving operation into a reliable one, we encourage you to apply.

Unipak is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring process.

Pay: Up to $130,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• Production Management: 5 years (Required)
• managing teams: 5 years (Required)
• Continuous improvement: 3 years (Required)

Work Location: In person