Senior Manager of Maintenance

DENSO Manufacturing North Carolina (DMNC), located in Statesville, NC, is a leading manufacturer of advanced automotive systems and components that help make vehicles safer, smarter, and more efficient. Serving major automotive customers worldwide, DMNC produces a variety of technologies including smart motors, power window motors, blower motors, wiper systems, and sensor-based products that support the future of mobility. Our associates are committed to delivering world-class quality through innovation, teamwork, operational excellence, and a culture of continuous improvement.

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced Senior Manager of Maintenance to lead maintenance strategy, reliability improvement, equipment availability, technical capability development, and continuous improvement across a highly automated manufacturing environment.

This role is ideal for a proven maintenance leader who has successfully led teams in complex manufacturing operations and is ready to drive long-term maintenance excellence. The Senior Manager will develop and execute both annual and multi-year maintenance strategies that support manufacturing performance, safety, cost control, equipment reliability, and business continuity.

The successful candidate will partner closely with Production, Engineering, Safety, Quality, and other business leaders both local and regionally to improve maintenance systems, strengthen organizational capability, reduce downtime, and deliver measurable business results.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead maintenance operations (Production Maintenance, Machine Shop, Die Shop, Spare Parts, etc.), through a team of maintenance leaders and associates to ensure safe, efficient, and effective support of manufacturing operations.
• Develop and execute long-term and annual maintenance strategies focused on equipment reliability, machine availability, cost control, technical capability, associate development, and business continuity.
• Establish short-, mid-, and long-term maintenance plans, including reliability strategies, critical equipment planning, manpower planning, skill development, and capital investment needs.
• Drive improvement toward reduced machine downtime by working closely with Production, Engineering, Safety, Quality, and other key business partners.
• Develop operating budgets, capital budgets, cost models, and cost containment or reduction strategies that support department and business goals.
• Create, improve, and sustain maintenance systems, procedures, standards, and processes that improve equipment reliability, department performance, associate capability, and customer satisfaction.
• Analyze team performance, equipment utilization, machine availability, labor utilization, efficiency, operating expenses, and other key business indicators to identify improvement priorities.
• Use data and business condition analysis to determine training needs, justify capital investments, and advance technical capability across the maintenance organization.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve safety, reliability, productivity, cost performance, downtime reduction, and annual business plan achievement.
• Build and develop maintenance leaders and associates through coaching, communication, performance feedback, succession planning, and skill development.
• Promote a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with applicable safety requirements while reinforcing that safety remains the top priority in all maintenance activities.
• Prepare and present business condition reports, improvement plans, strategic roadmaps, and department performance updates to executive leadership.

What We’re Looking For:

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• 10+ years of progressively increasing responsibility in maintenance management.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in facilities maintenance, manufacturing maintenance, or equivalent field experience.
• Proven leadership experience in maintenance, engineering, or related manufacturing function.
• Experience supporting highly automated, complex manufacturing process machinery and equipment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field.
• Strong understanding of maintenance methods, systems, procedures, and strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into actionable plans and monitor execution.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present to senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multiple projects across multiple departments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) 
• Certified Reliability Leader (CRL) 
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification 
• TPM Specialist (Total Productive Maintenance) JIPM certification 
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified Facility Manager (CFM)
• Certified Energy Manager (CEM)

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• The ideal candidate is a strategic and hands-on maintenance leader with deep experience in manufacturing environments where uptime, safety, reliability, technical capability, and cost performance are critical.
• This person is comfortable leading through others, developing long-term maintenance roadmaps, using data to prioritize improvements, and partnering across departments to solve complex operational issues.
• They will bring a strong continuous improvement mindset, the ability to develop people and systems, and the leadership presence needed to influence plant-level business results.

Work Environment:

• This position supports a 24/7 manufacturing operation and may require off-shift or weekend support based on business needs.

Why This Role Matters:

• As the Senior Manager of Maintenance, you will play a key role in shaping the future of maintenance operations by improving equipment reliability, strengthening maintenance systems, developing technical talent, reducing downtime, and supporting sustainable manufacturing performance.

Benefits Summary:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug plans 
• 401K with 4% company match
• Vacation/PTO and 13 paid Holidays
• Bonus Program 
• FSA/HSA and Dependent Care Program 
• Company provided Life, Disability, ADD and Business Travel Insurance
• Various No Cost Wellness & Chronic Condition Management Programs
• Various Optional Insurance programs such as legal, identity theft, critical illness, etc.
• Tuition Reimbursement 
• Career Development and Ongoing Training 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Employee Spotlight and Recognition Program 
• Volunteer opportunities 
• Onsite Fitness Center (vary by location)
• Cafeteria and food markets (vary by location) 
• Onsite Health Clinic and Pharmacy (vary by location)

Candidates residing 50+ miles from the work location are eligible for relocation assistance. 

Annual Salary: $141,400 to 176,800