Director Maintenance & Reliability
Mars
Director Maintenance & Reliability
Mars
Global confectionery, food, and petcare company
Job Description:
Relocation Available
What You'll Do
The Director, Maintenance & Reliability (Site Technical Manager) is the senior technical leader for our Fort Smith manufacturing site, home to more than 700 Associates. In this role, you’ll set the strategy for engineering, maintenance, reliability, controls, automation, utilities and site infrastructure across a large, highly automated manufacturing operation.
You’ll directly lead five Associate Technical Managers and provide strategic direction to an organization of more than 100 maintenance, engineering and technical Associates. As a key member of the Site Leadership Team, you’ll guide major investment decisions, develop technical talent and build the capabilities needed to support the site’s continued growth and long-term performance.
This is an opportunity to make a significant impact by strengthening asset reliability, advancing manufacturing technology and building a high-performing technical organization at one of Mars Petcare’s largest manufacturing sites.
Key Responsibilities
Set and execute the site’s long-term technical strategy across engineering, maintenance, reliability, controls, automation, utilities and infrastructure. Translate business priorities into clear plans that support safety, quality, service, cost, sustainability and future growth.
Lead five Associate Technical Managers and provide strategic direction to an organization of more than 100 maintenance, engineering and technical Associates. Build organizational capability through coaching, workforce planning, technical development, succession planning and clear accountability.
Own the site’s reliability and asset management strategy, including preventive and predictive maintenance, asset health, breakdown elimination, root cause analysis and long-term equipment lifecycle planning. Use performance data to identify losses, prioritize resources and deliver sustainable improvements.
Lead the site’s Planned Maintenance Pillar and strengthen maintenance systems, processes and technical standards. Partner with Operations to improve equipment ownership, reduce unplanned downtime and increase overall equipment performance.
Develop and lead the site’s capital investment strategy, including project prioritization, budgeting, governance and execution. Ensure capital projects are delivered safely, on time and within budget, with equipment designed for reliability, maintainability, efficiency and long-term value.
Provide strategic oversight for controls, automation, utilities, infrastructure and operational technology. Evaluate new technologies and engineering solutions that improve performance, strengthen site capability and support future growth.
Partner closely with Operations, Quality, Safety, R&D and Supply Chain leaders to address operational risks, improve manufacturing performance and ensure technical activities meet Mars standards, regulatory requirements, food safety expectations and recognized engineering practices.
Serve as a key member of the Site Leadership Team, bringing technical expertise and sound business judgment to plant-wide decisions. Champion continuous improvement, influence investment priorities and help shape the site’s long-term strategy.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a closely related technical field.
8+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing engineering, maintenance, reliability or technical leadership within a complex manufacturing environment.
5+ years of people leadership experience, including experience leading other leaders and developing large technical teams.
Demonstrated success developing and executing site-level engineering, maintenance, reliability or asset management strategies.
Strong knowledge of preventive and predictive maintenance, equipment reliability, root cause analysis, asset lifecycle management and continuous improvement.
Experience leading major capital projects and managing significant capital and operating budgets.
Strong business judgment, communication and change leadership skills, with the ability to influence across functions and at all levels of an organization.
What You Can Expect From Mars
Work with talented associates in a collaborative and purpose-driven environment guided by the Five Principles of Mars.
Make a visible impact on a world-class manufacturing operation.
Access industry-leading learning and development opportunities through Mars University.
Build your career within one of the world's most recognized food and pet care companies.
Competitive compensation, annual incentive opportunity, and comprehensive benefits package.
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Mars makes confectionery, food, and petcare products and also operates pet health services through networks like Banfield, VCA, BluePearl, and Royal Canin. Its products are marketed under familiar brands such as M&M’s, Snickers, Milky Way, Skittles, Dove, Orbit, Pedigree, Royal Canin, Whiskas, and Cocoavia, sold globally to consumers and pet owners. The company differs from competitors by combining a broad, diversified portfolio with a global, family-owned structure guided by the Mars Principles (Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, Freedom), which drives its operations and partnerships. Mars aims to help communities prosper and to grow its business while improving social and environmental outcomes, using its scale to support responsible practices across the world.
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