Maintenance Assistant Manager

Description

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go-Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy. 

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis US Yogurt, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Maintenance Assistant Manager based in Casa Grande, AZ. 

The Assistant Manager, Maintenance is responsible for supporting and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the floor maintenance team. This role ensures the safe and effective operation of plant systems, processes, and equipment while promoting a strong safety culture. The Assistant Manager, Maintenance will also collaborate closely with cross-functional support teams to ensure maintenance activities align with the company’s goals, values, and operational standards.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Ensure all aspects of plant safety and quality are upheld in accordance with plant and departmental procedures.
• Lead and manage skilled maintenance technicians, schedules, and services to build a proactive, high-performing maintenance team that supports production equipment and plant operations.
• Establish and manage departmental priorities and work allocation to strengthen overall plant performance, improve mechanical reliability, and reduce downtime.
• Develop, coach, and train team members to support employee growth, skills development, and career progression.
• Support in-house training programs that build core competencies within the maintenance department, ensuring accurate and timely evaluation and repair of mechanical, electrical, programming, and process-related issues.
• Maintain accountability for maintenance department performance, including technical downtime and other key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Assist in developing and maintaining the department’s vision and master plan in alignment with production needs, while fostering strong preventive maintenance (PM) programs and encouraging operator ownership.
• Drive the development and implementation of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) in collaboration with operations teams.
• Ensure all equipment, systems, and processes across the facility are maintained and operated in compliance with applicable regulatory standards, including PMO, OSHA, EPA, FDA, and other governing agencies.
• Champion environmental, safety, and quality initiatives that reinforce the company’s core values through technical implementation and process improvements at the plant level.
• Assist in managing the maintenance department budget and ensure adherence to established financial parameters.

Environmental Responsibilities

• Oversee the effective implementation of quality standards, programs, and processes to improve operational efficiencies and reduce or eliminate production waste and spoilage.
• Support company environmental programs, including recycling initiatives and energy conservation efforts such as powering down equipment and systems when not in use.
• Proactively identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption and minimize environmental impact while managing operational costs.

Safety Responsibilities

• Perform all job duties in a safe manner and lead by example in promoting a strong safety culture.
• Oversee the implementation of and adherence to company safety programs and practices, holding team members accountable for maintaining a safe and compliant workplace.

WORK CONDITIONS

• Travel may be required occasionally.
• Extended hours may be necessary depending on the project needs.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, phone or, and / or allowance(s) may be provided.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential duties and responsibilities.
• This position requires physical presence in the office 5-days per week.

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

• Bachelor’s degree required; major in industrial or mechanical engineering preferred.
• Minimum of 6 years of progressive experience within a maintenance function, including at least 3 years in a leadership role overseeing core maintenance services in a food manufacturing environment.
• Experience utilizing a Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) approach preferred.
• Exposure to reducing technical downtime (TD), overtime (OT), mean time between failures (MTBF), and work order (WO) completion times.
• Experience managing actual maintenance costs versus budgeted maintenance costs.
• Experience developing preventive maintenance (PM) programs and validating effectiveness against technical downtime performance.
• Proven ability to prioritize maintenance and business needs on a monthly basis to flex spending and achieve operational goals.
• Experience working with a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS); Infor experience preferred.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing both hourly and salaried employees to build a proactive, skilled, and adaptable maintenance team.
• Ability and willingness to support plant operations during off-hours, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and execute inventory management and preventive maintenance plans on a daily basis.
• Demonstrated initiative with the ability to establish processes and programs while working independently.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines within specified time constraints.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.
• Ability to safely lift 50 lbs. 

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affirmative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.