Director – Maintenance & Engineering

Company Name: Pernod Ricard

Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas

Where Conviviality is at work.

North American Distillers (NADL) is where we manufacture our award-winning American Whiskeys such as Jefferson’s, Rabbit Hole, TX Whiskey, Skrewball, and Smooth Ambler.NADL is part of Pernod Ricard, a global premium spirits and wine company. We’re the team behind leading brands such as ABSOLUT® Vodka, Jameson® Irish Whiskey, Malibu®, Kahlúa® Liqueur, and The Glenlivet® Scotch whiskey, as well as many more superior wines and exquisite champagnes! 

Working at NADL is all about igniting conviviality in all that we do. Derived from the French word, convivialité…it means human connection, authenticity, friendly, and jovial. Conviviality is energy and spirit with a splash of je ne sais quoi and is a core philosophy around how we live and work at Pernod Ricard.

Guided by our 4 core values: (1) grounded in the real; (2) fiercely authentic; (3) passion for challenge; and (4) connected beyond borders; we are team players, dream makers, trailblazers, movers and (cocktail) shakers. We have a passion for living life to the fullest, making new friends every day, and realizing our potential as people and as a business! 

Position Summary

The Director of Engineering will be responsible for managing and leading all engineering, maintenance, repair, capital projects and technological activities for the Fort Smith site. The Director of Engineering will manage equipment reliability and replacement, budgetary/financial performance, customer service performance, personnel, special projects, and short/long term planning and implementation in accordance with strategic operational plans. Responsible for developing the Plant reliability goals, overall maintenance strategy and capital plans.

Key Responsibilities

• OHSA - Ensure compliance of Occupational Health & Safety Act.
• Establishing targets in equipment reliability and service standards, monitors performance against these targets/standards and determines root cause fixes that need to be made to resources, procedures, systems, equipment or technology.
• Oversee the overall maintenance and engineering and capital budgets, monitoring the cost and effectiveness of activities to optimize resources and prioritize spending.
• Setting high performance exceptions for self and others and holding them accountable for meeting established targets and results.
• Develop long term strategic plans to drive maintenance performance to world class standards.
• Negotiating large or strategically important supplier and vendor contracts to secure terms that are in the organization’s best interest.
• Building a highly competent maintenance and engineering team through coaching, training, targeted assignments and selection and creating a work environment where employees can maximize their talents and perform at or above expectations.
• Plan, organize and manage capital projects, delivering results first-time, on-time and on-budget.
• Chair organizational sub-contracting meetings.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external partners and customers to ensure overall business success.
• Develops business strategy for the Maintenance & Engineering Department, including business, production and/or organizational priorities. Drive business strategy by linking to department and individual performance plans.
• Leads the effort to achieve stretch business results by maintaining/instituting a Continuous Improvement culture utilizing Lean Manufacturing tools.
• Ensure that all aspects of the ISO 18001, 9001, 2200, 14001 programs are delivered on time. Ensure timely corrective action on all observations and non-conformances.
• Maintain maintenance KPI’s and drive improvements based on variance against long term plans.

Required Skills & Abilities

• 8 years professional experience in an engineering leadership role with a strong track record in leading change in a unionized environment.
• Prior experience in implementing and maintaining a best practice preventative and predictive maintenance program.
• Experience in project management and delivering transformational change in maintenance techniques and practices.
• Thorough understanding of lean manufacturing techniques.
• Knowledge of OHSA.
• Computer literate with experience in Microsoft Office (including Microsoft Project) and production systems, JD Edwards and Kronos Payroll.

Education

• Required: Bachelor Degree, Engineering.
• Preferred: Bachelor Degree, Mechanical/Chemical/Electrical Engineering.

When you join North American Distillers, you are part of the Pernod Ricard family. You’ll experience a workplace that is rich in heritage, driven by our iconic brands and a long-standing commitment to sustainability, safety, and giving back to the people and communities where we work. We know that happiness at work starts with that feeling of belonging you get from an inclusive culture where being uniquely you is celebrated. Our values are lived, they drive our behaviors, and it’s what brings our culture to life. 

Our work philosophy celebrates the magic of human connection with the flexibility needed to provide one's most meaningful contribution. We offer employees great benefits and perks to toast to a life filled with support. Check out PRUSABenefits.com for details. 

NADL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It employs qualified individuals based solely on ability, training, and experience, and does not and will not, discriminate for or against any employee or applicant for employment or promotion based upon actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service or any other classification protected by law. Offers will be subject to United States local terms.

NADL is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Pernod Ricard USA will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. To request reasonable accommodation during the application process, contact us at [email protected].

Job Posting End Date:

Target Hire Date:

2025-12-01

Target End Date: