Director – Maintenance and Mechanical Systems

The Director – Maintenance and Mechanical Systems is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, reliability, and operational effectiveness of all mechanical systems, plant utilities, and maintenance operations across facilities. This includes responsibility for HVAC, boilers, compressed air, chilled water, pumping systems, rotating equipment, and the execution of preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs. The role is critical to ensuring asset reliability, safety, regulatory compliance, and operational uptime.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Strategy

• • Provide strategic leadership for maintenance and mechanical system operations across multiple sites or a large facility.

  • Develop and implement long-range plans for asset life-cycle management, reliability, and equipment upgrades.

  • Align maintenance strategy with organizational goals, production schedules, and capital investment planning.

  • Build and lead high-performing maintenance teams, including engineers, planners, supervisors, and technicians.

Mechanical Systems Oversight

• • Direct the operation, maintenance, and performance of key mechanical systems:

  • Boilers, chillers, HVAC systems, compressed air, pumps, fans, heat exchangers, cooling towers, water systems, and mechanical infrastructure.

  • Oversee mechanical integrity programs and ensure systems are operating to manufacturer specifications and regulatory standards.

  • Manage troubleshooting of complex mechanical failures and lead root cause analysis (RCA).

Maintenance Management

• • Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of Preventive Maintenance (PM), Predictive Maintenance (PdM), and Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) programs.

  • Utilize CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems) to schedule, track, and report on all maintenance activities and KPIs.

  • Drive maintenance excellence initiatives, standard operating procedures, and lean maintenance practices to reduce downtime and increase asset performance.

Compliance & Safety

• • Ensure mechanical systems comply with all relevant OSHA, ASME, NFPA, EPA, and local codes and safety standards.

  • Lead safety programs, LOTO (Lockout/Tagout), confined space entry procedures, and routine equipment inspections.

  • Maintain readiness for audits and inspections by internal and external regulatory bodies.

Budgeting & Resource Management

• • Prepare and manage budgets for maintenance operations, including capital improvement and repair projects.

  • Oversee spare parts inventory, vendor management, and service contracts to ensure cost-effective and timely repairs.

  • Optimize resource allocation and staff scheduling to meet operational and emergency needs.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• • Partner with engineering, production, EHS, quality, and capital project teams to align maintenance with broader facility goals.

  • Provide technical leadership and input during facility expansions, equipment installations, and utility upgrades.

  • Support energy management, sustainability initiatives, and system modernization efforts.

Focus Areas:

• • Mechanical Infrastructure Management: HVAC, boilers, chilled water, compressed air, pumps, piping, and mechanical utilities.

  • Asset Reliability & Maintenance Strategy: Optimization of uptime, MTBF/MTTR metrics, and maintenance planning.

  • Regulatory Compliance & Safety: Adherence to ASME, OSHA, NFPA, GMP (if applicable), and facility-specific regulations.

  • Operational Excellence: Implementation of lean maintenance practices and KPI-based performance tracking.

  • Team Development: Coaching, mentoring, and leading multidisciplinary maintenance teams and supervisors.

Qualifications:

• • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Facilities Management, or a related field (Master’s preferred).

  • 10+ years of progressive experience in maintenance, mechanical systems, or facilities engineering, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.

  • Deep understanding of mechanical systems design, operation, and troubleshooting in an industrial or large commercial setting.

  • Experience with CMMS platforms (e.g., SAP PM, Maximo, Infor EAM) and maintenance planning tools.

  • Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance related to OSHA, ASME, NFPA, and local building codes.

  • Certifications such as CMRP (Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional) or PE (Professional Engineer) are advantageous.

  • Excellent leadership, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.