Maintenance Shift Supervisor

Description

Position Title: Maintenance Shift Supervisor

Reports To: Maintenance Manager

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Pay Range: $34.25-48.50/hour

Position Overview:

The Maintenance Shift Supervisor is responsible for leading and supporting the maintenance team assigned to a designated shift in Cayuga Milk Ingredients’ 24/7/365 dairy manufacturing environment. This position provides hands-on technical leadership, direction, and support to Industrial Maintenance Technicians while ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of production equipment, utilities, facility systems, and processing infrastructure.

The Maintenance Shift Supervisor coordinates preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance activities; prioritizes work orders; troubleshoots mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, pneumatic, hydraulic, and PLC/control system issues; and ensures maintenance activities are completed in accordance with company standards, food safety requirements, regulatory expectations, and established maintenance programs.

This position works closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Sanitation, Warehouse, Safety, and other departments to minimize downtime, improve equipment reliability, support production objectives, and maintain a safe and compliant manufacturing environment. The Maintenance Shift Supervisor also serves as a technical resource and coach for maintenance employees, helping develop the team's skills, knowledge, and ability to respond effectively to equipment and operational challenges.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong technical expertise, sound judgment, leadership capability, and the ability to remain effective in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where equipment reliability, product quality, food safety, and uninterrupted production are critical.

Key Responsibilities

Maintenance Leadership & Supervision

• Lead, direct, and support Industrial Maintenance Technicians assigned to the shift.
• Plan, prioritize, schedule, and coordinate daily maintenance activities to support production and operational requirements.
• Assign work based on priorities, employee capabilities, equipment needs, and business requirements.
• Supervise the execution of preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs.
• Ensure maintenance work is completed safely, efficiently, accurately, and in accordance with established procedures.
• Facilitate shift meetings and communicate maintenance priorities, equipment conditions, outstanding work, safety concerns, and operational issues.
• Provide technical guidance, coaching, training, and performance feedback to maintenance employees.
• Develop employee capabilities and support cross-training to strengthen maintenance coverage and technical expertise.
• Support the Maintenance Manager in establishing maintenance objectives, performance standards, departmental priorities, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide professional leadership and maintenance support to other shifts as needed.
• Promote teamwork and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels of the organization.

Equipment Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Perform and coordinate maintenance and repair of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, instrumentation, and control-system components of dairy processing and manufacturing equipment.
• Troubleshoot complex equipment problems and determine appropriate corrective actions to restore equipment operation safely and efficiently.
• Troubleshoot and repair PLCs, sensors, motors, drives, control systems, and related electrical and automation equipment.
• Utilize technical manuals, equipment specifications, blueprints, process and instrumentation diagrams, wiring diagrams, and other technical documentation to diagnose problems and complete repairs.
• Support maintenance activities involving membrane filtration, centrifuge separation, evaporation, drying, and other dairy-processing technologies.
• Maintain manufacturing equipment to achieve equipment reliability, production, quality, and efficiency targets.
• Work with Operations and Engineering to identify recurring equipment failures and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Support equipment startup, commissioning, modifications, and transitions into full production operation.
• Work with technical experts, equipment manufacturers, vendors, and contractors to develop a complete understanding of equipment operation, cleaning, maintenance, and reliability requirements.

Preventive & Predictive Maintenance

• Ensure preventive maintenance activities are completed according to established schedules and company standards.
• Support development and continuous improvement of preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Review equipment history and maintenance records to identify trends, recurring failures, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure maintenance work orders are accurately completed and documented in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability, reduce downtime, control maintenance costs, and extend equipment life.
• Support maintenance reliability and efficiency initiatives through data analysis, root-cause investigation, and corrective action.
• Maintain appropriate lubrication programs and ensure equipment is lubricated according to manufacturer and company specifications.

Plant Utilities & Infrastructure

• Support reliable operation and maintenance of plant utility systems and infrastructure.
• Maintain and troubleshoot plant systems including ammonia refrigeration, compressed air, steam and condensate, chilled and glycol water, cooling/tower water, hot water, chemical transfer, natural gas, HVAC, water and wastewater, sanitary waste, printing and coding, and other facility systems.
• Support maintenance and regulatory requirements associated with ammonia refrigeration systems.
• Perform or coordinate minor plumbing, building, and facility repairs as required.
• Work with Engineering, contractors, and service providers on facility and infrastructure projects.

Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure all maintenance activities are performed in compliance with company safety policies, procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain a strong commitment to employee safety, food safety, product quality, and environmental stewardship.
• Support compliance with GMP, SQF, FDA, USDA, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, OSHA, environmental, and other applicable requirements.
• Maintain equipment and work areas in a clean and orderly condition consistent with food manufacturing and GMP requirements.
• Ensure appropriate lockout/tagout, confined-space, hot-work, electrical safety, and other applicable safety procedures are followed.
• Identify hazards and recommend or implement appropriate control measures.
• Participate in safety investigations, equipment-related incident investigations, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support audits and inspections and assist in maintaining required maintenance and regulatory documentation.

Documentation, Planning & Communication

• Maintain accurate maintenance records, work orders, equipment histories, inspection records, and other required documentation.
• Prepare and communicate shift, weekly, quarterly, and annual maintenance performance information as requested.
• Monitor maintenance performance indicators, equipment downtime, work-order completion, PM compliance, and other applicable KPIs.
• Communicate equipment status, maintenance priorities, production risks, and unresolved issues to Operations, Engineering, Maintenance leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Generate corrective action requests and document maintenance-related changes when necessary.
• Participate in maintenance planning, budgeting, parts forecasting, and cost-control initiatives.
• Assist the Maintenance Manager and Plant Engineer with development and management of the annual maintenance budget.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels of critical spare parts, maintenance supplies, tools, and materials.
• Work with vendors and suppliers to identify dependable equipment, parts, services, technologies, and best practices at competitive costs.

Cross-Functional Support

• Partner with Operations to respond quickly to equipment issues and minimize production interruptions.
• Work collaboratively with Quality, Sanitation, Warehouse, Engineering, Safety, and other departments to resolve operational and equipment-related issues.
• Support investigations involving equipment performance, product quality, customer complaints, deviations, and corrective actions.
• Assist with implementation of equipment modifications, process improvements, and capital projects.
• Coordinate and oversee work performed by outside contractors and service providers.
• Support plant-wide maintenance initiatives and other projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate degree, two-year technical degree, or equivalent combination of education and relevant industrial maintenance experience preferred.
• Degree or coursework in engineering, electrical/mechanical technology, dairy science, food technology, chemistry, biology, or a related technical discipline preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of hands-on industrial maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory, team-lead, or maintenance leadership experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience maintaining mechanical and electrical components of production equipment and industrial systems.
• Experience with preventive maintenance programs, CMMS systems, equipment reliability, and maintenance planning.
• Ammonia refrigeration experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in dairy, food, beverage, or other regulated manufacturing environments strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with GMP, FDA, SQF, USDA, OSHA, and applicable environmental and state regulatory requirements preferred.
• Experience with calibration programs and process instrumentation preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of industrial maintenance practices within a dairy, food, beverage, or comparable manufacturing environment.
• Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting and repair skills.
• Working knowledge of PLCs, electrical controls, instrumentation, motors, drives, sensors, and automated equipment.
• Knowledge of pneumatic and hydraulic systems.
• Working knowledge of industrial refrigeration, preferably ammonia refrigeration.
• Understanding of dairy processing equipment and systems, including membrane filtration, centrifuges, evaporation, drying, pumps, valves, heat exchangers, CIP systems, and related process equipment.
• Ability to interpret blueprints, equipment manuals, electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, P&IDs, technical specifications, and other maintenance documentation.
• Strong understanding of preventive and predictive maintenance principles.
• Ability to use CMMS software to schedule, document, track, and analyze maintenance activities.
• Ability to prioritize multiple maintenance demands in a high-volume, continuous manufacturing environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and implement effective corrective actions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate technical information to maintenance personnel, production employees, management, vendors, and contractors.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to work independently or within a team with minimal supervision.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to navigate all areas of the facility, including office spaces, warehouse areas, and the exterior perimeter.
• Must wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) as necessary to safely perform job duties.
• Ability to stand, sit, and carry out tasks throughout a full shift, with appropriate meal breaks.
• Physically capable of standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, twisting, lifting, pushing, pulling, climbing, balancing, and crouching as needed.
• Able to lift and move items weighing up to 50 pounds independently and heavier objects with reasonable accommodations.
• Visual acuity sufficient to perform job duties accurately.
• Capable of assessing weights, judging distances, and working at various heights.

Work Schedule:

Day Shift: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The role follows a rotating 2-2-3 schedule: two days on, two days off, three days on, followed by two days off, two days on, and three days off. Team members will work every other weekend, including Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. (2) Openings

Night Shift: 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM. The role follows a rotating 2-2-3 schedule: two days on, two days off, three days on, followed by two days off, two days on, and three days off. Team members will work every other weekend, including Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. (2) Openings

Compensation:

At Cayuga Milk Ingredients, we value a fair and comprehensive approach to compensation. Our wage range for this role is determined by various factors, including skill sets, experience, training, licensure, certifications, and organizational needs. It is not typical for an employee to start at or near the top of the range for the position. Compensation decisions are made based on individual job circumstances considering skill level, previous experience, and education requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Cayuga Milk Ingredients is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Non-Discrimination Policy:

The contractor will not discriminate against employees or applicants for discussing or disclosing their own pay or the pay of others. However, employees with access to compensation information as part of their job duties are prohibited from disclosing this information to unauthorized individuals, except in specific circumstances outlined by applicable laws and regulations (41 CFR 60-1.35(c)).

General Statement:

All Cayuga employees recognize that the success and prosperity of the company is everyone’s responsibility. All employees are expected to treat each other in a positive, respectful, and professional manner, to be at work for their assigned shift and to work safely as a team. Employees must be self-starters who can relate to all levels of the organization.

Disclaimer:

• All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
• This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor.
• The company reserves the right to add to or revise an employee's job duties at any time at its sole discretion.
• This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

Disclaimer: For Recruiter’s and Staffing Agencies

• At Cayuga Milk, our Human Resources Team leads most of our hiring efforts and takes pride in connecting directly with talented individuals who share our values and passion for what we do. Most of our roles are filled through applications submitted via our careers site or through direct outreach from our team.
• While we occasionally partner with external recruitment agencies, we do so only with those on our existing, pre-approved vendor list. Currently, we are not adding new agencies to that list.
• If an unsolicited resume or candidate submission is received from an agency or recruiter not authorized by our Human Resources Team, it will be treated as a direct application. Cayuga Milk will not be responsible for any placement or referral fees related to these submissions.