Director of MRO Engineering & Technical Operations

Summary

The Director of MRO Engineering and Technical Operations will serve as the central leader for all Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) efforts across our four manufacturing plants. This role is responsible for developing and executing a unified strategy to elevate asset reliability, reduce downtime, optimize costs, and drive operational excellence at scale. Working in partnership with local MRO leaders at each site, the Director will champion strategy and best practices to maximize efficiency in a dynamic, fast-paced, food/CPG manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive MRO strategy aligned with corporate goals, ensuring effective and consistent execution across all four manufacturing plants.
• Establish KPIs and benchmarks for maintenance performance, asset reliability, and equipment uptime, holding site-level teams accountable for results.
• Design and oversee preventative and predictive maintenance programs, leveraging data-driven insights and reliability-centered maintenance strategies.
• Standardize equipment maintenance procedures, spare parts inventory, and documentation to drive consistency and minimize downtime.
• Collaborate with local plant teams to identify and replicate best practices, ensuring continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
• Lead lean manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives, identifying and removing process inefficiencies that hinder productivity.
• Implement total productive maintenance (TPM) methodologies and continuous improvement frameworks to reduce waste and enhance sustainability.
• Serve as a champion for change management, coaching teams on lean principles, problem-solving techniques, and root cause analysis.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to align maintenance goals with overall business objectives.
• Collaborate closely with local MRO Managers to ensure capital projects and major equipment overhauls are executed on time, within budget, and with minimal disruption to production.
• Interface with senior leadership and plant managers to report on MRO performance metrics and strategic initiatives.
• Develop, monitor, and manage the MRO budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources for maintenance programs, equipment upgrades, and continuous improvement projects.
• Oversee supplier and vendor relationships related to MRO services and equipment, negotiating favorable terms to reduce costs while maintaining quality and reliability.
• Implement cost-saving initiatives to drive plant profitability and sustainability, including energy efficiency programs and waste reduction efforts.
• People Development & Team Building
• Hire, train, and mentor a high-performing MRO team, providing growth opportunities and performance feedback.
• Foster a safety-first culture and champion organizational values of collaboration, integrity, and innovation.
• Create succession plans and development programs to ensure a robust pipeline of future MRO leaders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related discipline).  
• Advanced degree (MBA or MS) is preferred.  
• Certifications in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma (Green Belt, Black Belt), or similar continuous improvement methodologies highly desired.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in Maintenance, Repair, and Operations within food and beverage or CPG manufacturing environments.  
• Proven track record as a Plant Manager, Maintenance/Operations Director, or Engineering Director in high-performance manufacturing settings.  
• Demonstrated success driving large-scale process standardization, cost savings, and efficiency improvements across multiple sites.  
• Experience implementing and managing robust preventative and predictive maintenance programs.  
• Comprehensive knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements related to food safety and manufacturing operations.   
• Deep expertise in asset management, equipment reliability, and process optimization.  
• Strong working knowledge of lean tools, Six Sigma methodologies, root cause analysis, and best practices.  
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence and drive results across cross-functional teams.  
• Adept at budgeting, resource planning, and vendor management in a complex, multi-plant environment.  
• Demonstrated ability to build, mentor, and lead diverse, high-performing teams.  
• Travel up to 70% of the time. Travel locations will vary based on business needs. 
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds.

About Us

Chobani is a food maker with a mission of making high-quality and