Maintenance Supervisor in Decatur, Arkansas at United Petfood Producers USA Inc.

Location: 2577 AR-59, Decatur, AR
Sift: 3rd Shift 10 PM - 6:30 AM
Department: Maintenance
Reports To: Maintenance Manager

United Petfood is a private label producer of high-quality dry and wet pet food, biscuits, and snacks. We are a Belgian family business with 25 high-tech pet kitchens across Europe and the United States.

Joining us means becoming part of an international, passionate, and driven team with one common goal: a healthy planet filled with healthy pets! We believe in building supportive, long-lasting partnerships both inside and outside our fast-growing family company. By working with high-quality ingredients and innovative technology, we create an environment where our employees can grow, develop, and help make thousands of pets happy worldwide.

The Maintenance Supervisor is responsible for overseeing daily maintenance operations, supervising maintenance personnel, and ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of manufacturing equipment at our Decatur, Arkansas facility.

This position provides hands-on leadership to the Maintenance team, coordinating preventive and corrective maintenance activities, supporting equipment troubleshooting and repairs, and minimizing unplanned downtime. The Maintenance Supervisor is responsible for maintaining appropriate staffing, developing employee capabilities, enforcing safety and food safety standards, and driving continuous improvement in maintenance performance.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical maintenance knowledge with effective leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. This role works closely with Production, Operations, Quality, and Maintenance leadership to support equipment reliability, operational efficiency, and overall plant performance.

Maintenance Leadership & Team Development

• Directly supervise maintenance personnel, providing daily direction, coaching, and performance oversight.

• Plan, assign, and coordinate maintenance work to ensure timely completion of preventive maintenance, equipment repairs, and operational priorities.

• Maintain appropriate staffing levels and coordinate employee schedules to support production and maintenance requirements.

• Participate in interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and training maintenance employees.

• Conduct employee performance evaluations, provide ongoing feedback, and identify opportunities for employee development.

• Address employee performance concerns, attendance issues, workplace conflicts, and disciplinary matters in accordance with company policies and applicable laws.

• Facilitate team problem-solving, decision-making, and effective communication across maintenance shifts.

• Conduct regular employee communication meetings to review safety, performance, operational priorities, and improvement opportunities.

• Promote accountability, teamwork, and a positive work environment focused on safety, quality, and operational excellence.

• Ensure maintenance personnel receive appropriate technical and safety training to perform assigned responsibilities effectively.

Maintenance Operations & Equipment Reliability

• Oversee daily preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance activities to ensure equipment reliability and minimize unplanned downtime.

• Monitor compliance with established preventive maintenance schedules and ensure maintenance work is completed accurately and on time.

• Coordinate equipment troubleshooting, repairs, and maintenance activities to support safe and efficient production operations.

• Provide technical guidance and hands-on support to maintenance personnel when resolving complex equipment issues.

• Coordinate maintenance work orders and equipment repairs around production schedules and planned downtime.

• Partner with Maintenance Planning and Operations to prioritize maintenance activities based on equipment criticality, safety, and production needs.

• Monitor equipment performance, recurring failures, and downtime trends to identify opportunities for improvement.

• Support maintenance activities involving extruders, mixers, conveyors, dryers, packaging equipment, motors, electrical systems, and other industrial production machinery.

• Assist with coordinating equipment installations, modifications, shutdowns, and maintenance improvement projects.

• Ensure maintenance activities follow established procedures, equipment manufacturer recommendations, and company standards.

Maintenance Systems, Parts & Documentation

• Oversee accurate completion of maintenance work orders, equipment records, and preventive maintenance documentation within the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).

• Monitor maintenance backlog, work order completion, equipment downtime, and other maintenance performance indicators.

• Coordinate parts usage, inventory transactions, and proper checkout of maintenance supplies and spare parts.

• Work with the Maintenance Planner and Inventory Controller to ensure required parts, tools, and materials are available for scheduled maintenance activities.

• Maintain accurate maintenance data and documentation to support equipment reliability, performance analysis, and informed decision-making.

• Review maintenance reports, equipment histories, and recurring issues to identify corrective actions and improvement opportunities.

• Support maintenance audits, compliance reviews, and documentation requirements.

Workplace Safety & Emergency Response

• Promote a proactive safety culture by coaching employees on safe work practices and ensuring compliance with applicable safety regulations and company policies.

• Ensure maintenance personnel follow established Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), confined space entry, machine guarding, electrical safety, and other applicable safety procedures.

• Conduct routine safety observations, identify unsafe conditions, and ensure timely corrective action.

• Serve as an on-shift maintenance representative during emergency response situations and equipment-related incidents.

• Support investigations involving workplace injuries, near misses, equipment failures, and safety concerns.

• Ensure employees complete required safety training and follow established personal protective equipment requirements.

• Complete and review required safety documentation and report deviations from established program standards.

• Immediately report safety issues, near misses, injuries, and other workplace hazards.

Quality & Food Safety

• Ensure maintenance activities comply with applicable Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), sanitation requirements, and food safety standards.

• Coach maintenance personnel on practices that protect product quality and prevent contamination during maintenance and repair activities.

• Ensure maintenance work areas, tools, and equipment are maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

• Complete required quality and food safety documentation and report deviations from established standards.

• Participate in mandatory food safety and quality training.

• Follow applicable BRCGS food safety and quality management system requirements and established company procedures.

• Identify, report, and support corrective actions related to food safety concerns, equipment conditions, and quality system deficiencies.

• Partner with Quality and Production teams to ensure equipment repairs and maintenance activities support product quality and food safety requirements.

Continuous Improvement & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Promote continuous improvement through Lean Manufacturing principles, root cause analysis, and effective problem-solving.

• Identify and implement opportunities to improve equipment reliability, maintenance efficiency, and operational performance.

• Support cost reduction initiatives, process improvements, and maintenance projects that improve plant performance.

• Collaborate with Production, Operations, Engineering, Quality, and other departments to resolve equipment-related concerns.

• Participate in root cause investigations involving recurring equipment failures and operational disruptions.

• Communicate maintenance priorities, equipment conditions, and outstanding issues effectively across shifts and departments.

• Support the development and implementation of improved maintenance procedures, training practices, and work processes.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in industrial maintenance, including maintenance leadership, supervisory, or team lead responsibilities.

• Demonstrated experience supervising, coaching, and developing maintenance employees.

• Strong knowledge of industrial maintenance practices, preventive maintenance programs, and equipment troubleshooting.

• Experience working with mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems in a manufacturing environment.

• Experience maintaining and troubleshooting industrial production equipment, including extruders, packaging systems, conveyors, or similar manufacturing machinery.

• Demonstrated ability to manage employee performance, conduct evaluations, address performance concerns, and administer corrective action in accordance with company policies.

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to effectively supervise and coordinate maintenance teams of approximately 10 or more employees.

• Ability to read and interpret safety rules, operating instructions, equipment manuals, maintenance procedures, and technical documentation.

• Ability to prepare routine reports, maintain accurate records, and communicate effectively with employees and leadership.

• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment while managing multiple operational priorities.

• Bachelor's degree or technical degree in Industrial Maintenance, Engineering, Maintenance Technology, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.

• Previous maintenance supervisory experience in food, pet food, beverage, or other continuous-process manufacturing environments.

• Experience using a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to manage work orders, preventive maintenance, and equipment history.

• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies.

• Experience coordinating planned downtime, maintenance shutdowns, and equipment improvement projects.

• Familiarity with food manufacturing safety and quality standards, including GMP and BRCGS requirements.

• Experience supporting maintenance operations across multiple production shifts.

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate, coach, and hold employees accountable.

• Ability to make sound decisions and effectively prioritize maintenance activities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

• Strong mechanical aptitude and technical troubleshooting abilities.

• Effective verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to facilitate employee development, performance improvement, and conflict resolution.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to analyze equipment performance, maintenance trends, and operational data to support continuous improvement.

• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with Maintenance, Production, Quality, and plant leadership.

• Commitment to employee safety, food safety, equipment reliability, and operational excellence.

• Ability to adapt to changing production requirements and respond effectively to urgent equipment issues.

• Work is performed in office, maintenance shop, and active manufacturing environments.

• Regular presence on the production floor is required to supervise maintenance activities, inspect equipment, and support troubleshooting.

• Exposure to noise, dust, odors, chemicals, and varying temperatures, including heat and cold.

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb stairs and ladders, and access production equipment as needed.

• Ability to safely use hand tools and maintenance equipment when providing technical support.

• Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment and comply with applicable safety procedures.

• Flexibility to support maintenance operations across production shifts, including occasional overtime, weekends, or emergency response as operational needs require.

At United Petfood, we believe in investing in our employees and providing opportunities for growth and development. As our Maintenance Supervisor, you will play a key leadership role in developing our maintenance team, improving equipment reliability, and supporting safe, efficient manufacturing operations.

This position offers the opportunity to combine technical expertise with employee leadership, operational problem-solving, and continuous improvement within a growing international manufacturing organization.

We offer competitive pay, benefits, and a supportive work environment where your leadership and contributions are valued.

Equal Opportunity Employer: United Petfood Producers USA Inc. is an equal opportunity workplace. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.