Maintenance Manager

Overview

Danone Infant Nutrition Macroom in County Cork, Ireland, specializes in manufacturing infant formula as part of the broader Danone Group. This site plays a strategic role within the division, acting as a vital spray drying factory supplying other plants.

The Maintenance Manager will take charge of maintaining production machinery, factory infrastructure, and utilities. Working collaboratively with the Head of Maintenance, the role demands leadership and development of the maintenance team to foster high performance.

The incumbent must embody and promote Danone's CODE values—Committed, Open, Doer, and Empowered—to create a culture of engagement and continuous improvement. A key responsibility also involves participation in the DAN-IWS program aimed at advancing site-wide capabilities with zero losses and full employee involvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and nurture a skilled maintenance workforce ensuring both team and individual growth.
• Enhance equipment reliability and maintain rigorous quality benchmarks.
• Oversee safety performance indicators for both internal staff and external contractors.
• Manage preventative maintenance scheduling aligned with master plans.
• Control maintenance expenditure in line with annual budget allocations.
• Maintain accurate spare parts inventory ensuring availability to minimize downtime.
• Drive process reliability across all manufacturing lines with effective process controls to maintain stability.
• Guarantee that products meet established customer quality specifications consistently.
• Coordinate all maintenance activities spanning predictive, preventive, autonomous, and corrective measures according to planned schedules.
• Collaborate on building and monitoring factory maintenance and energy budgets.
• Work with the Stores Manager to manage factory materials and spare parts while implementing cost-saving strategies such as root-cause analysis and supplier optimization.
• Schedule and optimize maintenance activities to reduce production shutdowns and minimize labor and parts costs.
• Ensure timely and effective response to breakdown repairs, documenting work completion and resources used.
• Utilize maintenance KPIs to identify improvements and participate in broader maintenance networks to share best practices.
• Manage factory energy equipment for daily operational excellence and implement strategies to reduce consumption and carbon footprint continuously.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using problem-solving methods and PDCA cycles to address critical issues.
• Analyze maintenance data, monitor KPIs with visual tools, and effectively communicate performance metrics internally and externally.
• Engage and develop the maintenance team by fostering alignment, providing coaching, and encouraging talent growth to meet company targets.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum two years of progressive leadership or management experience within maintenance or production teams in fast-paced, high-technology, and high-volume environments.
• Comprehensive knowledge of maintenance management systems.
• Educational credentials including a third-level engineering degree or an accredited, standards-based apprenticeship.
• Proven expertise in Lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement tools such as Practical Problem Solving.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications with strong numerical aptitude to evaluate process data.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and troubleshooting capabilities.
• Capability to align maintenance strategies with overall site goals, juggling day-to-day and longer-term priorities seamlessly.
• Experience in team building through structured training and mentorship programs.

About Danone

Danone is a leading FMCG company with prominent brands operating in four divisions: Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products, Waters, Specialized Nutrition, and Medical Nutrition. The Specialized Nutrition division focuses on improving health and wellness, from pregnancy through old age.

Danone Infant Nutrition Macroom is a dynamic manufacturing facility committed to sustainability and fostering a healthier future through responsible food choices that benefit individuals, society, and the environment.

Danone supports an inclusive workplace culture and is an equal opportunities employer.

Additional Information

Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.