Director of Plant Engineering (Meat Processing) - Fayetteville, North Carolina

MissionHires is partnering with a leading food manufacturer to hire a Director of Plant Engineering to lead Maintenance and Engineering in a fast-paced plant environment. The role owns multi-million-dollar CapEx projects, drives advanced maintenance systems (Preventive, Predictive, TPM), improves reliability and OEE, reduces downtime and waste, and ensures strict adherence to safety, food safety, and environmental standards. Ideal candidates bring strong leadership, meat processing experience (highly preferred), hands-on mechanical/electrical acumen, ammonia refrigeration expertise, and proven success delivering capital projects on time and on budget.

• Own and execute capital projects from concept through commissioning—on time, on budget, and fully compliant with safety, food safety, and environmental requirements
• Plan and manage all project phases to minimize operational disruption while upgrading plant capabilities with strategic, high-impact improvements
• Design, implement, and optimize advanced maintenance programs, including Preventive Maintenance (PM), Predictive Maintenance (PdM), and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)
• Lead, mentor, and develop the maintenance and engineering team with clear delegation, policy enforcement, and a safety-first mindset
• Troubleshoot complex equipment and process issues; implement durable corrective and preventive actions to prevent recurrence
• Establish, track, and improve KPIs for maintenance performance, including equipment reliability, supplier/vendor performance, OEE, downtime, and maintenance cost
• Ensure peak equipment performance and minimal downtime through best-in-class maintenance systems and work order processes
• Collaborate cross-functionally (operations, quality/food safety, EHS, procurement, finance) to drive strategic initiatives and continuous improvement
• Optimize production processes through data analysis to reduce waste and operating costs
• Oversee compliance, documentation, and standards related to maintenance, engineering, and refrigeration systems (including ammonia)

• Food manufacturing experience required; meat processing/pork products and broader Meat Industry experience highly preferred
• 5+ years of leadership experience with demonstrated team development and management in a large manufacturing environment
• Advanced mechanical/electrical technical skills (e.g., PLCs, instrumentation, mechanical engineering) with the ability to lead resource planning
• Proven multi-million-dollar CapEx project management experience, from concept through start-up
• AutoCAD proficiency for plant/layout and engineering documentation
• Hands-on ammonia refrigeration background
• Deep knowledge of maintenance systems: work order processes, Preventive/Predictive maintenance, and TPM
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; SAP experience
• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, analytical, and organizational skills
• Effective written and verbal communication; able to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills with a collaborative approach in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Willingness to work long hours and weekends as needed to support operations

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