Vita-Pakt
Director of Maintenance, Engineering and Automation
Vita-Pakt, Lindsay, California, United States, 93247
Director of Maintenance, Engineering and Automation
The Director of Maintenance, Engineering & Automation is responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight of the maintenance, engineering, and automation functions across all Vita-Pakt facilities. This role ensures that citrus processing, ingredients processing and dried ingredient operations run at peak efficiency, reliability, and compliance with safety, food safety and regulatory standards. The Director will manage teams in maintenance and engineering, lead automation initiatives, coordinate capital projects, and drive continuous improvement to maximize uptime, efficiency, plant expansion and product quality. Key Responsibilities
Direct and oversee the Maintenance, Engineering, and Automation functions, including supervisors, planners, technicians, engineers, and automation specialists/contractors. Establish team goals, performance standards, and training programs to build a skilled, cross-functional workforce. Foster a culture of safety, food safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. Ensure all staff are adequately trained, equipped, and motivated to achieve operational goals. Maintenance & Engineering Operations
Lead the development and execution of preventive and predictive maintenance programs across citrus processing, drying, blending, and packaging operations. Monitor key metrics such as downtime, MTBF, asset utilization, and maintenance cost efficiency, using data to drive improvements. Ensure timely troubleshooting and repair of mechanical, electrical, and automation systems. Manage spare parts inventory, vendor relationships, and contractor performance. Automation & Technology Integration
Develop and execute an automation roadmap to optimize juice extraction, drying, blending, packaging, and material handling. Oversee PLC programming, SCADA systems, robotics, and other automated technologies. Partner with production and quality teams to implement automation solutions that improve throughput, product consistency, traceability, and food safety. Compliance & Safety
Ensure all maintenance, engineering, and automation practices comply with FDA, USDA, OSHA, GMP, and HACCP standards. Partner with Quality Assurance and Sanitation to validate systems that support food safety and traceability. Direct, maintain, and enforce the safety program for the department; review safety records to uphold maximum standards. Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Automation, or Industrial Engineering (Master’s preferred). 10+ years of progressive experience in maintenance, engineering, and automation, with at least 5 years in a leadership role in food or beverage processing. Strong expertise in mechanical, electrical, and controls systems, including PLCs, robotics, SCADA, and industrial automation.
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The Director of Maintenance, Engineering & Automation is responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight of the maintenance, engineering, and automation functions across all Vita-Pakt facilities. This role ensures that citrus processing, ingredients processing and dried ingredient operations run at peak efficiency, reliability, and compliance with safety, food safety and regulatory standards. The Director will manage teams in maintenance and engineering, lead automation initiatives, coordinate capital projects, and drive continuous improvement to maximize uptime, efficiency, plant expansion and product quality. Key Responsibilities
Direct and oversee the Maintenance, Engineering, and Automation functions, including supervisors, planners, technicians, engineers, and automation specialists/contractors. Establish team goals, performance standards, and training programs to build a skilled, cross-functional workforce. Foster a culture of safety, food safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. Ensure all staff are adequately trained, equipped, and motivated to achieve operational goals. Maintenance & Engineering Operations
Lead the development and execution of preventive and predictive maintenance programs across citrus processing, drying, blending, and packaging operations. Monitor key metrics such as downtime, MTBF, asset utilization, and maintenance cost efficiency, using data to drive improvements. Ensure timely troubleshooting and repair of mechanical, electrical, and automation systems. Manage spare parts inventory, vendor relationships, and contractor performance. Automation & Technology Integration
Develop and execute an automation roadmap to optimize juice extraction, drying, blending, packaging, and material handling. Oversee PLC programming, SCADA systems, robotics, and other automated technologies. Partner with production and quality teams to implement automation solutions that improve throughput, product consistency, traceability, and food safety. Compliance & Safety
Ensure all maintenance, engineering, and automation practices comply with FDA, USDA, OSHA, GMP, and HACCP standards. Partner with Quality Assurance and Sanitation to validate systems that support food safety and traceability. Direct, maintain, and enforce the safety program for the department; review safety records to uphold maximum standards. Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Automation, or Industrial Engineering (Master’s preferred). 10+ years of progressive experience in maintenance, engineering, and automation, with at least 5 years in a leadership role in food or beverage processing. Strong expertise in mechanical, electrical, and controls systems, including PLCs, robotics, SCADA, and industrial automation.
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