Director of Engineering & Maintenance

Great Lakes Veneer, Inc., a technological leader in the veneer and wood products manufacturing industry, is seeking a leader and key member of our Leadership Team. At Great Lakes Veneer, we take pride in using high quality logs and precise technical processes to make high quality wood veneer, baseball bat billets, and metal machining while providing “bend-over-backward” customer service. We strive to be the ultimate partner in the hardwood veneer industry, ready to go the extra mile for our log suppliers and customers.

The Director of Engineering & Maintenance is responsible for leading, managing, and overseeing all engineering projects, maintenance operations, equipment acquisition and installation, facility maintenance, and asset optimization strategies. This role ensures that all production equipment, utilities, and infrastructure operations operate at peak efficiency, reliability, safety, and compliance. The position works out of our corporate offices in Marion, Wisconsin, and reports directly to the CEO and Executive Team.

Responsibilities:

·       Manages day-to-day operations of the Engineering & Maintenance functions including processes & programs.  

·       Provides strategic leadership and project management including the planning, development, and execution of Capital Expenditure (Capex) large-scale engineering projects from conception to completion within budget.

·       Drive operational excellence by problem solving/troubleshooting and utilizing continuous improvement tools and preventive analysis to eliminate waste and optimize equipment uptime.

·       Oversee the Engineering and Maintenance Operations Teams efforts to troubleshoot and resolve equipment breakdowns and minimize unscheduled breakdowns and downtime.

·       Facilities management activities including reliable operation of all plant utilities and equipment including boilers, electrical distribution systems, hydraulics, compressed air, HVAC, chillers, etc.

·       Lead the Engineering Team with manufacturing process improvements that support production capacity growth.

·       Handling all DNR permitting, reporting, and regulatory compliance requirements.

·       Vendor and contractor management activities including sourcing, negotiation, and performance monitoring.

·       Manages a large team of engineers and skilled technicians/mechanics, ensuring that all team members are aligned with projects, professional development, safety initiatives, and organizational goals.

·       Direct Purchasing Agent and all procurement activities for repair and maintenance purchases.

·       Performs other duties and projects as assigned by the Executive Team.

Requirements, Experience, & Education:

·       15+ years of progressive engineering and maintenance management experience in a durable goods manufacturing/heavy industrial environment with business operations experience required.

·       Significant leadership and operations exposure managing a staff of engineering and technical trade positions.

·       Experience with manufacturing processes, preventive maintenance, software systems, automated systems, robotics, and PLC control systems.  Strong knowledge of industrial electrical systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, industrial boilers, and plant infrastructure. Familiarity with financial grant funding and rebate opportunities.

·       Excellent project management, budgeting, and organizational skills. Collaborative team player.

·       Ability to understand organizational business needs and communicate technical concepts and solutions.

·       Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office with emphasis on advanced Excel skills

·       Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent in-depth work experience required.

Great Lakes Veneer, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer- M/F/D/V