Director of Engineering & Maintenance

Job Title: Director of Engineering & Maintenance

Location: Corporate

Department: Operational Excellence & Engineering

Reports To: Head of Operations

Travel: Ability to travel to three plant locations on an as need basis.

Normal Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm . Some weekends may be required based on projects.

Overview Of Company

Soules Foods is a thriving family-owned food company that has made a positive difference for its customers and consumers for nearly 50 years. Our purpose and promise of Great Food, Made Simple drives us. Based in Tyler, Texas, the company is a leading national producer of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook chicken and beef products and is the number one producer of chicken and beef fajitas in the USA. We proudly serve a broad portfolio of great-tasting, high-quality products sold throughout the US via retail, food service distributors, and restaurants. Our wide array of national customers includes prominent organizations such as Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Sysco, and HEB. The company was established in 1975 by John Soules Sr., and the business is now in the second generation of family leadership. The organization has expanded dramatically over the past decade, and with its continued growth, it now has annual sales of approximately $1 billion . The company employs over 2,000 individuals and has three manufacturing facilities in Gainesville, Georgia; Valley, Alabama; and its headquarters in Tyler, Texas.

Job Summary

The Director of Engineering and Maintenance is responsible for leadership and execution of strategic capital project plans with John Soules Foods . This individual will lead engineering professionals, project managers and drafting engineers to work with both internal teams and external vendors to deliver projects from initial intake through commissioning to ensure the projects deliver the intended solution. Oversee all maintenance activities within the organization, ensuring that infrastructure, machinery, and equipment are in optimal working condition. Develop s and implement s maintenance strategies that align with the organization's goals . The position plays a key role as the leader of the engineering and maintenance teams, with responsibility for driving continuous technical and leadership development.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications (Required)

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical or civil engineering or related field preferred.
• In lieu of degree - 15+ years of experience in Food Manufacturing and process technologies
• 15+ years of developing engineering strategies and/or project management
• Extensive experience with vendor contract negotiations
• Experienced with capital project justification methods (ROI, IRR, NPV)
• Skilled in fiscal management with a heavy focus on CAPEX
• Strong people skills , written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to effectively communicate throughout all levels of the organization.
• Project management experience and expertise with engineering tools such as Microsoft Project and AutoCAD
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Brown field or green field construction project experience strongly preferred
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
  
  

Key Responsibilities

NOTE: This description is not intended to be all-inclusive. An employee may perform other related duties to meet the organization's ongoing needs; these duties are considered marginal.

• Develop plan and equipment capital investment plans.
• Lead and develop the strategic capital plan with input from leadership and stakeholders.
• Partner with senior leadership to strategize and execute corporate initiatives
• Lead annual capital budgeting and long-range plan (LRP) planning processes strategy.
• Prepare and manage the maintenance budget,  approving  costs and  ensuring  that  expenditure aligns  with organizational financial goals.
• Support capital expenditure procedures to ensure stakeholders adhere to the guidelines.
• Review and approve Capital Expenditure Requests (CER) to ensure complete financial evaluation and ROI.
• Analyze costs and develop cost reduction plans for capital improvements and maintenance projects.
• Develop and oversee the execution of a comprehensive maintenance strategy that aligns with organizational goals .
• Ensure engineering designs comply with codes, standards and regulations along with insurance expectations.
• Ensure the enforcement of procedures through project execution, including contract policies, capital, and financial, etc.
• Direct the creation of policies and procedures necessary for project operations, including compliance with the appropriate rules & regulations .
• Develop and institute machine build specifications and engineering standards.
  
  

Work Environment

This job is carried out in a combination of professional office setting s, Manufacturing Plan facilities and project work sites . The position i nvolves using standard office equipment like laptops, desk phones, and smartphones. During visits to the production facility or work sites, the employee is occasionally exposed to noisy, cold and/or humid conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and o ccasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, cold temperatures, and electrical shock and vibration risks. Wearing appropriate PPE is required.

Physical Demands

Employees must be able to stand, walk, or sit; use their hands for tasks; reach with their arms; and communicate verbally. Occasional lifting or moving of objects is necessary, along with close, distance, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Additional Requirements For This Position Include

• Sitting for extended periods of time while working on computer
• Ability to walk extended distances on wet, slippery and/or uneven surfaces
• Ability to lift heavy objects (up to 50 lbs.)
• Able to work for long periods of time in cold, hot or humid environments, including outside.
  
  

The applicant who fills this position will be eligible for the following:

• Incentive Pay: This position is eligible for the Company’s bonus plan, with amounts varying based on program terms.
• Vacation
• Sick days
• Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits
• 401k with company match
• Telemedicine
• Onsite Clinic – Tyler and Valley
• Free annual health screening
• STD and LTD
• Life insurance
  
  

Soules Foods is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.

Applicants with disabilities needing accommodation during the application process can contact Human Resources at the relevant location.

Soules Foods will not discriminate against applicants who discuss their compensation. We also participate in the E-Verify program where required by law.

Unsolicited Assistance: Soules Foods does not accept unsolicited support from external recruitment vendors for U.S. positions. Resumes or candidate profiles submitted without a valid written request and search agreement from HR will be considered the property of Soules Foods. No fees will be paid for candidates hired through unsolicited referrals.