Position: Maintenance Manager - Packaging
Location: Tupelo, MS
Division: Corrugated
The Opportunity:
The Maintenance Manager is responsible for providing expertise and leadership to the service and maintenance staff while
ensuring the safe maintenance, repair or replacement of plant assets. The Maintenance Manager is
also responsible for driving continuous improvement of plant operations to enable efficient, high-quality production of
customer products.
This position is located onsite at the Tupelo, MS Corrugated Container facility.
How you will impact :
• Provide strategic leadership on maintenance operations to ensure maximum production.
• Develop and implement the short- and long-term maintenance strategy to enable operating efficiency in alignment
with company's values.
• Create Maintenance Department safety goals and plan to ensure a safe work environment.
• Create an effective Plant Maintenance Program using industry best practices to maximize equipment reliability and
uptime.
• Supervise and inspect maintenance work to ensure the most effective, efficient and up to date technology and
preferred maintenance practices are implemented by craftsmen.
• Manage and analyze maintenance department KPIs to assess operating efficiency and identify opportunities to
drive performance excellence.
• Monitor and communicate departmental performance in Safety, Environmental, Reliability, and cost effectiveness.
• Provide guidance in the development of the maintenance business plan and forecasts.
• Lead maintenance staff to exceed industry standards and set new industry uptime and reliability standards.
• Serve as a member of the Plant Leadership Team to align on Plant goals and standards and collaborate on
organizational effectiveness.
• Negotiate using win-win strategies on behalf of company with the Labor Union representatives on contract
issues.
• Ensure a safe work environment and adherence to all corporate, state and federal safety, health and
environmental policies, procedures and regulations by all maintenance staff.
• Foster a culture of care that promotes active participation and buy-in for safety and maintenance reliability from
craftsmen.
• Ensure maintenance staff is adequately trained and motivated to achieve departmental objectives in a safe, timely,
and cost-effective manner.
• Leads and motivates a team of people to achieve performance excellence; ability to read people and situations and
adjust approach; accordingly, proactively leads and enforces initiatives that drive organizational effectiveness;
teaches others how to build trust-based relationships.
• Uses strong problem-solving skills and supporting information to arrive at optimal decisions in an appropriate
timeframe; knows when to decide and/or when to seek additional input, and drive for consensus.
What you need to succeed:
• 2-year technical degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering - Required
• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and/or Mechanical Engineering - Preferred
• 10+ years of maintenance experience in a supervisory/management role in manufacturing – Required,
Corrugated Packaging Preferred.
• Proficient with various software packages such as Microsoft Office - Excel, Outlook, JDE, PLC / DCS or similar
CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System.
What we offer:
• Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.
• Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities.
• An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies, and potential.
• Benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k with match, tuition reimbursement,
employee discounts, employee referral bonus, and much more!
• A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and
foundational elements of the daily work.
Freqently Asked Questions
Woodland, MS has a steady demand for skilled maintenance managers, especially in manufacturing sectors like packaging. Candidates might face moderate competition but can stand out by showcasing expertise in equipment reliability and leadership, crucial to meet local industry standards and operational efficiency.
In the Tupelo region, certifications in electrical or mechanical engineering and proficiency with CMMS tools like JDE or PLC/DCS systems are highly valued. These qualifications reflect local employers' preference for candidates who can drive continuous improvement and uphold safety standards effectively.
Effective maintenance managers excel in strategic planning, team leadership, and problem-solving to minimize downtime. They coordinate repairs, optimize equipment uptime, and lead safety initiatives, all essential for sustaining high-quality production in industrial settings.
Advancing from supervisory roles often leads to senior maintenance management or director-level positions. Growth hinges on mastering maintenance strategy, labor negotiation, and cross-departmental leadership, setting the stage for broader operational responsibilities.
Maintenance managers in Woodland typically earn between $75,000 and $95,000 annually, influenced by experience and technical expertise. Packaging manufacturing roles might offer competitive packages reflecting the specialized skills required for equipment reliability and safety compliance.
Affinity Search emphasizes a culture of integrity and accountability, seeking maintenance managers who lead with trust and foster a safety-first mindset. Leadership here goes beyond supervision, focusing on continuous improvement and collaboration within the plant's leadership team.
At Affinity Search, maintenance managers benefit from comprehensive training programs and access to advanced maintenance technologies. There’s a strong focus on development through mentorship and exposure to sustainability initiatives, aligning personal growth with industry-leading practices.
A strong candidate typically holds a technical degree in electrical or mechanical engineering and has over a decade of supervisory experience. Proficiency in CMMS software and leadership capabilities to drive safety and equipment uptime are critical to success.
They develop and enforce safety plans tailored to plant operations while optimizing maintenance schedules to prevent downtime. This balance requires ongoing training, compliance monitoring, and fostering a culture where safety and reliability coexist seamlessly.
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