Utilities Manager - Food Manufacturing

An opportunity has arisen for a Utilities Manager to join a global leader in the dairy industry, the utilities manager is responsible for managing plant utilities and ammonia refrigeration. This business has a reputation for long term employee retention and has seen their US business continuously grow over the past 5 years due to a number of mergers and acquisitions.

This role would be a site based opportunity in Buffalo, New York and there would be a financial incentive to help with the relocation.

Responsibilities for this position:

• Manages, directs and mentors the utilities maintenance staff on the service, repair and preventative maintenance of the plant utility systems to prevent interruptions of daily plant operations
• Ensures utilities maintenance staff is adequately trained on operational procedures related to the utility systems. Ensures appropriate actions and recommendations are completed to assure a safe working environment
• Works with the Energy Manager to ensure that all machinery is operating efficiently in compliance with energy regulations
• Perform safety checks on ammonia refrigeration systems, water towers, chillers, boilers, air compressors, and electrical equipment. Ensures regularly scheduled preventative maintenance, diagnostics and troubleshooting procedures on the utility systems
• Reports on utility system operational progress and building concerns, workloads, schedules and/or interruptions to the schedule. Responsible for the daily/weekly/monthly and yearly utility checks.
• Provides leadership and direction in the development of short and long-range maintenance plans. Develop capital plans and manage plant projects related to the utilities systems
• Directs reporting and regulatory compliance for EPA’s Risk Management Plan (RMP)
• Participates in PSM/RMP Compliance Audits, Process Hazard Analysis and Mechanical Integrity Inspections and leads all plant level follow-up activities
• Manages the Ammonia Emergency Action Plan and ensures all employees are trained in the event there is an ammonia related emergency
• Provides reports to Corporate’s regular update meetings and participates in Corporate PSM training events
• Ensure appropriate PSM/RMP documentation and procedures (i.e. MOC, Line Break, PHA, PSSR) are followed on all ammonia projects
• Develop a plan to gain Plant Management and employee support and employee engagement in resource conservation activates. Work with the Plant Management Team to ensure resource conservation projects are adequately funded. Work with Plant and Corporate Engineering to integrate resource conservation measures into all capital projects

Required Experience/Knowledge for this position:

• 5-7 year’s experience working in plant maintenance and plant utilities. Should consist of working in a food processing or manufacturing facility that required the use of a PSM regulated ammonia refrigeration system
• Working and technical knowledge of refrigeration and maintenance systems, equipment installation/startups and plant utility equipment are preferred along with experience working with vendors and contractors
• Experience of working on basic manufacturing core utilities such as gas, electric and water
• Man-management experience is preferred but not essential
• Detailed knowledge of ammonia refrigeration systems, process hazard analysis, process safety management (including regulations, consequence analysis, emergency relief and ventilation systems, and all other process safety related US regulations) preferred