The Role & Your ImpactAs Engineering and Maintenance Manager, you will lead and develop both the Maintenance and Engineering teams while providing strategic and operational leadership across manufacturing, utilities, capital projects, asset reliability, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role combines people leadership, technical expertise, and project management to help drive operational excellence across the site.
In this role, you'll make an impact by:- Leading and developing high-performing maintenance and engineering teams, including engineering, process, and project resources.
- Ensuring reliable operation and maintenance of production, warehouse, laboratory, and utility systems.
- Driving continuous improvement of maintenance programs, including preventive and predictive maintenance strategies.
- Managing capital projects, equipment installations, process improvements, and technology implementation initiatives.
- Promoting a culture of manufacturing excellence, safety, quality, and operational performance.
- Ensuring compliance with quality, food safety, environmental, and regulatory standards including ISO, FAMI-QS, FSSC, HACCP, GMP, OSHA, NFPA, and ISO 14001 requirements.
- Managing maintenance OPEX budgets and supporting CAPEX planning and investment activities.
- Overseeing CMMS systems, spare parts inventory, asset care programs, and equipment reliability initiatives.
- Supporting manufacturing performance through OEE improvement, breakdown response, process optimization, and root cause analysis.
- Recruiting, developing, coaching, and retaining engineering and maintenance talent.
- Collaborating with global engineering, microbial development teams, technical experts, and site stakeholders on new technologies, validations, and commissioning activities.
- Demonstrating visible EHS and Quality leadership through consistent adherence to site procedures and standards.
What You'll Need to Be Successful- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
- Significant experience in engineering, maintenance, manufacturing, or industrial operations leadership roles.
- Proven experience leading technical teams and cross-functional projects in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong knowledge of preventive and predictive maintenance systems, asset reliability, and CMMS platforms.
- Experience managing budgets, capital investments, and operational improvement initiatives.
- Knowledge of manufacturing quality systems and regulatory requirements.
- Strong project management and stakeholder management skills.
- Excellent communication and leadership capabilities.
- Ability to analyze complex technical issues and implement sustainable solutions.
- Fluent English communication skills, both written and verbal.
Essential competencies:- Leadership and people development
- Strategic and operational thinking
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Collaboration and stakeholder management
- Problem solving and decision making
- Safety and quality focus
Additional Skills & Interests We Value- Experience within biotechnology, food, fermentation, ingredient, pharmaceutical, or related process industries.
- Familiarity with Operational Excellence, Lean Manufacturing, TPM, or Reliability Excellence methodologies.
- Experience with process validation, commissioning, and automation projects.
- Knowledge of OEE improvement methodologies and manufacturing analytics.
- Experience introducing new technologies or scaling manufacturing processes.
- Passion for developing people and building strong technical teams.
What We OfferAt Novonesis, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a company driven by purpose and innovation. We offer an environment where collaboration, curiosity, and continuous learning are encouraged.
You will:
- Lead critical site engineering and maintenance activities with direct business impact.
- Work alongside talented colleagues across Operations, Engineering, Quality, EHS, and Global Technical functions.
- Influence strategic investments and operational improvements.
- Grow your leadership capabilities while developing high-performing teams.
- Contribute to solutions that help better our world with biology.
Ways of Working / Working Conditions- Primarily site-based leadership role supporting manufacturing operations.
- Regular interaction with production, maintenance, laboratory, warehouse, and utility areas.
- Participation in capital projects, equipment installations, and site improvement activities.
- Must be available, when necessary, to respond to emergency situations outside regular working hours.
- Occasional travel may be required depending on business and project needs.
- Commitment to maintaining a safe working environment and ensuring compliance with EHS requirements.
Compensation & Benefits- Expected base salary: $95k to $125k
- 401(k) with up to a 9% company contribution
- Minimum of 3 weeks of vacation plus 12 holidays and 2 weeks of Wellness Time
- Health, Dental, Vision & Life insurance
- Healthcare savings account option
- Employee assistance program
- Parental leave
- All benefits begin on your first day
Relevant InformationApplication Deadline: 9/30/2026
