EQUIPMENT MANAGER

Knife River Corporation

$80K — $95K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of progressive maintenance or asset management experience in manufacturing or heavy equipment environments.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead teams and standardize maintenance practices.
  • Strong communication skills for effective collaboration with cross-functional teams.
  • Reliable and organized, capable of prioritizing tasks in high-pressure situations.
  • Experience in implementing continuous improvement initiatives in maintenance execution.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the development and execution of maintenance strategy across multiple KRPI plants.
  • Align preventive maintenance practices and standard operating procedures between facilities.
  • Collaborate with plant leaders to address maintenance progress and operational barriers.
  • Drive asset planning and compliance with maintenance-related regulations.
  • Engage in troubleshooting and continuous improvement of equipment reliability.
  • Enforce safety protocols and swiftly address unsafe practices within the organization.
  • Mentor maintenance leaders using a standards-based leadership style.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, including HSA/FSA options.
  • Life insurance and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offerings.
  • 401(k) plan with company matching contributions.
  • Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays.
  • AIP bonus opportunity and profit-sharing options.
  • Culturally supportive environment emphasizing safety and continuous development.
Full Job Description
Knife River Prestress (KRPI) is a leading precast concrete manufacturer serving commercial, industrial, infrastructure, parking, data center, and institutional markets across the western United States.

This is a multi-plant leadership role supporting KRPI's operations. The KRPI Equipment Manager aligns maintenance practices between plants, improves equipment reliability, supports CAPEX execution, and partners with plant and corporate teams to strengthen long-term asset performance.

Position Summary:

The KRPI Equipment Manager leads maintenance strategy, standard work, asset reliability, and maintenance execution across KRPI's Northwest plants. This role partners with plant leaders, maintenance teams, the KRPI VP Operations, the Divisional Asset Manager, and corporate functions to align maintenance practices, strengthen preventive maintenance, support CAPEX development and implementation, and reinforce Knife River's safety-first culture.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Lead maintenance strategy, execution standards, and reliability across KRPI plants.
  • Align preventive maintenance, work order discipline, spare parts planning, downtime tracking, repair prioritization, and follow-through between plants.
  • Partner with plant leadership and maintenance supervisors to schedule work, review progress, resolve barriers, and support consistent execution.
  • Support asset planning, CAPEX development and implementation, reliability improvements, and maintenance-related compliance requirements.
  • Support troubleshooting, repairs, fabrication, equipment upgrades, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
  • Assure safety policies and procedures are followed and immediately address unsafe actions, conditions, processes, or behaviors.
  • Coach and support maintenance leaders and team members with a professional, accountable, standards-based leadership style.
  • Perform other duties as assigned to support safe, reliable, and productive KRPI operations.
Required Qualifications:
  • Progressive maintenance, asset management, millwright, industrial mechanic, reliability, or related leadership experience in manufacturing, construction materials, industrial, or heavy equipment environments.
  • Demonstrated leadership experience aligning teams, standardizing practices, coaching leaders, communicating priorities, and driving accountability.
  • Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively with plant operations, maintenance teams, regional asset management, and corporate functions.
  • Reliable, safety-minded, organized, and able to prioritize work under pressure in fast-moving plant environments.
  • Ability to teach, troubleshoot, build systems, and support continuous improvement in maintenance planning and execution.
  • Ability to pass applicable pre-employment screening, including background check, physical or functional exam, and drug screen.
Why Join KRPI?
  • Lead high-impact maintenance and reliability work supporting safety, uptime, quality, productivity, and asset performance.
  • Join a PEOPLE-first company focused on safety, teamwork, training, accountability, and operational excellence.
  • Build a long-term career with strong benefits, AIP bonus opportunity, profit share, and advancement potential.

Military Experience:

Relevant military experience may include maintenance leadership, equipment repair, machinery technician, diesel technician, construction mechanic, facility maintenance, fleet maintenance, or maintenance supervisor experience.

Benefits:
  • Medical, dental, vision, HSA/FSA, life insurance, EAP, 401(k) with company match, PTO, and paid holidays.
  • AIP bonus opportunity, profit sharing, safety incentives, recognition, and applicable development programs.
  • Supportive culture focused on safety, reliability, asset stewardship, continuous improvement, and practical leadership.

How to Apply:

To be considered for this position, candidates must complete and submit an employment application at jobs.kniferiver.com by the posting deadline noted above. If unable to complete an application online you may print and send completed application to any Knife River NW address or stop in one of our locations to complete an application.

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