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.
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.
