Maintenance Manager

Gloster, Mississippi
Full-time, Permanent | On-site

About the role

As Maintenance Manager, you'll lead the Maintenance Department at our wood pellet facility in Gloster, Mississippi. This is a visible, hands-on leadership role with responsibility for the plant's maintenance strategy, team performance, budget and continuous-improvement priorities.

Reporting to the Plant Manager, you'll lead a team of up to 20 employees and work closely with Operations and the site Reliability Engineer. Together, you'll minimize downtime, improve equipment performance, monitor maintenance KPIs and implement Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) practices.

Above all, you'll champion the Drax Safety Culture by maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, managing operational risks and ensuring work is completed in accordance with established procedures, standards and regulations.

What you'll do

You'll provide clear direction for the maintenance team while ensuring work is planned, coordinated and completed safely and effectively. Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, coaching and developing maintenance employees while setting clear expectations for safety, performance and accountability.
• Managing preventive, predictive and corrective maintenance activities across the facility.
• Coordinating closely with Operations to plan maintenance and repair work while minimizing disruption to production.
• Partnering with the Reliability Engineer to improve equipment reliability, plant availability and maintenance performance.
• Developing and implementing maintenance policies and strategies aligned with plant priorities and manufacturers' recommendations.
• Using the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) to manage work orders, spare-parts requirements and equipment maintenance history.
• Monitoring maintenance KPIs and using performance information to identify risks, priorities and improvement opportunities.
• Managing the plant maintenance budget and providing oversight for small projects and related expenditures.
• Supporting TPM and RCM programs to reduce downtime and improve long-term plant reliability.
• Applying continuous-improvement methods, including SMED, Kaizen and Kanban, where appropriate.
• Monitoring the condition and performance of plant equipment and systems.
• Ensuring technicians are trained on current procedures, safe working practices and Standard Maintenance Procedures.
• Identifying foreseeable hazards, assessing risk and ensuring effective control measures are in place before work begins.
• Supporting the development of maintenance procedures, training materials and technical documentation.
• Improving plant productivity and efficiency without compromising safety, environmental standards or product quality.
• Communicating plant priorities, company expectations and business goals clearly across all levels of the organization.

What you'll bring

You're an experienced maintenance leader who can balance strategic planning with the day-to-day demands of an operating facility. You know how to build trust, develop people and turn maintenance priorities into safe, reliable results.

You'll need:

• Five to ten years of maintenance or related industrial experience, including responsibility for plant assets.
• Previous supervisory or people-leadership experience.
• Experience planning and managing maintenance work in an industrial, manufacturing or similarly complex operating environment.
• A strong commitment to workplace safety, risk management and regulatory compliance.
• The ability to coach employees, manage competing priorities and collaborate effectively across departments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Basic computer proficiency.
• A high school diploma or equivalent.

The following would be an advantage:

• Experience using a CMMS.
• Knowledge of TPM, RCM, preventive maintenance and predictive maintenance.
• Familiarity with Lean or Six Sigma methods, including SMED, Kaizen or Kanban.
• Experience managing maintenance budgets, small projects or P&L responsibilities.
• A bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field.
• Relevant maintenance, reliability, technical or leadership certifications.

Why join Drax?

When you join Drax, you'll find:

• A clear purpose: Contribute to a company helping shape a more sustainable energy future.
• Meaningful leadership: Guide the people, strategy and performance of an essential plant function.
• Opportunities to grow: Strengthen your leadership and technical capabilities while developing those around you.
• A supportive culture: Work with people who value collaboration, continuous learning and informed decision-making.
• Competitive rewards: Receive competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and participation in an eligible company bonus plan.

Ready to make a difference?

Apply today to lead maintenance operations at our Gloster facility and help us build a safer, more reliable and sustainable future.

A career at Drax is more than a job-it's an opportunity to make a meaningful difference.