Refrigeration Manager

Department: Refrigeration
Location: Jackson
Status: Exempt
Reports To: Director of Manufacturing/Designated Plant Leader

Position Summary

The Refrigeration Manager is responsible for the leadership, operation, maintenance, safety, compliance, and reliability of all industrial refrigeration systems throughout the facility. This position directs Refrigeration Supervisors, technicians, maintenance mechanics, contractors, and vendors while ensuring refrigeration systems effectively support production requirements.

The Refrigeration Manager develops and oversees preventive and corrective maintenance programs, regulatory compliance, emergency response activities, continuous-improvement initiatives, staffing, training, and departmental performance. This position works closely with Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Safety, Human Resources, and other plant leadership to maintain safe, efficient, and reliable operations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Refrigeration Operations and Maintenance

• Direct the daily operation, maintenance, inspection, and repair of the facility's industrial refrigeration systems.
• Ensure the reliable performance of compressors, condensers, evaporators, pumps, motors, valves, piping, instrumentation, PLCs, electrical controls, and associated equipment.
• Monitor system operating conditions, energy usage, equipment performance, and refrigeration capacity.
• Identify equipment deficiencies and develop corrective-action plans to improve safety, reliability, efficiency, and system performance.
• Oversee routine, preventive, predictive, corrective, and emergency maintenance activities.
• Review and prioritize refrigeration work orders based on safety, compliance, production needs, and equipment reliability.
• Review previous work orders and outstanding tasks when developing daily, weekly, monthly, and annual maintenance schedules.
• Verify the accuracy and completeness of maintenance records, technician labor reporting, inspection documentation, and completed work orders.
• Coordinate refrigeration system shutdowns, repairs, upgrades, and installation projects with Production, Maintenance, Engineering, and other affected departments.
• Evaluate new equipment, technology, maintenance practices, and system improvements.
• Ensure replacement parts, tools, materials, and critical spare components are available to support refrigeration operations.

Safety and Regulatory Compliance

• Model and enforce company safety policies, environmental requirements, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs), HACCP procedures, and all other applicable company policies.
• Ensure refrigeration systems are operated and maintained in accordance with company requirements and applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
• Lead and maintain refrigeration-related compliance programs, including Process Safety Management (PSM), Risk Management Plan (RMP), and applicable IIAR standards.
• Maintain accurate Standard Operating Procedures, inspection records, maintenance documentation, training records, and compliance files.
• Ensure the department remains prepared for customer, corporate, insurance, environmental, and regulatory inspections.
• Schedule and coordinate required system inspections, audits, testing, and compliance activities.
• Participate in and provide leadership during refrigeration-related emergency response activities.
• Investigate refrigeration incidents, equipment failures, safety concerns, and compliance deficiencies; identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Safety, Environmental, Quality, Maintenance, and Operations personnel to proactively address risks and improve compliance.
• Ensure contractors and vendors comply with facility safety, food-safety, environmental, and refrigeration requirements.

Leadership and Personnel Management

• Lead, supervise, train, and develop Refrigeration Supervisors, refrigeration technicians, maintenance mechanics, and other assigned employees.
• Establish clear performance expectations and monitor employee productivity, technical competency, safety, work quality, and policy compliance.
• Coach, recognize, counsel, and discipline employees as necessary and in accordance with company policies.
• Evaluate employees during introductory and established performance-review periods.
• Partner with Human Resources when addressing attendance, performance, conduct, staffing, and employee-relations matters.
• Review applications and participate in interviews and selection decisions for open refrigeration leadership and technical positions.
• Identify departmental training needs and ensure employees maintain required certifications and technical qualifications.
• Develop staffing plans and employee schedules to provide sufficient coverage for routine operations, planned maintenance, vacations, and emergency response.
• Review and approve employee time records, overtime, and paid-time-off requests.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, communication, professional development, and continuous improvement throughout the department.
• Lead department meetings and participate in daily operational and plant-management meetings.

Planning and Performance Management

• Develop departmental goals, maintenance strategies, staffing plans, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Track and analyze refrigeration performance indicators, including system uptime, equipment efficiency, maintenance costs, schedule attainment, work-order completion, emergency repairs, and regulatory compliance.
• Compile and present refrigeration performance records, reports, trends, and recommendations to plant leadership.
• Use performance data to develop strategies for reducing downtime, improving energy efficiency, controlling costs, and increasing equipment reliability.
• Coordinate refrigeration priorities with production schedules and operational requirements.
• Collaborate with plant managers and department leaders to resolve operational issues and support facility objectives.
• Manage refrigeration contractors and vendors, including scheduling work, reviewing performance, and verifying completion.
• Assist with the development and management of the departmental operating and capital budgets.
• Review project proposals, service agreements, equipment purchases, and contractor recommendations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position is responsible for the direct and indirect supervision of Refrigeration Supervisors, refrigeration technicians, maintenance mechanics, and other assigned personnel. Responsibilities include hiring, training, scheduling, assigning work, evaluating performance, coaching, recognizing, counseling, and administering corrective action in partnership with Human Resources.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Maintenance, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• An associate degree, technical training, or an equivalent combination of education and closely related experience may be considered.
• Five to ten years of industrial refrigeration experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably within food processing, cold storage, or pharmaceutical operations.
• Three to five years of supervisory or management experience required.
• Industrial ammonia refrigeration experience strongly preferred.
• Experience overseeing preventive maintenance, emergency repairs, contractors, technical employees, and regulatory-compliance programs.
• Experience working in a food-manufacturing environment preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of industrial refrigeration principles, equipment, controls, and safe operating practices.
• Working knowledge of ammonia refrigeration systems, PSM, RMP, and applicable IIAR standards.
• Knowledge of compressors, condensers, evaporators, pumps, motors, valves, PLCs, instrumentation, electrical controls, and related components.
• Understanding of food-manufacturing requirements, including GMPs, HACCP, SSOPs, quality standards, and sanitation practices.
• Strong troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication, organization, documentation, and time-management skills.
• Ability to remain effective and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS).
• Ability to work collaboratively across Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Safety, Environmental, and Human Resources.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends, and respond to emergency call-outs as required.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and perform work within an industrial manufacturing environment.

Disclaimer

The responsibilities outlined in this job description represent the primary duties and accountabilities of the position but are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities.

Employees are required to comply with all company policies and procedures, which may be changed, withdrawn, added to, or interpreted at the company's sole discretion, with or without notice. Nothing in this job description alters the at-will employment relationship. Either the employee or the company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, as permitted by applicable law.