Job Overview:
Provide strategic leadership and oversight for UNFI's National Refrigeration Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (ITM) program to maximize equipment reliability, safety, compliance, and operational performance across all facilities. Partner with regional operations and maintenance teams to develop long-term capital plans, optimize asset lifecycle management, improve customer service, reduce maintenance costs, and increase equipment uptime. Lead the continuous improvement of refrigeration standards, operating procedures, and best practices while ensuring the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) remains accurate and actionable to drive data-informed decisions, identify performance opportunities, and support operational excellence.
Job Responsibilities:
Core Responsibilities
- Foster and lead a proactive safety culture by demonstrating an unwavering commitment to environmental, health, and safety excellence while ensuring compliance with all company policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Develop, implement, and continuously enhance UNFI's Process Safety Management (PSM) program and Synthetic Refrigerant Compliance initiatives to ensure regulatory compliance, operational integrity, and risk reduction.
- Establish and communicate refrigeration and process safety standards, procedures, and best practices across the enterprise, ensuring alignment with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and organizational risk management objectives.
- Partner with Operations, Safety, Food Safety, Engineering, and Facilities teams to develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), compliance metrics, and audit programs that drive continuous improvement and support informed decision-making.
- Analyze operational and compliance data to identify trends, prioritize risk mitigation efforts, and allocate resources to areas with the highest potential impact on safety, reliability, and business performance.
- Lead and support refrigeration-related projects, audits, inspections, and corrective action programs, ensuring timely execution, risk reduction, and sustainable compliance across all applicable facilities.
- Stay current on evolving refrigeration technologies, regulatory requirements, sustainability initiatives, and industry best practices to drive innovation and continuous improvement throughout the refrigeration program.
- Develop and administer training programs, onboarding materials, and competency standards related to refrigeration systems, process safety management, and regulatory compliance.
- Provide leadership, direction, and technical support to Facility Managers and maintenance teams responsible for refrigeration operations, PSM compliance, and refrigerant management programs.
- Evaluate current and proposed federal, state, and local regulations affecting refrigeration systems and PSM programs, determining operational impact and developing compliance strategies.
- Ensure contractors performing work on ammonia and refrigeration systems possess appropriate certifications, qualifications, and training to safely execute assigned work.
- Serve as the primary refrigeration subject matter expert for cross-functional teams, collaborating with Operations, Food Safety, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), and Facilities leadership to address refrigeration-related risks and business needs.
- Direct and continuously improve UNFI's National Refrigeration Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (ITM) Program to maximize asset reliability, equipment uptime, energy efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
- Partner with regional operations and maintenance leadership to develop refrigeration capital investment strategies, asset replacement plans, lifecycle forecasts, and return-on-investment (ROI) analyses.
- Establish, maintain, and improve standard operating procedures (SOPs), preventive maintenance strategies, and enterprise refrigeration best practices to drive consistency and operational excellence across all locations.
- Serve as the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) Administrator for refrigeration programs, ensuring data integrity, reporting accuracy, asset hierarchy standardization, and actionable performance insights.
- Maintain consistent equipment naming conventions, asset classification standards, and parts inventory structures across all facilities to support effective maintenance planning and reporting.
- Develop and maintain refrigeration equipment downtime tracking, preventive maintenance effectiveness metrics, and cost-benefit analyses to identify opportunities for performance improvement and cost reduction.
- Drive initiatives that improve customer service levels, reduce maintenance expenses, extend asset life, increase system reliability, and support overall operational excellence.
- Provide 24/7 leadership support and serve as the primary escalation point for critical refrigeration system failures, ammonia incidents, regulatory compliance issues, and business-critical refrigeration events. Coordinate response efforts with facility teams, contractors, operations leadership, and EHS personnel to minimize operational disruption, protect product integrity, ensure regulatory compliance, and restore system reliability as quickly and safely as possible.
- Participate in an on-call rotation and provide after-hours support for refrigeration-related emergencies, ensuring timely resolution of equipment failures, regulatory concerns, and operational issues across the national facility network.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements:
Education/ Certifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, Facilities Management, Safety, Environmental Sciences, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- 5+ years of Process Safety Management (PSM) leadership experience supporting industrial ammonia refrigeration systems, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
- RETA certifications (CARO, CIRO, CRST, or equivalent) preferred.
Experience:
- Previous experience managing Anhydrous Ammonia Refrigeration systems required.
- Experience leading refrigeration operations within a multi-site distribution, warehouse, manufacturing, or food production environment highly desired.
- Prior experience in food manufacturing, cold storage, or distribution operations with exposure to USDA and FDA regulations strongly preferred.
- Experience developing capital plans, equipment lifecycle strategies, maintenance programs, and reliability initiatives preferred.
- Experience administering Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) and utilizing data analytics to drive maintenance and operational improvements preferred.
Knowledge/Skills/ Abilities:
- Working knowledge of HACCP principles and food safety requirements preferred.
- Extensive knowledge of OSHA, EPA, and applicable state and local regulations governing ammonia refrigeration systems, Process Safety Management (PSM), Risk Management Programs (RMP), and Mechanical Integrity (MI).
- Strong understanding of Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) methodologies, including HAZOP, What-If Analysis, and other risk assessment techniques.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, root cause analysis, and decision-making skills, with the ability to assess risk, forecast equipment performance, and develop strategic solutions.
- Ability to establish and implement standards, policies, procedures, and best practices across a multi-site facility network.
- Proven project management skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated leadership and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence, coach, and build effective partnerships across Operations, Facilities, Food Safety, EHS, Engineering, and external service providers.
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical and regulatory information to both executive leadership and operational teams.
- Ability to interpret regulations, engineering drawings, technical specifications, operating procedures, and maintenance documentation.
- Ability to respond effectively to refrigeration emergencies and serve as a key escalation resource for critical system failures and regulatory incidents.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and CMMS platforms.
- Highly organized, self-directed, and continuous improvement focused, with sound judgment and the ability to work independently when direct supervision is not immediately available.
Work Environment:
Remote Role:
- This position is classified as remote where the associate will perform remote work from their primary residence. Remote associates are welcome to work from the office but are not required to do so. While remote associates are not required to work from an office on a regular basis, they may be required to come to the office or other UNFI locations for necessary business reasons or if directed to do so by their manager.
- Must be available for after-hours, weekend, and emergency response support related to refrigeration operations, regulatory events, and critical equipment failures; Participate in an on-call rotation and serve as the primary escalation point for refrigeration emergencies affecting operations, product integrity, safety, and regulatory compliance.
Travel (major):
- Travel is required up to 75-80% for this position.
Physical Environment/Demands:
Work is performed in both office and industrial environments, including refrigerated warehouses, machinery rooms, distribution centers, and outdoor settings.
Office Roles:
- Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.
- Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
- Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment in the course of a normal workday.
- Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.
Warehouse Roles:
- Ability to walk facilities for extended periods, climb ladders and stairs, and access elevated equipment locations.
- Ability to lift up to 75 pounds when required.
- Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and work in confined or restricted spaces associated with refrigeration equipment.
- Ability to work in temperature environments ranging from -30°F to 120°F or more.
- Ability to perform repetitive hand, wrist, and arm movements required for inspections and equipment evaluations.
- Ability to work overhead and around operating industrial equipment.
- Must possess sufficient visual acuity, depth perception, hearing, balance, and manual dexterity necessary to safely perform job duties and inspect refrigeration systems.
- Ability to operate vehicles, mobile equipment, and other work-related tools as required.
- Ability to maintain required certifications and complete company-mandated training programs.
- Participate in an on-call rotation and serve as the primary escalation point for refrigeration emergencies affecting operations, product integrity, safety, and regulatory compliance.
- Woodstock Farms: Ability to work in an environment containing tree nuts, peanuts, soy, wheat, sesame, milk and different spices like pepper, chili, etc.
Compensation: UNFI anticipates paying the above-referenced pay rate (or within the above-referenced pay range) for this position. Actual Pay, where applicable, will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, education, experience, training, and any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements. UNFI is committed to transparency in pay in compliance with applicable state and local laws.
Benefits: For Washington positions (or positions that may be performed remotely from Washington), https://www.unfi.com/jobs-more-info-wa.html for Washington-specific paid time off details.
Candidates hired into this position will also be eligible to participate in the following benefits programs: Paid Time Off; Sick Time; paid holidays and parental leave; 401K Program; medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death/dismemberment insurance; short-term and long-term disability insurance program, Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Savings Account, subject to meeting the eligibility requirements and the terms and conditions of these programs, and subject to any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements.
UNFI's compensation, benefits, and paid time off policies are subject to change in the Company's sole discretion, consistent with applicable law. This job posting should not be construed as an offer of employment with certain terms, nor should it be construed as a guaranteed minimum.
Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act .
