Technical Development Manager Jobs in Lena, IL (NOW HIRING)

3rd Shift - Sunday - Thursday, 9pm - 5:30am, OT as required

Shift Differential: 10% of hourly rate from 1 - 9pm and 15% of hourly rate from 9pm - 5am

Lead. Solve. Make an Impact.

Join a maintenance team where your expertise keeps production moving. As a Maintenance Lead, you'll troubleshoot complex equipment, mentor technicians, and help drive reliability in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. If you enjoy solving problems, leading by example, and making a direct impact on operations, this is the opportunity for you.

Company

Sabrosura Foods is a leading manufacturer and marketer of authentic Hispanic food products sold throughout the United States under trusted brands including Pancho's, El Viajero, Reynaldo's, and La Morenita. We are committed to producing safe, high-quality products while fostering a culture of teamwork, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Job Summary

The Maintenance Lead is responsible for providing day-to-day leadership and technical support to the maintenance team while ensuring production equipment and facility systems operate safely, efficiently, and reliably. This position works closely with the Maintenance Supervisor and Production teams to coordinate maintenance activities, prioritize repairs, minimize equipment downtime, and support preventative maintenance initiatives.

The Maintenance Lead serves as a working leader by assisting with complex repairs, mentoring team members, assigning work, and promoting safe work practices. This position requires participation in an on-call rotation for emergency maintenance situations and may require weekend and occasional holiday work based on business needs.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership, direction, and support to the maintenance team.
• Assign, prioritize, and monitor maintenance work to ensure timely completion.
• Perform and oversee preventative maintenance (PM) activities according to established schedules.
• Troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and facility equipment.
• Assist with equipment installations, upgrades, and continuous improvement projects.
• Partner with the Maintenance Supervisor to establish daily priorities and coordinate maintenance activities with Production.
• Train, coach, and mentor maintenance technicians while promoting safe work practices and technical development.
• Assist in onboarding and training new maintenance employees.
• Monitor work quality and provide feedback to ensure repairs are completed safely and effectively.
• Address routine performance concerns and communicate more significant employee issues to the Maintenance Supervisor.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records, work orders, parts usage, and inventory documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability, reduce downtime, and increase operational efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, GMP, OSHA, safety, sanitation, and company policies.
• Support a culture of continuous improvement.
• Respond to emergency maintenance situations as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Previous maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment required.
• Prior leadership, lead, or supervisory experience required.
• Experience with preventative maintenance programs and industrial equipment is required.
• Food manufacturing experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong troubleshooting and mechanical aptitude.
• Working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and facility systems.
• Demonstrated leadership and team-building skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to coach and develop employees while maintaining accountability.
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office and maintenance management software (CMMS experience preferred).
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Strong commitment to workplace safety, food safety, and quality standards.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, crouch, climb, and reach throughout the workday.
• Ability to frequently lift, push, and pull up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work in hot, cold, wet, and refrigerated manufacturing environments.
• Ability to safely operate tools, equipment, and machinery required to perform maintenance functions.
• Ability to work overtime, weekends, holidays, and participate in an on-call rotation as business needs require.