Director, Maintenance and Engineering

Hungry for a career that's as rewarding as it is delicious?

At Aspire Bakeries, we don't just bake breads, cookies, and cakes - we create foods that bring people together. From La Brea Bakery artisan breads to Otis Spunkmeyer cookies, our products are enjoyed by millions of people every day. And behind every bite are talented manufacturing and support teams who take pride in their work and our food.

We're looking for hard-working people who will bring integrity, creativity, and a passion for excellence to everything they do - whether that's on the bakery floor, in the office, or supporting customers. In return, we offer a workplace culture built on care, ownership, and growth - where your contributions matter and your career can rise as high as our bread loaves!

With 13 commercial bakeries across North America and a reputation as an industry leader, Aspire Bakeries is rising together with our people and our customers to be the best all-around bakery solution. If you're ready to grow with us, we'd love to hear from you.

Why You'll Love Working At Aspire Bakeries

• Culture - Our culture thrives on collaboration, diversity, and a shared passion for excellence. We support team members, empower growth, and encourage everyone to bring their authentic selves to work.
• Health & Wellness - Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus company-paid life insurance and additional voluntary options to fit your needs.
• Work-Life Balance - Paid parental leave, generous paid time off, and holidays so you can recharge and spend time on what matters most.
• Financial Security - Competitive retirement plans, plus short- and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind.
• Growth & Development - Opportunities to build skills, grow your career, and develop expertise through Aspire Bakeries' learning and development programs.
• Flexibility & Support - HSA and FSA plans to help you manage everyday expenses.
• Recognition & Rewards - Performance incentive plans that celebrate achievements across sales, bakery performance, and individual contributions.

About the Role

We are seeking a Director of Maintenance & Reliability to join our team supporting all Aspire Bakeries locations across North America. As the Director, you will lead the strategy, systems, and practices that ensure asset reliability, equipment uptime, and strong maintenance performance across all bakeries. Your leadership will directly elevate safety, food quality, operational excellence, and the long-term health of our equipment. This role requires frequent onsite collaboration across bakeries, with travel up to 75% based on business needs.

Compensation

• Salary Range: $150,000-$190,000

Core Accountabilities (What You'll Be Doing)

• Lead the implementation and continuous advancement of Aspire's Maintenance Playbook across all bakeries
• Drive improvements in Maintenance & Reliability KPIs, including downtime, OEE, waste, and cost efficiency
• Conduct audits, identify systemic gaps, and develop action plans to enhance maintenance effectiveness
• Optimize parts inventory and storeroom management to strengthen cost control and operational readiness
• Build and elevate maintenance team capabilities through training, skill assessments, and coaching
• Serve as the subject matter expert for resolving recurring equipment issues and enhancing reliability
• Partner with bakery teams to develop long-term capital investment strategies that reduce risk and improve asset care

Minimum Qualifications (What You Bring to the Table)

• 10+ years of leadership experience in Maintenance & Reliability within food manufacturing (bakery preferred)
• Proven success implementing maintenance systems; SAP maintenance management experience preferred
• Demonstrated ability to manage and improve uptime through KPI-driven processes
• Strong leadership experience influencing teams within a matrix environment with dotted-line reports
• Knowledge of safety, food safety, and environmental requirements in manufacturing settings
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field (preferred but not required)
• Ability to travel up to 75%

Preferred Qualifications (Extra Ingredients for Success)

• Experience leading large-scale maintenance transformation or reliability improvement initiatives
• Expertise in asset care frameworks and continuous improvement methodologies
• Advanced analytical, problemsolving, and communication skills
• Strategic thinker able to balance longterm planning with handson operational leadership
• Passion for developing talent and fostering a culture of excellence

Aspire Bakeries LLC values the contribution each Team Member brings to our organization. The final determination of a successful candidate's starting pay will vary based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to location, shift, education, skill, and experience within the job or the industry. The pay scale listed for this position is generally for candidates that meet the specified qualifications and requirements listed in this specific job description. Additional pay may be determined for those candidates that exceed these specified qualifications and requirements. We provide a competitive compensation package that recognizes your experience, credentials, and education alongside a robust benefits program to meet your needs. For union-represented postings, wage rates and ranges are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Aspire Bakeries is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to screen, assess, or select applicants.