POSITION SUMMARY

The Plant Maintenance Manager owns equipment reliability and uptime at LSC's Lenoir facility — the maintenance discipline that keeps a continuous production operation running. Lenoir is a continuous fiber processing plant with two distinct back ends: a hydraulic baling and wrapping line, and a pelletizing line with automated bagging and robotic palletizing. The right person understands this kind of plant — bulk solids handling, size reduction, pneumatic conveying, hydraulics, and packaging automation. This role leads the maintenance technicians and runs the function day to day. It is a floor-present role — close enough to the equipment to know what is actually happening and credible enough with the team to direct the work. They build the systems the function runs on — the PM program, the CMMS, the spares strategy — support the commissioning of new equipment, and reduce LSC's dependence on outside contractors for work that should be done in-house.

THE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

This role is accountable for the maintenance support for the following systems at Lenoir. Candidates are not expected to have run identical equipment, but should recognize the technology and the failure modes that come with it. Fiber preparation and size reduction — bale breakers, bale feeders on VFD control, incline and belt conveyors, weigh belt feeders, paper shredders, primary and secondary trash separators, tramp metal and self-cleaning magnets, and hammermills Pneumatic conveying and air systems — conveying fans, cyclone separators, rotary airlocks, vacuum systems, and the pressure and airflow balance that governs whether material moves or plugs Combustible dust safety — dust collection systems and spark detection and extinguishing systems, in a plant handling paper and wood fiber where deflagration risk is real and NFPA combustible-dust standards apply Additive and liquid systems — loss-in-weight dry feeders with load cells and augers, liquid chemical dosing with metering pumps and flow meters, and spray chambers where nozzle condition and pressure directly drive product quality Pelletizing — centri-feeders, conditioners, pellet mills with die and roll gap control, counterflow coolers, and the moisture and temperature control that determines pellet durability Hydraulic baling and packaging — multi-ram hydraulic baling and wrapping systems, recompression and heat-seal stations, bale sizing, and the hydraulic power units behind them End-of-line automation — bagging scales, bag sealers, robotic and conventional palletizers, stretch wrappers, and the machine-safety systems that protect the people working around them Controls, instrumentation, and data — PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, level and position sensing, motor current monitoring against trip baselines, and a plant data historian used for trending and fault analysis

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Capital Projects & Technical Standards Contribute to the technical standards, discipline, and roadmap that shape how equipment is specified, installed, operated, and improved — bringing the maintenance and reliability perspective into those decisions Serve as a major contributor to capital planning in partnership with the Director of Operations and Finance — identify equipment needs, build justifications and payback analyses, evaluate OEM proposals, and manage the approved capital budget through execution Lead capital project execution end-to-end — scope, schedule, budget, vendor management, commissioning, and turnover — with formal project management discipline applied to every major install Hold equipment vendors, integrators, and service partners accountable to design intent and performance commitments — evaluate actual rates against specification and engage as a technical peer, not a customer waiting for help Own change management — ensure every change to equipment, controls, or process flows through documented review, approval, and recordkeeping, with particular attention to the reliability and maintainability impact of each change Build LSC's in-house maintenance and install capability — reduce dependence on outside contractors over time by developing the team, standards, and work discipline required to own this work internally Maintenance & Reliability Leadership Own equipment reliability and uptime across all production lines — fiber prep, conveying, pelletizing, baling, and packaging Design and lead LSC's reliability program — asset criticality ranking, preventive and predictive maintenance strategy including vibration and thermographic condition monitoring, and the shift from reactive to proactive maintenance Close the gaps in current PM coverage — extend the program to assets that have none today, and replace provisional intervals with OEM-verified or data-justified ones Implement and own LSC's computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) — platform selection or configuration, asset hierarchies, PM schedules, work order discipline, technician adoption, and using it as the operating system for the function Define, track, and report the KPIs that govern the function — uptime, PM compliance, repeat failures, and contractor spend as a percentage of total — with a monthly reporting cadence to the Director of Operations Build the instrumentation and data foundation that reliability depends on — ensure critical assets are monitored, that motor current and process signals reach the historian, and that fault history is used rather than filed Lead the maintenance team — directly manage technicians, set the standard for work quality, hold the team accountable, and develop them into a high-performing in-house capability Functional Leadership Own the annual operating budget for maintenance — labor, contractor spend, spare parts and critical spares inventory, repair budget, training, and software — and manage to plan Own working relationships with OEMs, integrators, and service vendors — quoting, scheduling, performance accountability, and warranty enforcement Own the technical side of plant safety — machine guarding, LOTO, arc flash, confined space, combustible dust controls, and the safety interlock and detection systems that protect the plant Develop technical training programs for maintenance technicians, partnering with Plant Services to deliver and track training through LSC's broader training program Partner with Production, Plant Services, and Quality on the operations leadership team — align on priorities, resolve cross-functional issues, and represent the maintenance perspective in operational decisions

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

Associate or bachelor's degree in industrial technology, maintenance technology, engineering, or a related technical field preferred but not required; a strong trade background with the right hands-on experience carries equal weight 7-10 years of maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment, including direct experience leading a maintenance team and owning a maintenance budget Experience in bulk solids or fiber processing — pulp and paper, recycling, wood products, feed and grain, biomass, or similar continuous-process manufacturing — strongly preferred Working knowledge of pneumatic conveying systems — blowers and fans, rotary airlocks, diverter valves, cyclones, filters, and the pressure and airflow relationships that govern reliable material transport Hands-on hydraulics capability — power units, cylinders, valving, filtration, and troubleshooting hydraulic systems that run continuous production Experience with size reduction and separation equipment — hammermills, shredders, screens, magnets, and the wear management that goes with them Working knowledge of dust collection and combustible dust hazard management, including NFPA combustible-dust standards and spark detection or suppression systems Experience with packaging and end-of-line automation — bagging, sealing, palletizing, and stretch wrapping — including robotic palletizing and machine-safety systems Industrial electrician background strongly preferred — licensed or journeyman-level experience with motor controls, VFDs, three-phase power, and instrumentation, and the ability to read PLC logic and work alongside controls integrators Practical root cause analysis capability — able to work a repeat failure back to its actual cause rather than replacing the same component again and again Experience with weighing and metering systems — load cells, loss-in-weight feeders, scale calibration, and traceable calibration practice Experience taking equipment installations through commissioning, startup, and turnover to production — able to own an install rather than watch a contractor run it Hands-on experience implementing or building out a CMMS — asset hierarchies, PM setup, work order discipline, and getting technicians to actually use it Experience building a PM program — not just executing work orders, but deciding what gets maintained, how often, and on what evidence Demonstrated track record leading a maintenance team — hiring and developing technicians, setting the standard for work quality, and holding the crew to it Budget discipline — has owned a maintenance budget, understands repair-versus-replace economics, and can build a straightforward justification for a capital request Uses failure history, work order data, and equipment records to decide where to spend maintenance effort rather than relying on intuition alone Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations and industrial safety best practices; OSHA 30 preferred Self-directed and outcome-oriented — sees a problem, takes ownership, and drives resolution without waiting to be managed through it

LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS

The Plant Maintenance Manager is visible in the plant rather than managing from an office. The right candidate sets the standard for work quality, treats every employee with respect, and builds a team that people genuinely want to be part of — while still holding everyone accountable to the standards LSC's mission demands. They develop their people deliberately, share what they know, and care about what their team will be capable of two years from now — not just what gets done today. They engage operators as a source of knowledge, not just a source of work orders, because the people running the equipment every day see things no report will show. They lead with transparency, communicate clearly, and take ownership of outcomes — both good and bad. People perform their best when they feel valued and supported, and this role is expected to create that environment while building the maintenance capability that supports LSC's growth.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position requires consistent presence on the manufacturing floor and active engagement with maintenance work. Exposure to paper and wood dust, industrial equipment, noise, mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic hazards, and varying temperatures is expected. PPE including safety glasses, steel-toed boots, gloves, and hearing protection required at all times in operating areas; respiratory protection may be required in specific tasks. Physical activity may include climbing ladders, working at elevation, lifting up to 50 lbs, and extended periods of standing or walking. Some travel may be required to support vendor visits, equipment evaluations, other LSC facilities, or training.

Pay:

$75,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person