Director Maintenance and Reliability

About SunOpta

SunOpta delivers customized supply chain solutions and innovation for top brands, retailers, and foodservice providers across a broad portfolio of beverages, broths, and better-for-you snacks. With over 50 years of expertise, SunOpta fuels customers' growth with high-quality, sustainability-forward solutions distributed through retail, club, foodservice, and e-commerce channels across North America.

Job Summary:

The Director of Maintenance and Reliability is a strategic leadership role responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of maintenance and reliability programs across all facilities. This role ensures the integrity, performance, and availability of equipment and infrastructure, while driving operational excellence, minimizing downtime, and optimizing total cost of ownership.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Strategic Leadership
  
  
  
  • Develop and execute the enterprise-wide maintenance and reliability strategy aligned with business goals.
  • Drive a proactive, data-driven reliability culture focused on asset performance, safety, and lifecycle management.
  
  
  
  
• Maintenance & Reliability Programs
  
  
  
  • Oversee predictive, preventive, and corrective maintenance programs.
  • Champion reliability-centered maintenance (RCM), root cause analysis (RCA), and condition-based monitoring practices.
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory standards, company policies, and industry best practices.
  
  
  
  
• Team Development & Leadership
  
  
  
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of maintenance managers, engineers, and technicians.
  • Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional development.
  
  
  
  
• Asset Management
  
  
  
  • Implement and manage computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) to track work orders, asset history, and KPIs.
  • Optimize spare parts inventory and vendor relationships to support maintenance needs efficiently.
  
  
  
  
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  
  
  
  • Partner with Operations, Engineering, EHS, and Supply Chain teams to align priorities and resolve chronic issues.
  • Lead cross-functional teams for capital projects, equipment upgrades, and infrastructure improvements.
  
  
  
  
• Budgeting & Cost Control
  
  
  
  • Develop and manage annual maintenance budgets, capital expenditure plans, and cost-saving initiatives.
  • Identify and implement opportunities for OEE improvement and energy/resource efficiency.
  
  
  
  
• Metrics & Reporting
  
  
  
  • Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as MTBF, MTTR, equipment availability, and maintenance cost per unit.
  • Regularly report performance to executive leadership and recommend corrective actions.
  
  
  
  

• Adheres to company GMP's (good manufacturing practices), safety procedures and all other quality processes.
• Wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when required.
• All other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Indirect responsibility in a matrixed environment

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or related field
• 10+ years of progressive leadership in maintenance and reliability in a manufacturing, processing, or industrial environment
• Proven success in developing and scaling maintenance programs in multi-site operations
• Strong understanding of CMMS, predictive maintenance technologies, TPM, and lean methodologies

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree or MBA (preferred)
• Relevant certifications (e.g., CMRP, PMP, Six Sigma) a plus

Knowledge and Skills:

• Strategic thinking with hands-on problem-solving abilities
• Candidate must possess a strong working knowledge of machining, electrical and mechanical functions.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and team-building skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management
• Financial acumen and experience managing large budgets
• Familiarity with OSHA, EPA, and other regulatory frameworks

Additional Considerations:

• Travel Expectation: Up to 50%
• This position will be at our corporate headquarters in Eden Prairie, MN

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

Approximately; 20% of work is performed in an office environment. 80% of work may involve being in the agricultural or manufacturing environment.

Featured benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid Family leave
• Paid maternity leave
• 401(k) with Match
• Voluntary Life, Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital indemnity
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition assistance
• Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
EOE M/W/VET/DISABLED