At Danone, Manufacturing the best products and supplying them to meet demand is a key driver for our plant teams. We are currently looking to hire a Maintenance Manager based in Bridgeton, New Jersey!

Job Summary

This role leads all maintenance, reliability, and technical operations for the Bridgeton facility, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable production by driving maintenance standards, developing technical talent, and partnering cross‑functionally to deliver strong operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

As a key member of our team, you will play an important role in driving our mission forward. The following responsibilities outline the core expectations and contributions for this position:

• Lead all maintenance and reliability operations to ensure safe, dependable, and efficient manufacturing performance.
• Drive a world‑class maintenance strategy through strong preventive, predictive, and spare‑parts programs that maximize equipment uptime and reduce losses.
• Develop and mentor technical teams, building skill, capability, and ownership across maintenance, automation, and reliability groups.
• Strengthen plant utility and infrastructure systems, including boilers, refrigeration, air compressors, and critical safety programs.
• Partner closely with Engineering to shape the site’s long‑term technical masterplan and deliver a robust 3–5‑year capital strategy.
• Lead major capital and innovation projects, ensuring clear scope, strong cost control, and flawless execution from design to startup.
• Champion continuous improvement and IWS, using data, loss analysis, and TPM methods to drive reliability, quality, and safety gains.
• Enhance equipment capability and performance, leveraging technical expertise in processing, packaging, extraction, and automation systems.
• Promote a culture of communication, problem‑solving, and accountability, fostering strong cross‑functional partnerships across the plant and network.
• Ensure regulatory, food safety, and environmental compliance, embedding robust systems and maintaining audit‑ready standards.
• Optimize department resources and budgets, balancing priorities to deliver cost savings and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate effectively in a unionized environment, supporting fair, consistent practices and constructive employee relations.
• Other duties as assigned or become evident

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Comfortable with being exposed to outdoor conditions in all seasons.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel or crouch. Required to lift and / or move up to 35 pounds.

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Engagement in our Integrated Work Systems
Ensure adherence to plant standards (including but not limited to GMP, AIB, FDA, Quality, Safety, Finance, ISO, Daily Direction Setting, Driving Operational Efficiency). As a fundamental piece of the organization, your responsibility is to participate and own the implementation and deployment of related integrated work systems and corresponding pillars (Leadership foundation, Daily Direction Setting, Driving Operational Efficiency; Autonomous Maintenance; planned Maintenance; Focused Improvement; Education and Training; Environmental, Health and Safety; Quality; Organization; Supply Network; Early Equipment Management) with the objective of owning your space, owning your performance (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Mobilization, Nature) and owning your continuous improvement. 

Compensation & Benefits:
Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options.

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of education, experience, and skills that enable them to excel in this position. The following qualifications outline what we’re looking for, including both required and preferred criteria:

Education & Experience:

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering discipline (Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical preferred) or a related technical field is highly preferred; an advanced degree is a plus.
• Candidates without a completed bachelor’s degree may be considered if they possess a combination of education and experience that demonstrates the required knowledge and technical capability for the role.
• Minimum of 5 years of operational or management experience in a manufacturing environment required. 10+ years of experience is preferred.
• Experience in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, or other high speed CPG manufacturing environments is highly preferred.
• Formal project management training or certifications preferred. Experience in leading and managing technical disciplines and budgets in a small manufacturing organization is essential.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong communicator who can simplify technical information and influence across all levels of the organization.
• Skilled at balancing multiple priorities, making sound decisions, and keeping the plant running safely and efficiently under competing demands.
• Deep understanding of GMPs and food‑industry regulations, with a commitment to maintaining safe, compliant, audit‑ready operations.
• Proven ability to lead technical teams, build capability, and develop a high‑performance, collaborative culture.
• Strategic problem‑solver with the ability to identify opportunities, reduce losses, and improve reliability without relying solely on capital spend.
• Financially savvy, able to manage budgets, optimize resources, and forecast technical needs.
• Strong mechanical and technical aptitude, capable of engaging confidently on equipment, systems, and complex processes.
• Experienced negotiator who can navigate sensitive situations and drive constructive outcomes.
• Effective in a cross‑functional, unionized environment, fostering consistency, fairness, and partnership.
• Proactive learner and developer of others, committed to continuous improvement—both personally and within the team.
• Ability to support a 24/7 manufacturing environment as business needs dictate. Work schedules could include days, nights or weekends as needed.

Danone U.S. is part of Danone North America, a purpose-driven company and an industry leader in the food and beverage category. You’ll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world. Our strong portfolio of brands includes: Activia®, DanActive®, Danimals®, Dannon®, evian®, Follow Your Heart®, Happy Family® Organics, International Delight®, Light + Fit®, Nutricia ®, Oikos®, Silk®, So Delicious® Dairy Free,  STōK® Cold Brew Coffee ®, Too Good & Co™, and YoCrunch®. 

With approximately 5,000 employees and 13 production locations across the U.S., Danone North America's mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible. 

You’ll be part of one of the largest Certified B Corps™ in the world, working to make sure our company creates real value for people and the planet. Come join our movement for a healthier world: One Planet. One Health BY YOU.

Danone North America is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. It is our policy to give equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to legally protected characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state/provincial and/or local law. For our EEO policy statement and your EEO rights under law click here.

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