Director, Engineering & Maintenance

Welcome to our world!

Our culture encourages continuous improvement, learning and relearning. We prioritize safety, quality, environment, productivity and sustainability, working with purpose and delivering results. We believe and trust in our people and the diversity of our teams, to continue to thrive after more than 130 years of creating beloved brands, looking forward on a better future for all.

You are applying for CPS Manaus Engineering & Maintenance Director position.

Location: The role is based in Manaus, Brazil, with a full onsite activity.

Reporting: The role reports to Plant General Manager.

Job Description Summary:

The Engineering & Maintenance Director provides leadership, strategic direction, and technical solutions to CPS Manaus Plant in the areas of maintenance, automation, engineering, technology modernization, productivity, and cost improvement.

This position will also be enabling the development of the desired winning culture in the new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, through a people plan to include capability building, high-performance teams, organization design, communication, agile, productivity, and innovation environment.

Our vision is loved brands, done sustainably, for a better shared future. We strive to provide cutting-edge excellence in ingredients, innovation, design and marketing. In this role, you will be instrumental in building best-in-class manufacturing operational practices in support of producing the next generation of products.

We’re looking for a candidate with experience in the beverage, food or FMGC industry, who has knowledge of project management methodology, reporting and tracking performance, schedule and cash flow of the projects and can assist with technical support and leadership in beverage manufacturing systems, equipment and processes.

KEY DUTIES/RESPONSABILITIES

What You’ll do for Us

Define the ambition for the plant

• Lead and facilitate the Site Master Plan, Long-Range Planning and Capex process to advocate for plant investments, with a vision of ensuring the infrastructure is modern, up-to-date, automated, and fit for purpose.
• Understand the business environment, strategy, and people implications around transformation to operate in high technology, productive environment. Foster teamwork to sustain adding value to the Plant.
• Provide leadership and direction to the maintenance and engineering team. Inspire high performance through effective goal setting and performance measurement.
• Strategy and direction: As a key member of the Plant Leadership Team, contribute to the overall strategic planning and day-to-day management of the operation leading to the development of a World Class Manufacturing Operation.
  
  

Strategic Planning and Capital Project Leadership

• Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of strategic capital projects in alignment with the company’s strategic plan, budget, timelines, and quality standards.
• Participate in strategic master planning and the definition of new technology projects aligned with CPS Global strategy.
• Actively contribute to the CapEx Projects Justification process and serve as a key collaborator of the Capital Review Committee (CRC).
  
  

Project Execution and Delivery

• Develop and manage project scopes, schedules, milestones, and deliverables from initiation to commissioning.
• Coordinate and supervise internal teams and contractors, ensuring compliance with contractual, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee contractor performance, ensuring adherence to environmental, safety, ergonomic, and efficiency standards.
• Conduct bidding analysis and contractor selection for CapEx projects, managing execution and quality throughout.
• Ensure change management processes are followed for project specification modifications.
  
  

Communication, Reporting and Stakeholder Management

• Maintain effective and consistent communication with internal customers, contractors, and regulatory agencies.
• Prepare and present regular status updates, performance metrics, and financial projections to management and stakeholders.
• Ensure comprehensive documentation of project progress, decisions, and contractual matters.
  
  

Financial and Resource Management

• Manage project and maintenance budgets [CapEx & Opex], track expenditures, and identify budget deviations, escalating where necessary for strategic decisions.
• Administer the capitalization process for assets purchased through capital funds.
• Support monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting, including carryover and RFA (Request for Authorization) processes related to funding adjustments.
  
  

Compliance, Quality, and Risk Management

• Ensure all projects comply with applicable design codes, company standards, internal controls, environmental regulations, and legal requirements.
• Integrate environmental performance indicators (air emissions, water consumption, energy efficiency) into project design, contractor selection, and evaluations.
• Develop and enforce quality assurance plans, direct testing activities, and ensure accurate maintenance of project drawings and technical documentation.
• Identify and mitigate project risks, ensuring issues are escalated promptly with proposed solutions.
  
  

Technical and Engineering Support

• Provide engineering consulting to other units, supporting current and future capital project needs.
• Design, test, and procure specialized process equipment unique to the business.
• Ensure drafting resources maintain accurate, updated technical drawings with proper version control.
• Develop and implement business processes to ensure projects meet all functional and technical requirements.
  
  

People Leadership and Development

• Coordinate the recruitment and allocation of internal and external project resources.
• Provide training to new associates and contractors on company procedures, safety, and environmental standards relevant to assigned projects.
• Foster collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement among project teams and stakeholders.
• Manage the Vertical Start Up of each project under his/her scope.
  
  

Automation strategy, Standards, Governance, and Technical Leadership

• Develop and execute the regional automation and controls strategy aligned to business, manufacturing, and digital transformation priorities.
• Build a multi-year automation roadmap across the plant network in partnership with the site automation teams, including modernization of legacy control systems, digital integration, and smart manufacturing enablement.
• Identify and prioritize automation opportunities that improve operational performance, capacity, labor productivity, energy efficiency, and asset reliability.
• Build organizational capability in automation and controls through training, coaching, and technical community development. This includes capability in both automation and non-automation personnel.
• Govern regional automation standards, architecture, and best practices across controls, SCADA, PLC, HMI, MES, historians, and OT infrastructure.
• Ensure consistency in automation design, cybersecurity, lifecycle management, and system support models across the region.
• Drive standardization of platforms, vendors, and engineering approaches were appropriate to reduce complexity and total cost of ownership.
  
  

Plant Maintenance Responsibilities

• Maintenance Planning: Develop and implement maintenance plans for all assigned areas.
• Execution of Maintenance Activities: Ensure effective execution of planned maintenance activities.
• Vendor and Subcontractor Management: Manage vendors, subcontractors, and specialists supporting operations.
• Asset Responsibility: Oversee maintenance of equipment, electrical networks, utilities, buildings, and structures.
• Spare Parts and Consumables: Manage spare parts and consumable engineering stores.
• Compliance: Ensure compliance with KORE, local regulations, and EOSH standards.
• TPM Implementation: Apply TPM methodologies for plant facility and production
• Corrective Maintenance and Troubleshooting: Lead corrective maintenance and troubleshooting, ensuring health and safety in the workplace.
• Utility Operations: Assist with utility operations including boilers, chillers, Electrical substations, compressed air, water treatment, and wastewater systems.
• Process Improvement: Monitor and improve manufacturing processes through SPC and OEE.
• Calibration Program: Oversee calibration of production equipment for accuracy and compliance.
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in a food/beverages/ FMCG manufacturing environment in engineering and operations.
• Experience in Complex projects management, VSU, TPM, and influencing and communication skills.
• Experience with Industry 4.0 solutions, including robotics and automation.
  
  

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Proven experience managing CAPEX exceeding USD 5 million/year.
• Proven experience managing large projects, brownfield or greenfield projects.
• Experience in developing Lean factory workflows and layouts
• Experience with Machinery manufacturing methods and materials technology
  
  

LANGUAGE

• Fluent English and Spanish verbal and written
  
  

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Proven experience managing CAPEX exceeding USD 5 million/year.
• Proven experience managing large projects, brownfield or greenfield projects.
• Experience in developing Lean factory workflows and layouts
• Experience with Machinery manufacturing methods and materials technology
• PMI certification is desirable
  
  

SOFT SKILLS

Leadership Behaviors:

• Leader of Leaders.
• Set the Agenda, Be the Role Model, Help People be Their Best Selves.
  
  

DESIRABLE

• PMI certification.
  
  

Cultural Diversity

• The incumbent in this role needs excellent interpersonal skills and very well-developed cultural awareness skills. Fluent written and spoken English is important as well as strong communication skills, as interacting with contacts from other concentrate plants and locations around the world (Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America and United States) could be required.
  
  

What We Can Do For You:

• Purpose Driven: Purpose driven approach that empowers our people to protect the environment and communities we serve while delivering safe & quality products. 
• Global Connections: Allows you to develop, enhance a network that allow us to move faster and learn from others. 
• Community of Belonging: We’re an organization that believes our ability to continually grow and build the right atmosphere where people feel safe and empowered lets you bring your best self to work.
  
  

Travel: Requires travel to supplier sites for design reviews and FAT, and to CPS plants to support installation, commissioning, and startup activities. Show more Show less