Job Description:
Job Title: Reliability Specialist
Segment / Business Unit: Mars Petcare
Country / Site: Aurora, Nebraska, USA
Shift: Night Shift
Job Purpose
The Reliability Specialist’s role is to effectively and efficiently communicate, facilitate, coordinate, and prioritize all maintenance activities within their area during the night shift. This position requires working closely with other supply groups, particularly Quality, Safety, and Operations, to ensure consistent product quality, productivity, and safety. The Reliability Specialist will make assignments and monitor progress, coordinate training, and develop Reliability and Operations Associates in their area of responsibility.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and manage Preventive Maintenance (PM) systems for assigned areas, focusing on Maintenance Planning, Scheduling, and Breakdown Elimination.
- Actively participate in and lead Continuous Improvement meetings as required.
- Oversee the coordination of Planned Stops in the assigned area.
- Identify and align with stakeholders on maintenance resources to execute planned stops and breakdown elimination processes, including the execution of corrective actions.
- Serve as the spokesperson for the maintenance group during daily management system (DMS) discussions.
- Act as the technical expert for the assigned area, including mechanical, electrical, and control systems, with a thorough understanding of the manufacturing process.
- Lead a team to consistently meet or exceed site goals for safety, quality, environmental, regulatory, financial, and product supply.
- Drive results in reducing Planned and Unplanned Downtime and take ownership of:
- Maintenance and repair costs for the line.
- Percentage of Planned Maintenance and PM compliance.
- Reduction in equipment breakdowns.
- Serve as a technical expert who teaches, coaches, and assesses technicians and operators on equipment.
- Perform all duties of a senior mechanical/electrical technician at the highest levels of technical proficiency.
- Own the Abnormality Handling DMS and participate in developing the line's 90-day loss-elimination plans.
- Support and/or represent the maintenance team in daily FMOS meetings, providing performance data and communicating action plans.
Qualifications
Education & Professional Qualifications:
- Minimum: High School Diploma or equivalent.
- Preferred: Associate's degree in a technical discipline, preferably in Industrial Maintenance/Technology.
Knowledge / Experience:
Minimum:
- Demonstrated experience in leading change and situational leadership.
- Clear ability to relate to and motivate people and to train others effectively.
- Outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Proficiency in MS Office and SAP.
Preferred:
- Experience operating within a formalized Continuous Improvement environment (e.g., TPM, Lean Manufacturing).
- 3+ years of manufacturing experience in a technical capacity (maintenance controls, electrical, or mechanical).
Physical Requirements:
- Frequent lifting/carrying (10-50 lbs.).
- Frequent pushing/pulling (50-200 lbs.).
- Frequent handling, gripping, bending, and stooping.
- Ability to work at elevated heights, climb stairs, and lean over equipment.
- Ability to stand and/or work on your feet for extended periods (minimum eight hours in one shift).
Commitment to Military Veterans
Mars is a military-friendly employer. We value the leadership, discipline, and problem-solving skills that veterans bring to our organization. We strongly encourage veterans with experience in mechanical, electrical, or technical fields to apply. Your service and experience are highly valued here.
About Mars, Incorporated
Mars is a family-owned business with over a century of history, making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With almost $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN’S®, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD® Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.
Skills Required
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Experience leading change and applying situational leadership
- Ability to relate to, motivate, and train others effectively
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office
- Proficiency in SAP
- Ability to lift and carry 10–50 pounds frequently
- Ability to push and pull 50–200 pounds frequently
- Ability to handle, grip, bend, and stoop frequently
- Ability to work at elevated heights and climb stairs
- Ability to stand or work on feet for at least eight hours per shift
- Associate degree in a technical discipline, preferably Industrial Maintenance or Technology
- Experience in a formalized Continuous Improvement environment, such as TPM or Lean Manufacturing
- Three or more years of manufacturing experience in maintenance controls, electrical, or mechanical work
Mars Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Mars and has not been reviewed or approved by Mars.
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Healthcare Strength — The benefits package is positioned as comprehensive, with broad medical coverage and additional protections like life insurance and short- and long-term disability. Mental health support is emphasized, including free mental health services and wellbeing programming under initiatives such as Mars Be Well.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave is highlighted as market-leading in the U.S., with an example of 18 weeks fully paid for both parents. Additional family-related leave types such as sick time for caregiving and bereavement leave are also described as part of the overall package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings are described as strong, including 401(k) matching (with a 6% match cited) and pension plans in some cases. The broader package also references retirement savings options and contributions aligned to local market practice, supporting long-term financial security.
Mars Insights
What We Do
For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This idea is at the center of who we have always been as a global, family-owned business. Today, Mars is transforming, innovating and evolving in ways that affirm our commitment to making a positive impact on the world around us. Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of confectionery, food, and petcare products and services, we employ 133,000 dedicated Associates who are all moving in the same direction: forward. With $40 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including DOVE®, EXTRA®, M&M’s®, MILKY WAY®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, ORBIT®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, SKITTLES®, WHISKAS®, COCOAVIA®, and 5™; and take care of half of the world’s pets through our pet health services AniCura, Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, Pet Partners™, and VCA™. We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper as well. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive.
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