Job Description:
Site Technical Manager
The Site Technical Manager holds end-to-end strategic and operational accountability for managing operational risks, asset reliability, and technical integrity across a complex, high-speed manufacturing site of over 700 associates. As a key senior member of the Site Leadership Team, this role designs and deploys proactive technical strategies, capital allocation plans, and the plant maintenance master plan to drive world-class operational efficiency and safety.
Through the direct leadership of 5 Associate Technical Managers, the Site Technical Manager inspires, develops, and orchestrates a massive technical organization of over 100 maintenance and engineering associates.
By implementing robust continuous improvement frameworks (such as Mars Supply Excellence/MSE), this leader fosters a strong culture of technical ownership, safety accountability, and capability development, transforming technical challenges into long-term competitive advantages.
What are we looking for?
Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree n Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Industrial, or a closely related technical discipline). Advanced degree preferred.
Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in manufacturing, engineering, or maintenance roles within a fast-paced, highly automated manufacturing environment (FMCG/Food & Beverage preferred).
Minimum of 5 years of direct people leadership experience, with a proven track record of leading other leaders (e.g., managing supervisors, engineers, or department managers) and building high-performing, engaged teams.
TPM & MSE Mastery: Deep expertise in Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) or Mars Supply Excellence (MSE), with proven experience leading/owning the Progressive Maintenance (PM) pillar.
Proven success optimizing multi-million dollar operating budgets (OPEX) while strictly maintaining a "Zero Incident" safety culture and robust high-risk protocols.
Strong track record partnering with engineering on capital projects (CAPEX)—using Early Equipment Management (EEM) to design for long-term maintainability.
Experienced in building floor-level Autonomous Maintenance (AM) capabilities in close partnership with operations teams.
Lean Six Sigman Green or Black Belt certification preferred.
What would your key responsibilities be?
Reliability, MSE, & Asset Conservation (PM Pillar Lead)
Sponsor and Strategic owner of the Site PM (Progressive Maintenance) Pillar, embedding continuous improvement methodologies.
Establish a culture of root-cause analysis and systematic Breakdown Elimination to eliminate chronic and sporadic failures, directly improving site efficiency (TRS) and minimizing waste.
Oversee the strategic management and conservation of all site physical assets, ensuring the implementation of world-class preventive, predictive, and planned maintenance (PM/PdM) programs.
Optimize Utilities & Cost-Efficiency delivering highly reliable, sustainable, and cost-optimized services (steam, air, water, power),
Govern Storeroom Strategy, balancing cash flow optimization with asset risk mitigation through efficient inventory controls and supplier partnerships.
Lead Strategic Shutdowns ensuring zero safety incidents and high-quality start-ups.
Capital Engineering & Site Master planning
Serve as a core contributor to the Site Master Plan and the engineering steering committee, ensuring technical assets are aligned with long-term capacity and capability needs.
Establish Collaborative Synergies- forge powerful partnerships and clear connection points between site technical teams and central/regional engineering teams to leverage scale, best practices, and standardizations.
Champion the prioritization and execution of the site’s CAPEX budget, ensuring all technical and CI projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and designed for reliability.
System Controls & Industrial Digitalization
Design the controls master plan and strategic roadmap for all PLC, HMI, and OT (Operational Technology) systems, ensuring high system integrity, obsolescence prevention, and robust cybersecurity.
Embed Controls into Asset Health: Ensure automation and control systems upgrades are seamlessly integrated into the site's broader Asset Health Program to future-proof manufacturing lines.
Safety, Security, & Environmental (HSE) Leadership
Instill a "Zero Incident" Culture: Actively lead and champion a world-class safety culture across the entire maintenance and engineering department, driving accountability and a "Go & See" mindset.
Standardize Regional Best Practices: Partner with site and corporate HSE resources to import, standardize, and sustain best-in-class safety, security, and environmental programs.
Drive HSE Capability: Ensure technical associates receive continuous education and training in high-risk areas (e.g., LOTO, electrical safety, confined space) to sustain a safe work environment.
Technical Capability & Training
Collaborate with Operations leaders to build robust Autonomous Maintenance (AM) capabilities, establishing clear handshakes between operators and reliability technicians.
Build the Technical Talent Pipeline: Design and execute a structured technical training and competency program to close capability gaps, build future-proof skills (automation/digitalization), and secure succession plans for key roles.
Quality & Food Safety (Q&FS) and Sanitary Design
Sponsor Sanitary Design: Ensure all maintenance activities, asset modifications, and engineering projects strictly adhere to the highest hygienic and sanitary design standards.
Govern HACCP & Food Safety Competency: Establish, coach, and maintain a high-standard Food Safety and HACCP competency program within the technical organization.
Maintain PRPs (Pre-Requisite Programs): Guarantee that all PRPs, including Mars GMP/GHP, are deeply embedded and flawlessly executed during daily maintenance and repair tasks.
What can you expect from Mars?
Work with diverse and talented associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
#LI-BM1
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Industrial, or related)
- Advanced degree in engineering or related field
- Minimum 8 years progressive experience in manufacturing, engineering, or maintenance in highly automated environments
- Minimum 5 years direct people leadership experience, including leading leaders/supervisors
- Deep expertise in Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) or Mars Supply Excellence (MSE), owning Progressive Maintenance (PM) pillar
- Proven experience optimizing multi-million dollar operating budgets (OPEX) while maintaining zero-incident safety culture
- Experience partnering on capital projects (CAPEX) using Early Equipment Management (EEM) for maintainability
- Experience designing controls master plans for PLC, HMI, and OT systems and addressing OT cybersecurity/obsolescence
- Experience implementing preventive, predictive, and planned maintenance (PM/PdM) programs and leading breakdown elimination/root-cause analysis
- Experience building Autonomous Maintenance (AM) capabilities and technical training/competency programs
- Food safety, sanitary design, HACCP governance, and knowledge of GMP/GHP in maintenance activities
- Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt certification
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.
