Senior Manager, Maintenance and Engineering

Senior Manager, Maintenance and Engineering

Do you read fault codes as naturally as performance reports? Are you passionate about equipment reliability, leadership, and building a culture of operational excellence? If so, this opportunity is for you.

We are seeking a Senior Manager, Maintenance and Engineering to optimize the maintenance and servicing activities of our agricultural machinery fleet across our sites in Quebec, Florida, and British Columbia. This role requires a high level of technical expertise. The successful candidate will serve as the organization's technical authority, capable of validating diagnostics, guiding sound technical decisions, and challenging supplier recommendations when necessary. This individual will also be responsible for coaching and developing maintenance supervisors to elevate technical capabilities across the organization, while contributing to the design and development of specialized agricultural equipment tailored to the company’s operational needs.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Expertise and Leadership

• Validate mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, and electronic diagnostics on fleet equipment, including tractors, harvesting equipment, and specialized agricultural vehicles, and challenge diagnoses provided by suppliers when necessary.
• Guide teams through complex technical situations to determine the most appropriate course of action—internal repair, specialized subcontracting, or equipment replacement—while considering labor costs, parts availability, downtime, and seasonal operational requirements.
• Serve as the primary technical resource for mechanics and maintenance supervisors; take ownership of escalated issues and lead teams toward effective resolutions.
• Leverage expertise with onboard electronic diagnostic tools, including fault code analysis and manufacturer-specific diagnostic software.

Equipment Innovation and Improvement

• Actively participate in the design and customization of agricultural equipment tailored to company operations, in collaboration with agronomy and operations teams.
• Recommend innovative solutions to improve fleet performance, durability, reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and maintenance best practices within the agricultural sector.

Training and Team Development

• Train and coach maintenance supervisors on diagnostic best practices, preventive maintenance procedures, and technical decision-making.
• Identify training needs across all sites and develop recommendations adapted to each operational environment.
• Standardize diagnostic and maintenance procedures and integrate them into a continuous training program.
• Foster a safe, collaborative, and development-focused work environment.

Maintenance Management and Continuous Improvement

• Design and implement a comprehensive preventive and corrective maintenance program for all farm equipment and Vegpro Vegetable Packaging division assets, ensuring alignment with performance objectives and deployment across all sites within a continuous improvement framework.
• Facilitate the collection and analysis of reliability and maintenance cost data to support future equipment investment decisions.
• Audit the quality of maintenance work performed and the effectiveness of work order management processes within the maintenance system.
• Manage the maintenance budget and ensure optimal resource allocation.

Supplier and Partnership Management

• Negotiate and optimize contractual agreements with key suppliers while managing specific vendor-related initiatives and projects.
• Oversee supplier programs to ensure the profitability and effectiveness of maintenance and service contracts.

Main Responsibilities

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, or a related field). Candidates who combine engineering expertise with significant hands‑on operational experience will be highly valued.

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in the maintenance of heavy mechanical equipment, including substantial management experience.
• Experience in one or more mechanically intensive industries such as agricultural equipment, construction, forestry, mining, diesel fleet transportation, or off‑road equipment.
• Any recognized technical certification (Heavy Equipment Mechanic Diploma, Red Seal certification, or equivalent) is considered a significant asset.
• Demonstrated experience in people management, team leadership, and coaching maintenance supervisors.

Technical Skills

• Strong expertise in diesel mechanics, hydraulics, and pneumatics as applied to heavy‑duty or agricultural equipment.
• Proven ability to validate and challenge complex diagnostics and determine the most appropriate solution based on operational requirements.
• Knowledge of onboard electronic systems, including computer‑based diagnostics and fault code interpretation.
• Experience in fleet management, including equipment lifecycle planning and asset replacement strategies.
• Proficiency with maintenance management systems (CMMS) and work order management software.
• Strong interest in agriculture and agricultural machinery technologies.

Skills and Personal Attributes

• Strong coaching and developmental leadership skills, with the ability to build capabilities and elevate the performance of supervisors and teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage priorities effectively while optimizing operational and maintenance costs.
• Excellent negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Fluent in both French and English, spoken and written; Spanish is considered an asset.
• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally to the company’s various operating sites.