Hawaiian Host Group · 22 hours ago
Engineering and Maintenance Manager, Kapua Orchards
Captain Cook, HI
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$95K/yr - $115K/yr
5+ years expHawaiian Host Group is a company that specializes in food-grade agricultural production and nut harvesting. They are seeking an Engineering and Maintenance Manager to lead the maintenance function for their Plant and Orchard Operations, ensuring project management effectiveness and compliance with safety and quality standards.
Food and BeverageFood ProcessingManufacturing
Responsibilities
Leads the maintenance programs including the CMMS (MaintainX), equipment reliability and preventive/predictive maintenance programs, spare parts strategy/management, and overall proactive maintenance strategies to increase OEE and minimize downtime and unplanned outages
Responsible to lead and manage the agricultural asset and fleet maintenance and capital plan for the site
Full responsibility to manage the site capital plan year over year
Ensures project management is run effectively delivering projects on time, at or below cost, and succeeding in project deliverables while meeting overall organizational expectations
Works closely with contractors and OEMs on new technologies, improved equipment performance, and drives overall equipment and manufacturing / processing engineering improvements
Leads, coaches, motivates, and develops the Maintenance Dept. teams and technicians
Functions as a technical resource for Production, Quality, EHS, and all Agricultural Operations
Design, implement, and optimize processing and packaging lines for husking, drying, cracking, sorting, roasting, seasoning, enrobing, panning, packing, and other associated CPG operations, ensuring OEE and yield targets
Manage plant utilities and infrastructure (steam, compressed air, refrigeration, water/wastewater, power) with focus on energy efficiency and Hawaii-specific cost/availability constraints
Lead site capital planning and execution (scoping, justification, vendor selection, installation, commissioning) for new equipment, expansions, and facility upgrades
Tracks and manages cash flow on capital projects working with Accounting and Finance along with other key stakeholders as part of the overall company capital plan
Leads with both a value engineering mindset and leverages lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles (5S, value stream mapping, SMED, line balancing, waste reduction) to improve line design throughput and reduce cost per pound
Ensure engineering and maintenance activities comply with OSHA, FDA/FSMA, USDA (if applicable), environmental regulations, and local/state of Hawaii codes and permitting
Partner with Quality and Food Safety to design hygienic equipment, allergen control, sanitation-friendly layouts, and support root cause analysis for customer or regulatory issues
Maintain site plant layouts, drawings, and documentation; standardize work instructions and change control for process and equipment changes
Possess a range of analytical and mechanical skills with a high tolerance for uncertainty in dynamic conditions
Develop and manage departmental budget (labor, MRO, capital) and report performance via KPIs (downtime, OEE, MTBF, maintenance cost, energy use)
Prepare monthly reports for the business, including project reporting, maintenance metrics and budget costs
Fulfill any additional duties or projects assigned, demonstrating flexibility and an initiative-taking approach to meeting organizational needs
Adhere to Company policies and procedures in all duties, reflecting Company values in behavioral conduct both on-site and off
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related Engineering field is preferred and/or equivalent experience for the role
5+ years of hands-on maintenance and engineering experience in processing, with at least 3+ years in a supervisory or management role; food or nut/agribusiness processing experience strongly preferred
Demonstrated experience leading maintenance and engineering teams in a plant environment with rotating shifts and high-speed packaging or processing equipment
Strong knowledge of lean/continuous improvement tools and reliability-centered maintenance practices
Familiarity with food safety and quality systems (HACCP, GMPs, FSMA, SQF/BRC or similar) and designing sanitary/hygienic equipment installations
Experience managing capital projects from concept through commissioning, including vendor management and contractor oversight
Proficiency with CMMS, CAD, and data analysis tools for downtime, OEE, and root cause analysis
Strong leadership, communication, and change management skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and work effectively in a multicultural Hawaii workforce
Possession of a valid driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle
Must have strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities
Capacity to work with and relate to employees at all levels of the organization
Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
Competency in computer systems and software applications
Preferred
Project Management certification is preferred but not required
Company
Hawaiian Host Group
Hawaiian Host Group (HHG) is a leading Hawai‘i-based consumer goods company with a portfolio of brands that includes Hawaiian Host, Mauna Loa, MacFarms, and Kapua Orchards.
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Edward Schultz
President & CEO
Recent News
2025-07-25
2025-07-25
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