Maintenance & Reliability Manager – Dairy Manufacturing

About the role

The Maintenance & Reliability Manager will lead reliability initiatives for a high‑volume dairy processing plant in Carrum Downs. Reporting to the Operations Manager, you will ensure equipment uptime, safety, and regulatory compliance while supporting rapid business growth.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute reliability strategies for core dairy equipment such as pasteurizers, homogenizers, separators, fillers, and packaging lines.
• Lead reliability improvement programmes, including Reliability‑Centred Maintenance (RCM) and Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA).
• Analyse failure data, drive corrective and preventive actions, and manage preventative/predictive maintenance schedules.
• Oversee asset lifecycle planning, upgrades, commissioning and ensure compliance with HACCP, safety and other regulations.
• Provide technical leadership, training and mentorship to the maintenance team.
• Utilise the CMMS to monitor performance metrics (MTBF, MTTR, OEE) and deliver regular reliability reports to senior management.
• Drive continuous improvement projects to increase Overall Equipment Effectiveness.

Required profile

• 5–10 years of experience in maintenance, reliability or engineering within food or dairy manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems used in dairy processing.
• Hands‑on leadership style with a passion for continuous improvement.

Required skills

• Reliability‑Centred Maintenance (RCM)
• Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA)
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS)