Engineering and Maintenance Manager

About Us

Americold is a global provider of temperature-controlled infrastructure. We partner with farmers and food producers to ensure their perishable and frozen product reaches food suppliers, restaurants, and your local grocery store without spoilage. Our customers, which include some of the most respected brands in the food industry, rely on our expertise and commitment to safety in order to deliver on their commitments.

What you’ll Do

Reporting to the General Manager,  you will oversee all engineering and maintenance operations for our Ormeau facility. You’ll ensure plant uptime, drive asset reliability, plan capital improvements, and lead the development of our Maintenance Team—all while supporting Americold’s continued investment and growth across the region.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Operations

• Lead, mentor, and coach the Engineering & Maintenance Team and oversee external contractors to ensure optimal operation of physical assets, infrastructure, utilities, and automation systems.
• Partner with Operations to plan and align maintenance activities within scheduled downtime in a 24/7 environment.
• Embed a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and safety excellence.

Asset & Facilities Management

• Ensure safe, compliant, and efficient management of all building services including mechanical/electrical systems, automation, security, traffic flow, environmental services, waste management, utilities, MHE, and cleaning.
• Maintain strong working knowledge of relevant legislation, standards, and codes.

Engineering Strategy & Capital Planning

• Provide expert input into design, layout, commissioning, and cost analysis for site upgrades and new automation projects.
• Plan and execute lifecycle upgrades and ROI‑based improvements for outdated equipment and automation components.
• Manage the site’s capital budget and develop a long-term capital investment roadmap (5–10 years).

Technical Excellence

• Deliver engineering advice aligned with Australian Standards and regulatory requirements.

• Conduct audits, inspections, and data analysis to optimise asset reliability and operational flow.
• Ensure compliance with SOPs, transportation regulations, and safety frameworks.
• Oversee sanitation programs, incident reporting, and modified duties.

Financial & Administrative Management

• Oversee annual Engineering & Maintenance budgets.
• Monitor expenditure and ensure all work is completed within budget parameters.
• Drive performance management, career development, and succession planning across the team.

What Experience and Education You Need.

You’re an experienced engineering or maintenance leader with the ability to manage complex operations, competing priorities, and diverse teams. You bring strong problem‑solving capability, commercial acumen, and a commitment to safety and continuous improvement.

• Proven experience leading teams and contractors in a high‑volume industrial or warehousing environment.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence across all levels.
• Skilled in negotiation, conflict resolution, and delivering clear instruction.
• Detail-driven, KPI-focused, and committed to driving asset performance.
• Passion for coaching, developing, and supporting people.
• Strong internal customer service mindset and urgency to resolve issues.

Education & Technical Expertise

• Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Automation, or Industrial Engineering, OR relevant trade qualifications with strong supervisory/management experience.
• Experience with industrial ammonia (NH3) refrigeration systems highly regarded.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and evaluate technical tenders.
• Deep understanding of Australian Codes, Legislation, and safety standards.
• Experience in contractor and project management within heavy industrial or warehouse environments.

Tools & Technology

• Proficient with SCADA and PLC systems.
• Advanced spreadsheet modelling skills.
• Experience with CMMS platforms.

What We Offer:

Our associates know the answer to the question What’s in it for me? We offer benefit programs and continuously work with our associates to ensure that our offerings meet the needs of their health and financial well-being. When you join Americold you join a values-oriented company with a clear mission. We help our customers feed the world.

Americold is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and complies with applicable employment laws.