Refrigeration Superintendent

Maintenance Superintendent (Refrigeration) – Summary

The Maintenance Superintendent (Refrigeration) oversees the operation, maintenance, safety, and regulatory compliance of industrial ammonia refrigeration systems, boilers, and related utilities within a food‑processing environment. This role provides leadership to refrigeration and boiler technicians while supporting hands‑on technical work, preventive maintenance planning, troubleshooting, and coordination with Production to ensure safe, reliable operations and minimal downtime. The position blends technical expertise, team leadership, and regulatory compliance to support continuous operations in alignment with OSHA, EPA, and other applicable requirements.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Supervision

• Lead and supervise refrigeration and boiler technicians, including scheduling, assigning daily work, and providing training and performance feedback.
• Coach team members on safety, quality/SQF, efficiency, and cost‑improvement initiatives.
• Conduct annual performance evaluations and identify training needs.
• Attend daily roll call to assign work, address questions, and deliver safety reminders.
• Enforce PPE, Lockout/Tagout, GMP/SQF, confined space, hot work, and other safety requirements.

Technical Operations

• Oversee safe operation, inspection, maintenance, and troubleshooting of ammonia refrigeration systems, boilers, air compressors, HVAC, wastewater systems, and related utilities.
• Troubleshoot complex issues involving compressors, evaporative condensers, pumps, controls, and steam/boiler equipment.
• Respond to radio calls and equipment breakdowns within assigned areas.

Preventive Maintenance & Planning

• Develop, manage, and audit preventive maintenance programs for refrigeration, boilers, wastewater, and plant utilities.
• Assign work, review PMs, and follow up to ensure quality and completeness.
• Create work lists, ensure parts availability, and schedule work, including weekends and overtime when necessary.

Regulatory Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure strict adherence to ammonia safety procedures and all OSHA/EPA, USDA, HACCP, SQF, and local regulatory requirements.
• Maintain and update regulatory documentation, including PSM/RMP, inspections, logs, and system records.
• Complete Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and daily downtime reports.
• Participate in or lead incident investigations, root‑cause analysis, and corrective actions.

Communication & Coordination

• Coordinate refrigeration and utility activities with Production to support throughput while minimizing disruption.
• Communicate downtime, corrective actions, and follow‑up to leadership and cross‑functional teams.
• Provide carryover items and weekend task lists and meet with on‑duty supervisors at the end of each shift.

Projects & Budgeting

• Collaborate with management on capital projects, system upgrades, and utility improvements.
• Assist in developing and managing budgets for repairs, maintenance, and utilities.
• Perform additional duties as required.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of industrial ammonia refrigeration and boiler/utilities experience, preferably with prior lead or supervisory responsibilities.
• Strong knowledge of ammonia refrigeration systems, compressors, evaporative condensers, boiler operations, and plant utilities.
• Familiarity with OSHA/EPA regulations, PSM/RMP requirements, and ammonia safety programs.
• Ability to read schematics and blueprints and effectively use a CMMS.
• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and Word.
• Strong communication, leadership, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Ability to multitask in a fast‑paced food‑processing environment and work around raw meat.
• Results‑driven, safety‑focused, and employee‑oriented.
• Willingness to attend training or classes as needed.

Physical Requirements

• Regularly required to sit, talk, and hear; frequently required to walk.
• Occasionally required to stand, use hands, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must be able to work in extreme hot, cold, wet, humid, and odorous environments.
• May occasionally assist with moving boxes up to 90 lbs.
• Must be able to work various shifts, overtime, and weekends as needed.

Equal Opportunity Statement

This employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a workplace free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected category. Employment decisions are made without regard to protected‑class status and apply to all phases of employment. Affirmative action is taken, where applicable, to ensure equal opportunity for women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Additional Requirements

This position is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include verification of employment, education, criminal history, driving history, and other relevant information in accordance with applicable laws.