Maintenance Manager - Danville, VA

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• Location : Danville, VA (USA).
• Role: Permanent.

Maintenance Manager - Danville, VA

Position Purpose

The Maintenance Manager is responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, and cost‑effective operation of equipment, facilities, utilities, and infrastructure at the Danville Leaf Factory. The role oversees preventive and corrective maintenance programs to support uninterrupted production and compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements. The Maintenance Manager develops and maintains maintenance and facility procedures; manages spare parts inventory, contractors, and service providers. In close collaboration with Plant Leadership and Finance, the role plans, budgets, and tracks capital projects, repair and maintenance (R&M) expenses, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance asset reliability, operational efficiency, and long‑term sustainability of the Danville processing complex.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience Required

• Education: Associate Degree in Mechanical/Electrical/Engineering/ Automation.
• Work Experience: 
  • 10+ years of maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment;
  • 5+ years of maintenance function coodination/mangament at Green Leaf Threshing facility;
  • 5+ years of supervisory experience as well as maintenance vendor management.

• Language Skills: Fluency in English (Oral and written). 
• Functional Skills:
  • PC literacy (MS Office)
  • Solid understanding of core business operations and leaf processing 
  • SAP Knowledge
  • Knowledge of Time based / Condition based maintenance approach (or similar experience of TPM etc.)
  • Professiency in maintenance activities planning & scheduling
  • Profficiency in Spare Parts and Inventory management
  • Knowledge of failure root cause analysis
  • Good leadership and people management skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Main Areas of Responsibility 

• Maintenance Operations & Reliability;
  • Manage all daily corrective and preventive maintenance activities to ensure optimal equipment performance and minimal downtime.
  • Oversee the maintenance of processing equipment, buildings, utilities, grounds, and vehicles, ensuring assets are maintained in safe and operable condition.
  • Provide proactive mechanical and electrical support to processing supervisors during production, especially in the event of equipment breakdowns, requiring immediate corrective action to restore product flow efficiently.

• Maintenance Vendor Management
  • Act as a primary point of contact between the leaf processing team and external maintenance vendors.
  • Inspect and diagnose equipment issues, identify root causes, and communicate repair needs to vendors.
  • Request necessary accesses to the facility and equipment, issue appropriate permits for vendor work on the shop floor.
  • Evaluate and ensure vendor safety preparedness and provide clear instructions on equipment failures and repair expectations.
  • Monitor vendors during on-site repairs to ensure compliance and effectiveness.
  • Ensure all process being carried out with fully alignement with Global Procurement team.

• Equipment, Technology & Capital Projects
  • Stay current with new equipment, tools, and technologies within the tobacco processing industry that may improve efficiency, quality, and safety.
  • Proactively identify improvement opportunities and present viable concepts to the management team for evaluation and approval.
  • Lead or support the planning, purchasing, installation, and commissioning of new equipment, ensuring alignment with operational and safety requirements.

• Maintenance Planning & Budget Management
  • Build annual repair and maintenance (R&M) plan covering equipment, buildings, and grounds. Allocate resources, estimate time required, schedule activities to make sure the factory machinery is ready for the processing season. 
  • Budget the cost of the maintenance plan.
  • Lead annual planning, justification, and tracking of capital expenditure projects (including engineering projects) related to processing equipment, buildings, and infrastructure. 
  • Manage spare parts planning, ordering and inventory.

• Team Collaboration & Communication
  • Work closely with IWS Team to align on maintenance priorities and strategies.
  • Foster a respectful and cooperative team environment across Maintenance, Processing, Quality, and EHS teams to ensure optimal mechanical efficiency of processing equipment.
  • Share knowledge and provide feedback to Leaf Processing team on opportunities to reduce downtime, prevent equipment failure, while helping to reduce cost and improve the overall efficiency of the processing facility. 
  • Help in planning and coordinating scheduled downtime activities, ensure all involved parties are informed of their responsibilities.
  • Ensure leaf processing & maintenance staff are properly trained and possess the appropriate technical skills required to support efficient facility operations.
  • Collaborate with Leaf Processing management to identify, evaluate, and implement procedural or equipment improvements that enhance product quality, reduce downtime, and control production costs.  

• Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Compliance
  • Work in conjunction with the EHS function to ensure maintenance staff have appropriate safety equipment, training, and awareness to perform duties safely and in compliance with local, state, federal, and company standards.
  • Provide ongoing support to EHS initiatives, including assistance with regulatory compliance, inspections, and accurate reporting to internal and external authorities within required timelines.
  • Ensure good housekeeping practices, including 5S and 3R standards, are consistently applied within areas of responsibility and when maintenance staff are working across the processing complex.
  • Ensure all maintenance related activities are being carried out following all JTI and regulatory standards in terms of EHS.

• People management 
  Lead and develop the team directly and indirectly reporting to the position by attracting and retaining skilled talent, ensuring effective onboarding, training, and capability building, and fostering a safe, engaged, and high‑performance culture. Set clear performance expectations, provide regular feedback and coaching, manage performance, and support employee growth, career development, and succession planning in alignment with business needs and company values.

• Other 
  Manage and/or support various projects and tasks related to the area of expertise as well as growth plan upon business requirement.

Our Benefits

• Annual Performance-based Bonus.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Personal Development.
• Medical/Dental & Vision Plan for employees & family members.
• Life insurance.
• Matching 401(K).
• Paid Time Off (PTO).
• Paid Family Leave up to 20.
• WeeksShort-Term & Long-Term Disability.
• Education/Tuition Assistance.
• Flexible Dress Code.
• Snacks & Drinks.
• Office Parties.
• Volunteering Activities.
• Employee Assistance Program- counselling, for employees & family members.

Are you ready to join us? Build your success story at JTI. Apply now!

Next Steps:

After applying, if selected, please anticipate the following within 1-3 weeks of the job posting closure: Phone screening with Talent Advisor > Assessment tests > Interviews > Offer. Each step is eliminatory and may vary by role type.

At JTI, we strive to create a diverse and inclusive work environment. As an equal-opportunity employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If you need any specific support, alternative formats, or have other access requirements, please let us know.