Regional Engineering Manager (Poultry)

The Regional Engineering Manager is responsible for leading and supporting engineering, maintenance, and capital project initiatives across multiple poultry processing and manufacturing facilities within the assigned region. This role ensures the optimal performance, reliability, and compliance of all plant equipment and infrastructure, while driving continuous improvement in safety, productivity, and cost efficiency.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive multi-site leadership experience in a food or poultry manufacturing environment, strong technical acumen, and proven success in managing capital expenditure (CAPEX) budgets from conception through project completion.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership & Strategy

• Provide engineering leadership, technical guidance, and project oversight across multiple production facilities.

• Partner with corporate engineering, operations, and maintenance teams to align regional engineering objectives with company strategy.

• Champion continuous improvement initiatives focused on reliability, automation, sustainability, and operational efficiency.

Capital Projects & Budget Management

• Develop, manage, and control annual regional CAPEX budgets (typically $X-$X million).

• Oversee capital project planning, justification, design, procurement, installation, and commissioning.

• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within scope, and on budget.

• Prepare detailed cost analyses and ROI evaluations for proposed investments.

Maintenance & Reliability

• Support plant maintenance teams in developing preventive and predictive maintenance programs.

• Drive equipment uptime and reliability through engineering solutions and standardized practices.

• Ensure compliance with OSHA, USDA, FDA, and other relevant regulatory and food safety standards.

People & Stakeholder Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of site-based engineering and maintenance managers.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Operations, Quality, Safety, Finance, Supply Chain).

• Manage vendor relationships, contractors, and engineering service providers.

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure all projects and plant systems meet applicable codes, environmental standards, and food safety requirements.

• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure adherence to company safety policies and procedures.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Chemical Engineering (Master's preferred).

• Minimum 8-10 years of engineering experience in food or poultry manufacturing, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.

• Proven track record of managing multi-site engineering or maintenance operations.

• Experience developing and managing large-scale CAPEX budgets ($X million+ annually).

• Strong project management skills (PMP certification a plus).

Technical Competencies

• Knowledge of poultry or meat processing systems, utilities, refrigeration, automation, and packaging equipment.

• Familiarity with USDA, OSHA, and environmental regulations.

• Proficiency with AutoCAD, CMMS, and project management software.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.

• Strong business acumen and ability to balance technical and financial considerations.