Maintenance Manager - Lochem

Join FrieslandCampina as Maintenance Manager in Lochem

FrieslandCampina's production facility in Lochem is scaling up operational excellence and equipment reliability. As maintenance manager, you'll lead the maintenance strategy and team performance that keeps our production lines running at peak efficiency. You'll drive preventive maintenance programs, develop your team, and ensure safety and quality remain at the forefront of everything we do. Ready to make your mark as a key member of the Plant Management Team while building a culture of continuous improvement?

What We Ask

You're a hands-on leader with a strong personality who combines technical expertise with people development skills. You thrive on building high-performing teams, solving complex technical challenges, and driving reliability improvements. You lead by example, command respect, and know how to balance operational demands with long-term strategy. You're comfortable managing experienced teams with strong opinions and can guide them from reactive firefighting to proactive, preventive maintenance excellence.

Your profile includes:

• bachelor's degree (HBO) or master's degree (WO) in a technical or engineering field;
• minimum 7-10 years in maintenance management within complex manufacturing environments—this is not a role for recent graduates;
• proven track record of transforming maintenance operations from reactive/corrective to preventive and predictive approaches;
• strong leadership presence with ability to manage experienced, opinionated technical teams and drive alignment;
• excellent communication skills in both Dutch and English, enabling effective collaboration across the organization;
• continuous improvement mindset with strong analytical capabilities and quality focus;
• knowledge and experience with maintenance management systems and methodologies, such as SAP;
• ability to perform under pressure while maintaining focus on safety and quality standards;
• experience managing maintenance across diverse production technologies is highly valued.

What We Offer

Development & Growth:

• comprehensive learning programs and executive coaching;
• cross-functional development opportunities across our global organization;
• tailored development plans with exposure to strategic initiatives;
• exceptional support of cross-disciplinary movement to broaden your knowledge and growth paths.

Rewards & Benefits:

• competitive salary aligned with the seniority of this role;
• performance-based bonus opportunities;
• flexible working arrangements (40-hour work week, primarily on-site due to operational nature of the role);
• competitive pension scheme and 8% holiday allowance;
• health & wellbeing initiatives;
• bike plan and corporate fitness scheme.

Your Impact:

• lead maintenance excellence for a key production facility within FrieslandCampina's network;
• shape equipment reliability and team performance that directly impacts operational success;
• autonomy and trust to create longer term impact that helps bring better nutrition to the world;
• friendly and informal working environment with professional team members as sparring partners.

Description du poste vacant

As maintenance manager, you'll own the maintenance strategy and team performance for our Lochem production facility, ensuring equipment reliability, team development, and continuous improvement while being a key member of the Plant Management Team.

Your key responsibilities:

Maintenance Strategy & Execution:

• develop and implement preventive and predictive maintenance strategies that maximize equipment uptime and reliability;
• ensure equipment performance through timely inspections, planned maintenance, and strategic repairs;
• continuously improve maintenance processes to enhance efficiency and reduce downtime across three technically diverse production facilities.

Team Leadership & Development:

• lead, coach, and develop a maintenance team of approximately 35 FTE (11 direct reports, 24 indirect), fostering a culture of ownership and continuous improvement;
• build technical capabilities within your team through hands-on coaching, training, and knowledge sharing;
• collaborate seamlessly with Production, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain to ensure integrated operations.

Asset & Budget Management:

• oversee the complete lifecycle of technical assets, from procurement to end-of-life replacement decisions;
• manage maintenance budgets effectively, optimizing costs without compromising safety or quality;
• build business cases for investments in equipment improvements and maintenance initiatives.

Safety & Compliance:

• ensure all maintenance activities meet regulatory requirements and safety standards;
• conduct proactive risk assessments and implement robust safety protocols;
• drive a safety-first culture within the maintenance organization.

Continuous Improvement:

• identify and implement opportunities to enhance maintenance efficiency and equipment reliability;
• embrace new technologies and methodologies to future-proof operations;
• apply best practices and standardized procedures to drive sustainable improvements.

You will report to the plant manager and work as a key member of the Plant Management Team, collaborating closely with production, quality, and supply chain leaders.

Détails de l'équipe

Our facility in Lochem is one of FrieslandCampina's larger production sites, where nearly 220 colleagues work with passion, craftsmanship, and kilometers of gleaming steel across three different factories. We process 10% of all FrieslandCampina's milk and 70% of all cream, creating approximately 100 different end products daily. From protein-rich products for the medical industry to butter and milk powder used in croissants and ice cream production—our work touches millions of lives every day.

You'll lead a maintenance team of 35 FTE (11 direct reports, 24 indirect) who are responsible for all planned maintenance across our production lines and installations. The team includes maintenance technicians, engineers, work planners, project managers, and specialists in operations technology (SCADA) and reliability—all working in day shifts with on-call coverage to ensure 24/7 operational readiness.

Your Team Lead Maintenance manages the execution team focused on daily operations, while Maintenance Engineers and a Reliability Engineer drive preventive maintenance programs and continuous improvement initiatives. The Operations Technology team ensures our process control systems run smoothly.

Our maintenance team is characterized by technical expertise, hands-on problem-solving, and collaborative spirit. You'll work alongside dedicated professionals who take pride in keeping our operations running smoothly and safely. As a member of the Plant Management Team, you'll play a key role in the site's success and strategic direction.