Maintenance Manager
Ferrara Candy · Forest Park, IL
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Reliability
- Base pay
- $102k–$143k
- Degree
- Preferred
- Experience asked
- 7+ years
- Industry
- Food & beverage
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
A management reliability role at Ferrara Candy (food & beverage) in Forest Park, IL.
- They ask for
- 7+ years · degree preferred
- Tools it names
- TPM, OEE, SAP
- Base pay
- $102k–$143k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Reliability Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $100k–$125k. This one lists $102k–$143k.
Median of the low and high ends of 11 live postings that list pay, out of 15 reliability engineer openings in Illinois, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 14 other live reliability postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- About 9% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (7+ vs 5+)
Typical $100k–$125k, from 10 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 53%
- ✓ TPM 33%
- ✓ SAP 33%
- Lean 33%
- ✓ Team leadership 27%
- FMEA 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Reliability team at Ferrara Candy
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Ferrara Candy in Forest Park
4 other open roles at this site.
- Production Supervisor (Panning) 2nd Shift · Production · Supervisor
- QA Tech- PM · Quality · Technician
- Maintenance Mechanic - 1st Shift · Reliability · Technician
- Packaging Supervisor - 2nd Shift · Manufacturing · Supervisor
Full description from Ferrara CandyAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Experiences that will support your success
- ✓BS degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering degree preferred
- ✓5-7 years of supervisory/managerial experience in maintenance or technical field required
- ✓Direct maintenance experience working in CPG or food manufacturing strongly preferred
- ✓Experience implementing Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), with focus on AM and PM pillars required
- ✓Must be proficient in standard computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite and Microsoft products
- ✓SAP or other ERP software experience a plus
- ✓Experience implementing continuous improvement strategies and overseeing change management
- ✓In-depth knowledge of equipment maintenance and technology
What We Offer
At Ferrara, we're proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO). Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Benefits-Resource-Center
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Work Location: Forest Park
Due to the highly interactive nature of this manufacturing position, in-person attendance and flexibility are essential for supporting production schedules, effective communication and collaboration, real-time problem solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives. Schedules may vary and are subject to change.
Want to make an impact?
The Maintenance Manager leads the maintenance department at the facility, providing technical direction, and ensuring that the facility, layout, and machinery run to their maximum efficiency and output. The Maintenance Manager uses Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) to perform continuous improvement initiatives, preventive maintenance, and support overall plant performance. Located in Forest Park, this facility is home to popular Ferrara products, including NERDS.
Ways you will make a difference
- •Lead the site Maintenance function in providing both a reactive and proactive, multi-skilled maintenance service on all operational equipment and facilities infrastructure
- •Manage complete Maintenance team on technical best-practices and establish standard policies and procedures whilst mentoring and leading the department
- •Utilize all pillars of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) to focus on Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), with specific focus on AM and PM pillars
- •Increase the site operational effectiveness, improving project delivery, downtime reduction, and driving other maintenance KPIs
- •Implement and manage continuous improvement and modern manufacturing principals by highlighting deficiencies and recommending changes in training, working practices and processes
- •Define, propose, and monitor the maintenance improvement plans and objectives as established in the annual strategic plan
- •Propose and implement work processes, procedures and technical resources related to improving equipment reliability
- •Propose, prioritize, and control the repair and maintenance (R&M) budget
- •Promote a safety-first culture
- •Collaborate between production, quality, sanitation, and warehouse teams on equipment repairs and maintenance
- •Ensure that the technical integrity and availability of equipment comply with all regulations
Skills that will make you successful
- •Strong written and verbal communication skills
- •Problem solving capabilities
- •Demonstrated leadership abilities and interpersonal skills
- •Strong organization and multi-tasking skills – ability to balance and prioritize several projects simultaneously
- •Ability to consistently walk the floor, including climb stairs of multi-level manufacturing site