Director, Maintenance (IL)

Hyundai Translead is a leading manufacturer in the trailer industry, known for its commitment to innovation, quality, and customer care. As a global corporation deeply invested in research and development as well as engineering, Hyundai Translead prioritizes not just the delivery of state-of-the-art trailer solutions, but the enhancement of the entire trailer ownership lifecycle. The company values diversity and inclusivity while striving to be a respected global corporate citizen. Their business model integrates advanced technologies and customer service to create a superior customer experience that emphasizes timely and cost-efficient solutions. Hyundai Translead's world-class manufacturing facilities are a testament to their dedication to consistently delivering excellent products and pioneering services that improve trailer maintenance and performance.

This job opportunity is for the Director of Maintenance position at Hyundai Translead's new manufacturing facility in Joliet, Illinois. Initially, the role will be remote from the state of Illinois with employment under Hyundai Translead's corporate office, supporting the launch of the new manufacturing site before transitioning to a full-time onsite role once the facility is operational. The position offers a competitive salary range between $112,450 and $135,065, reflecting the importance and seniority of this leadership role.

The Director of Maintenance will oversee maintenance operations crucial to achieving safe, reliable, and efficient manufacturing outcomes. This role is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive maintenance strategy that enhances equipment uptime, reduces operational risks, and supports production goals. The strategy involves preventive and predictive maintenance programs, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) practices, and standardized maintenance procedures. Leadership responsibilities include managing maintenance personnel, supporting equipment reliability initiatives, performing risk assessments, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations such as lockout-tagout (LOTO) procedures. The role also requires applying basic Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) knowledge to troubleshoot and improve production equipment performance.

Key functions for the Director include establishing and leading the maintenance divisions spanning mechanical, electrical, PLC, robotics/automation, and hydraulic/pneumatic areas. The role defines organizational structures, staffing needs, and shift coverage aligned with production ramp-up timelines. The Director will develop and enforce maintenance governance policies, standard works, and communication processes while implementing skills matrices, certification standards, and long-term training programs to promote workforce development and succession planning.

This position also entails leading greenfield implementation and stabilization of Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) and SAP Plant Maintenance (PM), setting up preventive maintenance job plans, equipment criticality rankings, spare parts management, and documentation standards. From the installation phase through optimization and eventual replacement, the Director manages the equipment lifecycle, ensuring operational readiness including staffing, preventive maintenance, spare parts availability, documentation, and training for the start of production. Supporting equipment installation processes such as Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), commissioning, and production ramp-up is essential.

The role demands a focus on stable operations of fabrication shops and trailer assembly lines while managing maintenance key performance indicators (KPIs) like downtime, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), mean time between failures (MTBF), mean time to repair (MTTR), and maintenance costs. Root cause analysis and permanent corrective actions are key to continuous improvements, alongside adherence to regulatory standards including OSHA, NFPA, NEC, machine safety requirements, and company policies. Collaborative partnership with Production, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Safety, and Supply Chain Management teams is critical for success, as is managing vendor relations, contractors, service agreements, and emergency support.

Overall reporting and communication with Plant Leadership and corporate headquarters are vital for maintaining transparency and driving strategic maintenance initiatives. This comprehensive leadership role requires a strong background in industrial maintenance within manufacturing environments, excellent people management skills, and a commitment to safety and quality excellence. Hyundai Translead offers a supportive and inclusive workplace environment, where team members can thrive and contribute to the company’s legacy of innovation and operational excellence.