Job Description

Job Summary/Overview

As the Chief of Maintenance, you will be a key leader at our Alaska Barge Plant operations during the busy summer salmon season, and off season Barge location in Aberdeen WA.

Your core responsibilities involve:

• Strategic Planning: Assessing plant-wide maintenance needs, recommending necessary changes, and planning/scheduling comprehensive preventative maintenance programs.
• Personnel Management: Managing and instructing departmental personnel across multiple teams in proper maintenance procedures and techniques.
• System Oversight: Taking direct responsibility for managing the personnel who maintain our refrigeration system.

Location

This is an onsite position at our Alaska and Washington facilities. The role requires the ability to travel, often to remote locations throughout the year. 

• In-Season location expectation: June - September: Alaska
• Off-Season location expectation: October - May: Washington/Remote.

Core Responsibilities and Qualifications

The Chief of Maintenance is responsible for overseeing and managing all maintenance functions to ensure safe, efficient, and uninterrupted Barge Plant operations.

Key Functions

Operational Management:

• Work in close collaboration with the Plant & Production Manager to maintain safe and optimal production speeds and processes.
• Coordinate and oversee all refrigeration and maintenance departments during construction and production, including assigning personnel to areas/shifts and scheduling maintenance and repairs.
• Lead refrigeration and maintenance teams in daily production support and during the off-season.
• Manage department heads and personnel to facilitate efficient production and minimize equipment downtime.
• Coordinate necessary facility equipment changes and modifications, both on-the-fly during production and during scheduled downtime.

Troubleshooting and Crisis Response:

• Lead personnel in troubleshooting and repairing equipment and machinery across multiple departments, particularly during crises, emergencies, or periods of unplanned downtime.
• Participate in the organization of the emergency response team and supervise safe evacuation procedures.
• Safety and Compliance:
• Identify potential hazards, proactively work to prevent accidents, and enforce company policy and general safety practices.

Inventory and Procurement:

• Coordinate accurate and up-to-date inventory of parts, tools, and other maintenance supplies.
• Review and verify all parts and tools orders submitted by maintenance department heads, ensuring accuracy of specifications and assembly.
• Complete required paperwork for material orders and time sheets.
• Perform cost-benefit analyses for purchases and process changes.

Qualifications

Required Qualification:

• Ability to maintain professional and respectful relationships with employees and service providers and perform effectively under pressure in a stressful environment.

Core Competencies:

• To succeed in this role, the Chief of Maintenance must demonstrate the following essential skills:

Technical Expertise:

• Mechanical Mastery: Possess a deep, functional knowledge of all production, electrical, and refrigeration equipment.
• Analytical & Troubleshooting: Exceptional ability to diagnose, analyze, and repair complex equipment malfunctions.
• Electrical Systems: Comprehensive understanding of electrical components, controls, safety regulations (including OSHA), and code compliance.
• Reading Schematics: Proficiency in interpreting electrical blueprints, circuit diagrams, and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID).
• Leadership & Interpersonal Skills
• Communication: Excellent command of both verbal and written communication.
• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively within a team environment and build strong relationships with internal and external partners.
• Integrity & Reliability: Maintain the highest standards of honesty, fairness, and reliability in all professional dealings.
• Leadership: A role model who inspires confidence and sets a positive example for the team.
• Safety Focus: In-depth knowledge and commitment to safety, including OSHA, Process Safety Management (PSM), and Risk Management Program (RPM) compliance.
• Initiative: A self-starter who works independently, takes full ownership of tasks, and drives projects forward.
• Adaptability: The ability to remain effective and composed in a demanding, fast-paced, and challenging work setting.

Required Education and Experience

• Refrigeration Specialization: Extensive knowledge and experience in refrigeration theory, operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair.
• Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent is mandatory.
• Experience: A minimum of five 5 years of documented experience managing and operating a production facility.
• Engineering Depth: Extensive, hands-on experience across multiple engineering disciplines, including general knowledge of:
• Millwright, Hydraulic, and Pneumatic Systems
• Electrical, Electrical Control, and PLC systems
• IT (Information Technology)
• Plumbing and Refrigeration
• Diesel Engines and Rolling Stock
• Inventory Management
• Building Maintenance, General Construction, Fabricating, and Welding Processes
• Industrial Maintenance: Expertise in industrial machine and facility maintenance and repair.
• Project Management: Proven ability in project research, planning, design, implementation, and parts ordering.
• Certifications: Experience operating certified driven machinery (e.g., forklift, flatbed truck, expeditor truck), requiring a valid driver’s license.
• Preferred: Prior experience in the seafood or manufacturing industry is a plus, though not required.

Work Environment

Conditions: The employee will be regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, wet/humid conditions, and extreme cold. Occasional exposure includes high, precarious places, fumes, toxic/caustic chemicals, outdoor weather, electrical shock, and vibration. The typical noise level is loud, and wearing PPE is often required in this role.

Schedule: The role demands working consecutive, long, and variable shifts for extended periods.

In Alaska, shifts typically range from 12 to 16 hours daily, with periodic breaks based on operational demands.

Physical Requirements

• Physical Activity: The work is physically strenuous and potentially hazardous due to operating machinery, chemicals, pressurized fluids, and rough weather. Requirements include:
• Standing, walking, and maintaining balance in adverse weather or challenging conditions.
• Sustained capability for forceful grasping, holding, and gripping with both hands (e.g., rope, rails, equipment). Repetitive finger and hand use is occasional.
• Ability to safely ascend and descend ladders, work in confined spaces, and pass all required safety tests.

Why Join Circle Seafoods?

• Be part of a forward-thinking company that prioritizes sustainability and quality.
• Opportunity to lead and shape the future of our supply chain operations.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Dynamic and inclusive work environment that values diversity and innovation.

Career Growth Opportunities:

Circle is a rapidly growing innovative wild seafood business, with consistent opportunities for team members to expand the scope of their involvement with and contributions to the business. While it is important for Circle to ensure that certain goals and roles are fulfilled, we maintain a culture of open collaboration and support and encourage every team member to identify how they can align their experience and interests in ways that best promote the profitability of Circle Seafoods and their happiness, even when these alignments fall outside of the scope of a role/job description that a team member was hired to fulfill. 

Benefits: 

• Healthcare: Choice of employer sponsored healthcare plans (95% employer contribution), access to dental and vision plans.
• Other: 401k Administration, HSA, supplemental mental healthcare etc. 
• Ample Paid Time Off
• 7 Paid Holidays per year.
• EAP Employee Assistance Program.
• Housing Provided on-site in Alaska and for remote site visits.
• Education: Professional on-the-job training and courses for career advancement.

Circle Seafoods, QALICB Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, or other protected status. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to hr@circleseafoods.com

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