Maintenance Manager | Regional Queensland
Lead a sizeable maintenance team. Improve plant reliability. Drive meaningful operational change.
Axxion Search is recruiting an experienced Maintenance Manager to lead a sizeable maintenance function within a major regional Queensland manufacturing operation.
This is a genuine opportunity to influence how maintenance is delivered — developing an established team, strengthening preventative maintenance systems and driving measurable improvements in equipment reliability and plant performance.
The focus is not simply on keeping equipment running. The business is looking for someone who can strengthen maintenance practices, build accountability and create a more proactive, reliability-focused maintenance culture.
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Site Engineering Manager, you will lead a multidisciplinary maintenance team of 25+ people, including maintenance supervisors, tradespeople and technical specialists.
You will inherit an experienced team and an established maintenance operation, with genuine opportunities to improve planning, reduce reactive maintenance and develop the capability of the department.
Key priorities include:
- People & Leadership: Develop supervisors and tradespeople, strengthen accountability and build a positive, high-performing maintenance culture.
- Reliability & Performance: Reduce unplanned downtime, address recurring equipment failures and improve plant availability.
- Maintenance Strategy: Strengthen preventative and predictive maintenance practices, planning, scheduling and CMMS effectiveness.
- Operational Collaboration: Build effective working relationships between Maintenance and Production to support operational performance.
- Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement sustainable improvements in maintenance efficiency, reliability and cost control.
This is a visible, site-based leadership position requiring someone who can balance technical understanding with effective people management and longer-term maintenance improvement.
About You
We're interested in speaking with proven Maintenance Managers, as well as strong Maintenance Superintendents ready to step into a broader leadership role.
You will ideally bring:
- Proven experience leading multidisciplinary maintenance teams, including supervisors and tradespeople, within a demanding manufacturing environment.
- A demonstrated ability to improve equipment reliability, maintenance planning and preventative maintenance performance.
- Strong people leadership skills, with the ability to develop supervisors, improve accountability and build team capability.
- Sound technical knowledge across mechanical and electrical maintenance.
- Experience using CMMS and maintenance performance data to drive improvement.
- A practical, hands-on leadership approach, coupled with strong communication and commercial awareness.
A mechanical or electrical trade background would be advantageous, although relevant engineering qualifications and substantial maintenance leadership experience will also be considered.
Experience within food manufacturing, FMCG or other high-volume, continuous-production environments will be highly regarded. Candidates with transferable experience from other complex manufacturing sectors are also encouraged to apply.
Above all, we're looking for someone who can lead people, improve systems and deliver measurable improvements in maintenance performance.
Chris Newsham
Founder & Director | Axxion Search
0424 185 925
All enquiries will be treated confidentially.
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Maintenance Manager employer: Axxion Search
Join a leading food manufacturing business in the beautiful Northern Rivers region, where you will not only lead a dynamic team of skilled tradespeople but also enjoy a supportive work culture that prioritises employee development and safety. With a strong focus on mentoring and continuous improvement, this role offers unique opportunities for professional growth while contributing to the reliability and efficiency of our operations. Experience a fulfilling career in an environment that values teamwork, accountability, and innovation.
