Description Vosges Haut-Chocolat is a Chicago luxury chocolatier with a working production floor of tempering systems, depositors, flow wrappers, cartoners and refrigeration. We need a hands-on maintenance leader who likes both fixing the machine and fixing the system behind it. This isn't a corporate role where you manage spreadsheets from an office. You'll lead a two-person team, own our CMMS, run the contractors, and still get your hands on a PLC when a line goes down. Leadership listens: your failure data and recommendations will shape where we invest.
Location: Chicago, IL (on-site) Reports to: Director of Operations
What you'll own:
The machines. Keep our production lines running, from tempering and depositing through wrapping and cartoning. Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, pneumatic and PLC issues, spot risks before they become breakdowns, and help install new equipment and line upgrades. The maintenance program. Run our CMMS end to end: work orders, PM schedules and reporting. Use failure history and OEM guidance to build out preventive maintenance, and track downtime so we can see what's working. The building. Look after HVAC, refrigeration and chilling, plumbing, roofing, fire safety and utilities. You'll be the go-to for our specialty contractors and schedule their work around production. The team and the paperwork. Lead and develop two maintenance technicians. Own the spare parts inventory, vendor relationships and maintenance budget. Keep logs and records audit-ready for SQF, HACCP and FDA.
Requirements
What you'll bring:
- 5+ years of hands-on maintenance in food manufacturing, confectionery, or another process industry.
- Solid troubleshooting across mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, refrigeration and PLC systems.
- Real experience using a CMMS. If you've set up PM schedules or reports in one, even better.
- Experience working with outside contractors on building systems like HVAC, refrigeration or fire protection.
- You're as comfortable writing up a work order as you are on a ladder.
Nice to have, not required: supervisory or lead tech experience; chocolate or confectionery equipment; SQF, HACCP or FDA audits; Lean or continuous improvement.
If you meet most of this and you're ready for your first maintenance leadership role, we'd still like to hear from you!
What success looks like in year one:
- Fewer surprise breakdowns because preventive maintenance is driving the schedule.
- Every building system is compliant, inspected and running.
- Contractors show up on time, on budget, and out of production's way.
- Records are always ready when an auditor walks in.
- Your team is safe, sharp, and growing with the factory.
Why Vosges:
- Real ownership: you'll build the program, not just inherit one.
- A small, close-knit company of about 80 people where your work is visible and leadership is accessible.
- Something you can be proud of: the chocolate coming off these lines is sold in our boutiques and shipped to customers nationwide.
- Benefits: medical, dental, vision, LTD, STD, life insurance, 401(k), PTO, employee chocolate discount
Vosges Haut-Chocolat is an equal opportunity employer.