The Opportunity:

The Corporate Asset Reliability Manager is a key member of the Asset Reliability Group (ARG), reporting to the Corporate Reliability Leader. This role provides strategic leadership and governance for asset reliability, maintenance management, and asset lifecycle strategies across the Maple Leaf Foods network of 20+ manufacturing facilities in Canada and the US.

The position is responsible for developing, deploying, and sustaining world-class reliability and maintenance practices that reduce downtime, optimize costs, improve asset utilization, and extend asset lifecycles while ensuring compliance with safety, food safety, and regulatory standards. The Corporate Asset Reliability Manager leads a team of asset reliability specialists and works closely with plant and corporate stakeholders, including Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Information Solutions, Food Safety, and Finance.

This highly visible role requires strong technical expertise, leadership, stakeholder engagement, and the ability to influence change across multiple sites in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
 

Snapshot of a Day-in-the-Life:

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Define and execute corporate asset reliability strategies, policies, and standards that align with Maple Leaf Foods’ long-term operational and business objectives.
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Maintenance & Reliability frameworks, tools, and work processes across the enterprise.
• Provide governance and oversight for the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), ensuring effective use, accurate data, and enterprise-wide reporting.
• Develop, implement, and sustain standard Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for reliability, maintenance, and efficiency (e.g., OEE, PM compliance, MTBF, % unplanned downtime).
• Conduct maintenance maturity assessments across sites, identify gaps, and lead action planning to advance organizational capability.

Plant & Network Reliability Support

• Partner with plant maintenance and operations teams to identify reliability risks, minimize downtime, and implement preventive/predictive maintenance strategies.
• Guide site teams on reliability engineering practices such as RCM, FMEA, RCA, equipment criticality analysis, and preventive maintenance optimization.
• Support capital projects, new builds, mergers, and acquisitions by providing asset reliability due diligence and life-cycle management input.
• Lead and oversee enterprise initiatives in MRO (spare parts inventory management and optimization).

Talent & Capability Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Asset Reliability Specialists to drive performance and consistency across the network.
• Build and sustain a strong maintenance talent pipeline by creating strategies for technical training, skills development, and leadership readiness.
• Partner with site leaders to strengthen maintenance capability and reliability culture across all levels of the organization.

Analytics & Reporting

• Provide advanced analytics, insights, and reports on maintenance and reliability performance to senior leadership.
• Identify trends, improvement opportunities, and innovations in reliability engineering and asset management, and drive their adoption across the organization.
• Leverage CMMS and analytical platforms (e.g., SAP, Power BI) to support decision-making.

What You’ll Bring:

Must-Have:

• University degree in Engineering, Applied Science, or related technical field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in maintenance, asset reliability, or operations within manufacturing/industrial environments.
• At least 5 years leading multi-site or corporate-level reliability/maintenance programs.
• Proven track record in deploying and sustaining reliability programs, including RCM, RCA, predictive and preventive maintenance, and lifecycle asset management.
• Experience with MRO management and optimization.
• Strong experience with CMMS systems (SAP preferred) and reliability analytics.
• Exceptional leadership and team development skills, with the ability to coach and influence across all levels.
• Strong financial acumen to manage budgets, optimize maintenance costs, and assess asset lifecycle economics.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to travel frequently across Maple Leaf Foods facilities.

Nice-to-Have:

• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation, MBA, or Six Sigma certification.
• Experience in food manufacturing, including GMP, food safety, and health & safety requirements.
• Proficiency in reporting and analytical platforms such as Power BI.
• Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to challenge the status quo and drive operational excellence.

What We Offer at Maple Leaf Foods:

• Being part of a high-performance, people-focused company that has an inspiring and unique vision to become the most sustainable protein company on earth, and a deep commitment to sustainable protein across North America.
• An inclusive company culture and a work environment that keeps our people safe, rewards excellence, and empowers everyone to learn and contribute their best. 
• Competitive Health and Wellness benefits that offer flexibility to meet your individual or family needs, including programs focused on improving mental health and wellbeing. These benefits start on your first day of employment.
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with company matching that starts on your first day of employment.
• Learning and development opportunities, including workshops, ‘speaker series’ events, and resources that allow you to develop your skills and progress your career.
• Comprehensive tuition reimbursement program that supports continuous learning and development of our team members through investment in eligible degrees, diplomas, professional certification, or trades programs.
• Supporting our deep commitment to community impact, we offer up to two paid days annually to volunteer at a cause of your choice.

About Us:

We’re a carbon neutral food company on a purposeful journey to Raise the Good in Food through better nutrition, safer food and workplaces, more humane animal care, and environmental sustainability efforts that protect our planet. We care about our communities and commit to reducing food insecurity in Canada. Join us on the journey. Let’s build a better future, together.

We’re passionate about food. For more than 100 years, we’ve made delicious, healthy protein that Canadians love under iconic national and regional brands, like Maple Leaf®, Schneiders®, and Greenfield Natural Meat Co.® We’re on a journey to become the most sustainable protein company – not just in Canada – but on earth.

• We are carbon neutral.
• We are one of the only food companies in Canada to set science-based targets.

We’re a global food company with more than 13,500 team members. We operate sites in 20+ locations across Canada. We also have locations in the U.S. and Mexico, and do business in Asia.

A diverse and inclusive work environment

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision and living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values. We believe in building, investing in, recognizing, and rewarding remarkable people who value an inclusive workplace, embrace all forms of diversity, and commit to including every voice in our collaborative environment. We’re so much stronger when we know we’re accepted and valued for who we are and what we each bring to the workplace.

We embrace a strong, values-based culture

Our eight Leadership Values are our north star. They guide the decisions we make for all our stakeholders: our consumers, our customers, our people, our communities, our shareholders, and the environment.

• Doing What’s Right
• Shared Value
• High Performance
• Diverse and Inclusive Teams
• Disciplined Decision Making
• Our Accountability
• Intense Curiosity
• Transparency and Humility

We thank all applicants for their interest in exploring employment opportunities with Maple Leaf Foods; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants may be subject to a background check and must meet the security criteria designated for the position.

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision, living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values, and delivering winning results. Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired; please contact our Talent Attraction Team at accommodations@mapleleaf.com.

Disclaimer:  Please note that salaries posted on sites other than the MLF Careers Page are not a reflection of Maple Leaf Foods and are an estimated salary range provided by that particular job board.  Maple Leaf Foods offers competitive wages and an attractive total rewards package, which will be discussed during an interview with our Talent Team.