The Sara Lee story got a whole lot more exciting under new ownership last year. We're on a mission to break the mould and grow stronger than ever—and now, we're looking for someone hungry to make a difference.
The Opportunity
We're looking for a proactive and organized Reliability Engineering Technologist & Maintenance Planner to join our team and help keep our operations running smoothly. In this role, you'll be the link between maintenance and production—planning, scheduling, and coordinating maintenance tasks to ensure equipment reliability, minimize downtime, and support our team on the ground.
Key Responsibilities:
* Develop and lead weekly maintenance schedules and planning meetings with production and maintenance teams.
* Conduct regular inspections of production, utility, and packaging equipment (e.g., conveyors, mixers, kettles, ovens) to identify wear, inefficiencies, or potential failures.
* Maintain accurate maintenance records, including faults, corrective actions, parts used, and completion timelines.
* Implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs, using techniques such as vibration analysis, thermal imaging, and oil testing to reduce unplanned downtime.
* Plan and coordinate shutdowns, maintenance projects, and equipment commissioning with production teams, contractors, and vendors.
* Support continuous improvement initiatives, reliability projects, and lean maintenance practices to increase plant availability and efficiency.
* Conduct root cause analysis of recurring equipment issues and implement solutions to prevent repeat failures.
* Assist in engineering upgrades and modifications to improve equipment performance and reliability.
* Ensure compliance with WHS, HACCP, food-grade engineering standards, and Australian engineering regulations.
* Monitor energy usage, process efficiency, and equipment performance, recommending improvements to reduce costs and enhance sustainability.
* Provide guidance and training to maintenance personnel and operators on safe work practices and proper equipment handling.
* Manage spare parts and inventory, ensuring timely availability and cost-effective procurement.
About you
Our ideal candidate will possess:
* Experience in a maintenance planning or coordinator role, ideally in a manufacturing or industrial setting
* Strong organizational and communication skills
* Confident using a CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System)
* Understanding of maintenance best practices, inventory control, and spare parts management
* Proactive mindset with a keen eye for detail
* Ability to work collaboratively across departments
* Knowledge of health, safety, and compliance standards
* Must have MEX or similar program planning experience.
* Mechanical or electrical background is preferred but not essential
* Excellent oral and written communication skills.
* Ability to influence team members at all levels/
* Strong Microsoft skills, particularly Excel.
Why Sara Lee:
We're building something special here at Sara Lee, and we want passionate people along for the ride. When you join us, you'll enjoy:
* A competitive salary
* The chance to work with an experienced team who are genuinely passionate about the future legacy of Sara Lee
* Personalised training and development opportunities
* Agility and ownership – we move fast, cut through red tape, and focus on solutions
* ...and yes, there will be cake. Lots of cake.