Director of Maintenance and Projects

Our Client

Kemira is a global leader in sustainable chemical solutions for water-intensive industries. Our main customers are water managers in industrial and municipal sectors, as well as the pulp and paper industry.

We provide the most suitable products and services to improve our customers’ product quality, processes, and resource efficiency.

Purpose of the Position

We are seeking a Director of Maintenance and Projects for our Varennes plant. This role oversees maintenance department activities and is responsible for executing capital investment projects at a large manufacturing site operating 24/7. Through the application of world-class maintenance standards and practices, the incumbent improves plant equipment availability and reliability.

The Director establishes departmental objectives, assigns tasks, and ensures employee training and development. The role manages small- to large-scale capital investment projects (under CAD $5 million).

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, lead, and continuously improve a work-order-based maintenance system to effectively and efficiently plan, schedule, and execute maintenance activities.
• Define departmental objectives and targets to ensure clear direction, maintain a competitive organization, and achieve overall company goals.
• Implement and sustain world-class maintenance practices, including preventive and predictive maintenance programs, Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA), and Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM).
• Supervise, coach, and develop a team of skilled maintenance technicians, engineers, and planners to ensure timely, high-quality execution of all maintenance work.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, and Health & Safety teams to identify and address maintenance needs, improve equipment availability, and drive operational excellence.
• Manage maintenance budgets, spare parts inventories, and vendor relationships to optimize costs while maintaining reliability and compliance.
• Ensure compliance with all Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) requirements and regulatory standards, particularly those applicable to chemical plant operations.
• Use a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to track work orders, equipment history, performance indicators, and KPIs.
• Manage the continuous improvement and maintenance of the site’s Industrial Control System (ICS).
• Be responsible for the site’s contractor management program.
• Lead and support small- to medium-scale capital projects (< CAD $5M), planned shutdowns (turnarounds), and equipment upgrades as required.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement using tools such as 5S, Lean, Six Sigma, and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM).
• Act as the safety and risk management champion for all maintenance activities.
• Support the Plant Manager in establishing and implementing plant objectives.
• Distribute plant status reports to the Plant Manager and/or other departments.
• Lead activities related to process troubleshooting.
• Use a fully integrated business IT system (SAP) across all processes.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Proven expertise in developing and managing work-order systems, ideally using CMMS tools (e.g., SAP PM, Maximo, eMaint).
• Excellent understanding of world-class maintenance methodologies (RCM, TPM, PdM, Lean Maintenance).
• Strong leadership, communication, and team-development skills.
• Knowledge of applicable regulatory and safety standards (OSHA, PSM, EPA, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, contractors, and cross-functional projects.
• Solid understanding of manufacturing principles, material compatibility, logistics, process safety, and engineering fundamentals.
• Ability to plan and execute in a production environment.
• High level of focus on safety and accident prevention.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to lead in a fast-paced, high-stress environment.
• Must be able to respond appropriately and immediately to emergency or disaster situations.
• Intermediate computer skills – MS Office Suite.
• Bilingualism is required (French / English), as the role involves regular communication with other plants outside Québec, primarily in the United States.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Four-year bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Must hold a valid license with the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ).
• Minimum of 7 years of industrial maintenance experience, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or management role within a chemical or process manufacturing environment.

Key Challenges of the Role

• As this is a newly created position within Kemira’s structure, establish credibility with stakeholders at all levels.
• Define a clear vision for maintenance and project management, mobilize the team around well-defined objectives, and establish reliable performance indicators.
• Implement the foundational elements of a CMMS that supports continuous improvement throughout its deployment.

Desired Behavioral Competencies

• Adaptability
• Affiliation
• Assertiveness
• Autonomy
• Diplomacy
• Drive
• Active listening
• Innovation
• Intellectual capability
• Self-fulfillment
• Stress tolerance
• Rigor
• Tolerance for ambiguity

Proposed Interview Process

• First interview with Glasford International Canada recruitment firm.
• Second interview with the Director, Talent & Culture, and the Plant Manager.
• Third interview with the Director, Manufacturing (Americas).