Technical Engineering Manager

Technical Engineering Manager – PET Thermoforming & Sheet Extrusion Location: Fergus, Ontario Reporting To: Chief Executive Officer Company Overview Krystalite GT Inc. is a Canadian-owned and operated manufacturer specializing in sustainable packaging solutions — including PET cups and lids (brands: Revive, Refresh) and rPET sheet rolls (Reborn). Serving food & beverage and industrial packaging markets, we are committed to innovation, operational excellence, and environmental stewardship. Role Purpose: The Technical Engineering Manager is a senior plant leadership role responsible for the overall technical, engineering, and operational performance of the Fergus manufacturing facility. This position provides strategic and hands-on leadership for PET sheet extrusion and thermoforming operations, engineering systems, preventive maintenance programs, OEE improvement initiatives, safety compliance, capital planning, and continuous improvement to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective production of high-quality packaging products. Key Responsibilities: 1. Plant Operations & Technical Leadership - Provide full operational oversight of PET sheet extrusion, thermoforming, cups/lids production, finishing, and packaging operations. - Lead all technical aspects of material handling systems, extrusion process parameters, sheet quality control, and thermoforming optimization. - Ensure production targets (volume, yield, uptime, cost per unit) are achieved while maintaining food-grade quality standards. - Develop, implement, and continuously improve SOPs for extrusion and downstream operations. 2. OEE & Performance Management - Develop, monitor, and continuously improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE – Availability, Performance, Quality). - Establish plant-level KPIs aligned with corporate performance objectives. - Conduct structured root cause analysis (RCA) for downtime, scrap, and process inefficiencies. - Drive productivity and efficiency improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, or similar methodologies. - Lead scrap reduction, yield improvement, labor productivity enhancement, and energy optimization programs. 3. Maintenance & Engineering Systems - Oversee a comprehensive Preventive and Predictive Maintenance (PM) program. - Ensure strict adherence to PM schedules to reduce unplanned downtime. - Lead maintenance budgeting, spare parts planning, and asset lifecycle management. - Oversee machine guarding, lockout/tagout compliance, and equipment safety audits. - Lead evaluation and execution of capital expenditure projects, equipment upgrades, and process automation initiatives. 4. Quality & Sustainability - Ensure finished goods consistently meet internal and customer specifications for dimensions, strength, clarity, and multi-color printing (1–8 color capability). - Collaborate with Engineering, Sales, and Supply Chain on new product introductions and process optimization. - Lead sustainability initiatives focused on: - Waste reduction - Scrap control - Energy efficiency - Responsible material utilization 5. Health, Safety & Regulatory Compliance - Ensure full compliance with the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and all applicable Canadian regulations. - Maintain high safety standards including machine guarding, LOTO compliance, and internal safety audits. - Lead incident investigations and implement corrective and preventive actions. - Foster a strong culture of safety, accountability, and operational discipline across all shifts. 6. Leadership & Organizational Development - Lead and develop engineering, maintenance, production, quality, and logistics teams. - Build strong technical capability within the plant through structured training and mentorship. - Drive performance management, workforce engagement, and succession planning. - Act as a key member of the senior leadership team contributing to long-term strategic planning. 7. Financial & Strategic Accountability - Monitor actual vs. budget performance and implement corrective actions. - Drive cost-reduction initiatives while maintaining product quality and service levels. - Provide structured performance reporting to executive leadership. - Execute additional operational, technical, and strategic initiatives as assigned to support overall plant performance and business objectives. Key Qualifications Essential - 12+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience in plastics manufacturing (Canada/USA). - Proven track record of improving OEE in high-volume manufacturing environments. - Strong technical expertise in extrusion and thermoforming process optimization. - Experience leading engineering and maintenance teams. - Strong financial acumen including budgeting, capital planning, and cost control. - Deep understanding of Ontario industrial safety regulations (OHSA). - Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, Electrical, Polymer, Industrial, or related Engineering field. Preferred - Experience in food-grade or consumer packaging manufacturing. - Experience with recycled PET (rPET) sheet operations. - Lean / Six Sigma certification. - Master’s degree in Engineering or Operations Management. - Bilingual (English + French) is an asset. Working Conditions - Full-time, on-site leadership role at the Fergus, Ontario facility. - Occasional travel to suppliers or customer sites as required. Compensation & Benefits - Competitive senior-level base salary (commensurate with experience) - Performance bonus tied to plant KPIs and OEE improvements - Comprehensive benefits package - Paid time off Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Work Location: In person