Maintenance and Reliability Center of Excellence Leader - Cable Manufacturing

AFL manufactures industry-leading fiber optic cable, connectivity and accessories and provides engineering and installation services for some of the largest telecom customers in the world. Our company was founded in 1984 with a single fiber optic cable and today, we manufacture thousands of products, generate an excess of $3B in revenue, and employ approximately 12,000 associates worldwide. At AFL, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We hire and train each individual, investing in them to ensure success in their careers. With a commitment to professional development and growth, let us connect you to your next career opportunity.What We OfferA hybrid in office schedule for qualifying employees Flexible time off policy 401K Company match (up to 4% - dollar for dollar)Professional development, training, and tuition reimbursement programsExcellent medical, dental, vision, and life insurance policy optionsOpportunities for career advancement with an industry leading companyJob SummaryThe Maintenance & Reliability Center of Excellence (COE) Leader is responsible for establishing and driving a standardized, enterprise-wide reliability and maintenance strategy to improve asset performance, reduce downtime, and optimize total cost of ownership across manufacturing operations.This role serves as the thought leader and change agent for reliability excellence, embedding best practices, governance, and data-driven decision-making across all cable manufacturing sites while enabling sustainable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.ResponsibilitiesStrategy & GovernanceDefine and deploy the enterprise maintenance and reliability strategy, aligned with EHS, operational excellence and business objectivesEstablish standards, policies, and frameworks for:Preventive Maintenance (PM)Predictive Maintenance (PdM)Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM)Asset Lifecycle ManagementLead governance cadence (reviews, audits, maturity assessments) to ensure adoption and sustainabilityDevelop and maintain a Maintenance & Reliability roadmap across all facilitiesReliability Engineering & Continuous ImprovementChampion reliability methodologies:Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA)Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)Weibull analysis and reliability modelingDrive defect elimination and chronic loss reduction initiativesLead cross-functional Kaizen and problem-solving events focused on asset reliabilityStandardize best practices and replicate across sitesAsset Performance & Data AnalyticsDefine and track key metrics:Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)Planned vs. unplanned maintenanceLeverage CMMS/MES systems to drive data-driven insights and predictive strategiesDevelop dashboards and reporting tools aligned with leadership expectationsIdentify performance gaps and lead targeted improvement plansMaintenance Planning & ExecutionStandardize maintenance planning and scheduling processesDrive increase in planned maintenance work and wrench time efficiencyImplement condition-based monitoring technologies (vibration, thermography, oil analysis, etc.)Improve spare parts management and critical asset strategiesCapability Building & Organizational DevelopmentBuild and lead the Maintenance & Reliability CoE teamDevelop training programs and certification pathways for:Maintenance techniciansReliability engineersSite leadersCoach sites on:Best practices adoptionProblem-solving rigorMaintenance maturity progressionPartner with HR and Operations on talent development and succession planningTechnology & Systems IntegrationDrive optimization and standardization of CMMS/EAM systemsSupport integration with MES and predictive analytics platformsEvaluate and implement emerging reliability technologiesEnsure data integrity and system discipline across sitesCross-Functional LeadershipCollaborate with:OperationsEngineeringQualitySupply ChainInfluence site leadership to prioritize maintenance excellenceLead change management efforts to embed reliability cultureSupport capital project planning with reliability and maintainability inputQualifications & Technical ExpertiseBachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial) or related fieldMaster’s degree or professional certifications (preferred):CMRP (Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional)Six Sigma Black Belt10+ years in maintenance, reliability, or manufacturing operationsProven experience leading multi-site reliability or maintenance transformation initiativesDeep expertise in reliability engineering principles and CMMS systemsExperience in Lean Manufacturing / Operational Excellence environmentsPersonal QualitiesLeadership – model the Operating Principles in your behaviors and actionsFlexibility – open to change/new information and rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstaclesDetail oriented – excellent attention to detail with the ability to follow through on assigned tasksIndependent - ability to work well under limited supervisionAnalytical Thinking/Problem Solving - capable of complex reasoning analysisResults focused – driven to achieveInterpersonal & Communication skills – able to collaborate on projects, maintain effective relationships, and communicate clearly at all levels of the businessAdaptability - capable of working in a fast-paced environment, adapting to various situations, and prioritizing multiple work assignments simultaneously