Join our family of diverse, talented, and dedicated people and become part of an industry leading company as we strive to be the most successful food company in the world
Our team is looking for Supervisor, Refrigeration for our Humberline plat located at 353-383, Humberline Drive,Etobicoke, Ontario.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Maintenance Manager, the Refrigeration Supervisor is responsible for the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of all refrigeration and utility systems supporting plant operations. This role leads the Refrigeration Team and oversees the maintenance, operation, and continuous improvement of refrigeration equipment and associated utilities.
The Refrigeration Supervisor ensures compliance with food safety, occupational health and safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements while maintaining optimal system performance to support production and storage requirements. This position plays a key role in minimizing downtime, improving equipment reliability, and driving operational excellence across refrigeration and utility systems.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
- Provide day-to-day leadership, direction, coaching, and performance management to Refrigeration Operators and utility personnel.
- Assign, prioritize, and monitor work activities to ensure safe and efficient execution of operational and maintenance tasks.
- Support employee development through training, mentoring, and succession planning.
- Foster a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Refrigeration & Utility Operations
- Ensure the safe and reliable operation of all refrigeration systems, including compressors, condensers, evaporators, chillers, coolers, pumps, valves, and associated control systems.
- Monitor refrigeration system performance and plant temperatures to ensure compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
- Investigate and resolve refrigeration and utility system issues through effective troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
- Coordinate emergency response activities involving refrigeration equipment while maintaining safe operating conditions.
- Maintain appropriate operating logs and regulatory documentation for refrigeration systems.
Maintenance & Reliability
- Develop and execute preventative and predictive maintenance programs for refrigeration and utility equipment.
- Coordinate maintenance activities with Production, Sanitation, Quality Assurance, and Engineering to minimize disruptions and maximize equipment availability.
- Utilize CMMS systems to plan, schedule, track, and analyze maintenance activities.
- Identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability, energy efficiency, and operating performance.
- Support capital projects, equipment upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Safety, Compliance & Environmental Stewardship
- Ensure compliance with all applicable safety regulations, environmental regulations, refrigeration operating procedures, and company policies.
- Conduct regular inspections, audits, and risk assessments of refrigeration and utility systems.
- Support regulatory inspections and ensure corrective actions are implemented and sustained.
- Ensure contractors and service providers perform work safely and in accordance with site requirements.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Operations, Quality Assurance, Engineering, Shipping, and Maintenance teams to support business objectives.
- Communicate equipment status, planned maintenance activities, and potential operational risks to key stakeholders.
- Participate in plant meetings and contribute to operational planning and decision-making.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education & Certifications
- Post-secondary education in Refrigeration, Industrial Maintenance, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Power Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Class A Refrigeration Operator Certification is strongly preferred.
- Refrigeration Operator B Certificate or equivalent industrial refrigeration certification considered an asset.
- Valid Ontario driver's license is considered an asset.
Experience
- Minimum 5 years of industrial refrigeration experience in food processing, manufacturing, cold storage, or industrial environment.
- Minimum 3 years of leadership or supervisory experience within a maintenance or utilities operation.
- Experience with refrigeration systems and critical temperature-controlled environments is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading preventative maintenance and reliability initiatives.
Technical Knowledge
- Strong knowledge of industrial refrigeration systems, compressors, condensers, evaporators, chillers, cooling towers, pumps, and control systems.
- Knowledge of food safety requirements, HACCP principles, and temperature management within food manufacturing environments.
- Experience with preventive maintenance programs, troubleshooting methodologies, and root cause analysis.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
- Experience with CMMS platforms and maintenance planning systems.
Key Behavioral Competencies
- Strong leadership, coaching, and team-building skills.
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.
- Effective planning, organizational, and time-management skills.
- Ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced operational environment.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
- Demonstrates initiative, accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
- Builds positive working relationships across all levels of the organization.
Reporting Relationships
Reports To: Maintenance Manager
Direct Reports: 2
Internal Relationships
Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Shipping, Human Resources, Refrigeration Operators, and Plant Leadership Team.
External Relationships
Equipment Suppliers, Refrigeration Service Providers, Contractors, Regulatory Agencies, and Utility Providers.
Working Conditions
- Work is performed in both indoor and outdoor environments within a food manufacturing facility.
- Frequent exposure to refrigeration equipment, machinery, noise, temperature extremes, humidity, chemicals, and industrial hazards.
- Requires the ability to walk, stand, climb ladders and platforms, bend, kneel, crouch, and work in confined spaces as required.
- Must be capable of lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling equipment and materials within established safety guidelines.
- Participation in an on-call rotation and response to refrigeration emergencies outside normal working hours may be required.
- Regular deadline pressures require strong prioritization, decision-making, and attention to detail.
Qualifications
Education & Certifications
- Post-secondary education in Refrigeration, Industrial Maintenance, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Power Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Class A Refrigeration Operator Certification is strongly preferred.
- Refrigeration Operator B Certificate or equivalent industrial refrigeration certification considered an asset.
- Valid Ontario driver's license is considered an asset.
Experience
- Minimum 5 years of industrial refrigeration experience in food processing, manufacturing, cold storage, or industrial environment.
- Minimum 3 years of leadership or supervisory experience within a maintenance or utilities operation.
- Experience with refrigeration systems and critical temperature-controlled environments is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading preventative maintenance and reliability initiatives.
Technical Knowledge
- Strong knowledge of industrial refrigeration systems, compressors, condensers, evaporators, chillers, cooling towers, pumps, and control systems.
- Knowledge of food safety requirements, HACCP principles, and temperature management within food manufacturing environments.
- Experience with preventive maintenance programs, troubleshooting methodologies, and root cause analysis.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
- Experience with CMMS platforms and maintenance planning systems.
Key Behavioral Competencies
- Strong leadership, coaching, and team-building skills.
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.
- Effective planning, organizational, and time-management skills.
- Ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced operational environment.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
- Demonstrates initiative, accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
- Builds positive working relationships across all levels of the organization.
Reporting Relationships
Reports To: Maintenance Manager
Direct Reports: 2
Internal Relationships
Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Shipping, Human Resources, Refrigeration Operators, and Plant Leadership Team.
External Relationships
Equipment Suppliers, Refrigeration Service Providers, Contractors, Regulatory Agencies, and Utility Providers.
Working Conditions
- Work is performed in both indoor and outdoor environments within a food manufacturing facility.
- Frequent exposure to refrigeration equipment, machinery, noise, temperature extremes, humidity, chemicals, and industrial hazards.
- Requires the ability to walk, stand, climb ladders and platforms, bend, kneel, crouch, and work in confined spaces as required.
- Must be capable of lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling equipment and materials within established safety guidelines.
- Participation in an on-call rotation and response to refrigeration emergencies outside normal working hours may be required.
- Regular deadline pressures require strong prioritization, decision-making, and attention to detail.
Sofina Foods Inc. is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (‘AODA’). Applicants are asked to make their needs/requirements, for the purpose of accommodation under AODA, known to Human Resources when they are contacted for an interview.
