Field Service Manager
Location:
Western Illinois (On-site) - Reloation Expensens Fully Covered, Salary: Up to $130,000 / year + benefits, Travel: ~15% (Domestic, occasional international) Employment Type: Full-Time Industry: Custom Capital Equipment / Food Processing Systems
About the Opportunity
Our client is a privately held manufacturer of custom-engineered processing and automation systems, serving leading brands in the food and protein industries. With in-house design, fabrication, and installation capabilities, they deliver fully integrated solutions and ongoing customer support.
They are seeking a Field Service Manager to lead their service organization — overseeing service operations, customer support, and spare parts programs while driving best-in-class responsiveness and satisfaction. This role is ideal for a technically minded leader who thrives in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment and enjoys building process and structure around a growing service team.
What You’ll Do
Lead, train, and manage a team of Field Service Technicians, ensuring timely, high-quality customer support
Maintain and optimize the service schedule for installations, commissioning, and emergency calls
Serve as the primary point of contact for all service-related customer communications
Oversee service contract sales, renewals, and extended warranty agreements
Support project managers with installation budgets, resource allocation, and commissioning timelines
Develop and implement preventive maintenance and training programs for technicians and clients
Coordinate spare parts programs — set and monitor profit margins, manage inventory levels, and ensure fast order fulfillment
Assist with technical troubleshooting, warranty claims, and customer issue resolution
Maintain accurate documentation of all service activities, warranties, and serial-numbered equipment records
Build and maintain positive customer relationships by ensuring issues are resolved promptly and professionally
Collaborate with engineering, inside sales, and project management to ensure smooth communication and service hand-offs
Support creation and revision of user manuals, technical documentation, and field training materials
Develop systems to track all support interactions (calls, onsite visits, repairs, modifications) for visibility and reporting
Produce service activity reports and communicate results to internal teams and leadership
Participate in long-term planning for service department growth, including staffing and process improvements
Must-Have Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in a technical field (Engineering, Industrial Technology, or similar) — or equivalent experience
7 or more yearsof experience in field service, technical support, or capital equipment installation
3 or more years in a supervisory or management role overseeing technicians or service operations
Strong communication, customer service, and leadership skills
Proven ability to coordinate multiple priorities and manage time-sensitive tasks
Experience working with external vendors and service partners
Familiarity with electrical, mechanical, and automation systems in an industrial or manufacturing environment
Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to stay calm under pressure
Proficient with Microsoft Office, ERP, or CRM tools used for scheduling and tracking service work
Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel up to 15%
Preferred Skills & Experience (Preferred Not Required)
Experience within food processing, packaging, or automation equipment industries
Knowledge of warranty programs, service contracts, and spare parts management
Background in commissioning or installation of custom capital equipment
Ability to create and deliver training programs for technical staff
Understanding of Lean or continuous improvement practices for service organizations
Physical & Work Environment
Primarily office-based with regular plant floor and customer site visits
Ability to lift up to 25 lbs and perform light physical activity as needed
Sitting, standing, bending, or reaching during daily tasks
Must be able to travel domestically and occasionally overseas
Why You’ll Love This Role
Key leadership position within a growing manufacturer of engineered systems
Blend of technical depth and customer engagement
Autonomy to define and improve the company’s field service processes
Direct impact on customer satisfaction, service revenue, and operational excellence
Collaborative, people-first culture that values initiative and innovation
Keywords / Skills for Matching
Field Service • Service Manager • Capital Equipment • Industrial Equipment • Installation • Commissioning • Maintenance • Automation • Electrical • Mechanical • Service Contracts • Warranty • Spare Parts • Customer Support • Troubleshooting • Technical Leadership • Food Processing Systems • Electrical Manager • Electrical Operations • Automation • Controls • PLC • Industrial • Panel Shop • Capital Equipment • Preventive Maintenance • Leadership • UL Panels • Food Equipment Manufacturing • Project Management • Allen Bradley • Siemens • Schneider Electric • MES • SCADA • Man Machine Interface (MMI) • Inputs / Outputs • Electrical Switch Gear • Motor Control Center (MCC) • Single Line Diagram • Electrical Drawings • Pumps • Valves • Heat Exchanger • Slicer • Smokehouse • Ovens • Broiler • Mixer • Emulsifier • Marination Systems • Cooker • Cooler • Freezer • Blenders • Reactor • Fermentor • Temperature • Flow Meter • Pressure • P&ID Diagram • Layout Drawings • Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) • Passivation • Gear Boxes • Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) • Servo Motors • Conveyors • Safety Guarding
You should be proficient in:
- Hazardous Materials
- Customer Service
- PLC Troubleshooting Skills
- Leadership / People Management
- Project Management
- Industrial Construction
- Construction Management
- Plant Construction
- Creating Preventive Maintenance Plans
- Data Analysis and Manipulation
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
- Continuous Improvement
- Construction Equipment Maintenance
- Heavy Equipment Repair
- Equipment Troubleshooting
- Electrical Schematics
- Facilities Maintenance Experience
- Electrical Troubleshooting Skills
- Troubleshooting Skills
- Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
- 5 Why (Root Cause Analysis Method)
- Mechanical Troubleshooting Skills
- Supplier Management
- Food and Beverage Manufacturing
- Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)
- Pneumatics Experience
- Single and Three Phase Power
- 120/208/240/480 Voltage Systems
- Motor Replacement/Repair/Maintenance
- Conveyor Chain Replacement
- Hydraulics Experience
- Electrical Systems Diagnostics & Repair
- CAD Software
- Preventive Maintenance & Inspection
- USDA Regulations
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Commercial Electrical Expertise
- Supervisory Experience
- Journeyman’s License
- Electrical Installation
- Electrical Troubleshooting
- Electrical Repair
- OSHA 10-Hour Certification (OSHA 10)
- Process Engineering
- Production Optimization
- Design for Manufacturability (DFM)
- Design for Assembly (DFA)
- Kaizen
- Mechanical Design & Engineering
- Mechanical Testing
- National Electrical Code (NEC)
- Relay Testing
- Service Advisor/Writer
- PLC Programming Experience
- Caulking
- SCADA Experience
- Measuring and Quoting
- Sealing/Caulking
- Construction Site Installation
- Material Handler Experience
- PLC Wiring Experience
- ASE Automobile and Light Truck Certification Tests
- Pipefitting Skills
- Electrical / Electronic Systems
- Lean Manufacturing Principles
- Mixing
- Six Sigma Experience
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Certification
- High Voltage Systems
- Conduit Pulling
- ISO 9001 Certification Experience
- Pneumatics Troubleshooting
- Boiler Certification
- Boiler Troubleshooting
- Tape Measure Reading
- Welding Setups for Production
- National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP)
- Forklift Licensed
- Mechanical Assembly Skills
- Packaging Experience
- Scheduling Experience
- Machine Safety Inspections
- Budgeting / Forecasting Experience
- Supplier Negotiation Experience
- Contract Negotiation Experience
- CAD/CAM Software
- Metal Casting Experience
- Meets Physical Requirements
- Excellent Communication Skills
- Shop Math Skills
- Experience in a Manufacturing Environment
- ISO 14001 Certification Experience
- Root Cause Analysis
- Process Development
- Blueprint Reading
- Case Binding
- Inkjet Printing
