Operations Manager

The Operations Manager is to provide professional leadership and direction to the plant. The Operations Manager is responsible for coordinating the production of the plant, including quality, shipping, mine, and maintenance; for scheduling the plant and personnel as necessary to safely produce high-quality goods scheduled to ship; and to coordinate special projects and improvement initiatives.

• Safe work practices:

  • Works to ensure that all employees work safely and that safety is a TOP PRIORITY.
  • Ensure safe production practices, systems, and processes are followed and comply with Federal/State regulations.
  • Identify opportunities to reduce risk through continuous improvement activities.
  • Promote a culture with safe work practices and emphasize personal awareness and irresponsibility.
  • Conduct safety compliance audits; looking for unsafe conditions or unsafe acts.
• Production:
  • Manages daily production, including ore scheduling, labor scheduling, packaging & warehousing.
  • Manages shipping to ensure that products are scheduled and produced in a timely manner.
  • Works with Mine Manager to ensure that adequate supplies of required ore types are available when needed.
  • Manages quality to ensure that the product meets quality standards before shipment.
  • Manages maintenance to ensure that all processing equipment performs according to standard operating procedures and meets demand.
  • Works with Corporate Engineers as needed to ensure processes are optimized.
  • Takes necessary action to correct problems or initiate improvements for the mill and packaging areas.
  • Approves and prioritizes maintenance work orders.
  • Understand team goals, business context, and dynamics to efficiently translate management decisions into clear targets and short/long term plans.
  • Instill a culture of employee ownership in facility care and operation.
• Staffing and Employment:
  • Oversee the facilities staffing function with the support of Human Resources; including interviewing, hiring, training and development in an effort to retain and develop the best talent for the organization.
  • Ensuring adequate labor resources to match production needs.
• Employee Relations:
  • Encourage collaboration among the team.
  • Promote open communications throughout the plant and with other work groups.
  • Engage in professional interactions with peers and senior managers.
  • Establish and maintain robust relationships based on trust, not being afraid of difficult discussions, proactively solving conflicts if needed and leading required changes.
  • Additional duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of manufacturing experience, including leadership or management experience.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, operational principles, and industry best practices.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams and driving operational performance.
• Strong leadership, team management, and decision-making skills.
• Strong technical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong mechanical aptitude.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and perform effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Experience managing supervisors and/or managers.
• Experience with budgeting, strategic planning, and performance management.
• Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives, including Lean Manufacturing methodologies.
• Project management and change management experience.