Area Operations Manager

heidelbergmaterials; Fairmount (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Heidelberg Materials North America is seeking an experienced Operations Leader to guide multiple sites in Illinois, overseeing a leadership team and hundreds of staff while placing safety and compliance at the forefront.

You will own site budgets, drive cost control, and lead continuous improvement initiatives to improve throughput and efficiency. The role requires strong collaboration, strategic planning, and travel to sites within the region.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mining/Engineering, Operations/Industrial Management or related field.
• 7+ years of operations leadership experience in heavy industrial settings; multi-site experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of MSHA and regulatory compliance.
• Experience managing budgets and driving cost reductions.

Responsibilities

• Lead several sites with direct and indirect reports while upholding safety as a core value.
• Develop plant/site leadership teams and drive performance and accountability.
• Own operating budgets and review variances to align with demand.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives (lean/CI).
• Oversee CAPEX scoping and project execution to targets.

Skills

Leadership & People Mgmt

Budgeting & Cost Control

Safety & Compliance

Multi-site Operations

Lean / CI

Change Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mining/Engineering/Operations Mgmt or related field

Job description

Line of Business: Service & Support

About Us

Heidelberg Materials is one of the world's largest suppliers of building materials. Heidelberg Materials North America operates over 450 locations across the U.S. and Canada with approximately 9,000 employees.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead several sites with six direct reports and 100 indirect reports. Demonstrate safety as a core value across assigned operations; conduct field observations, safety meetings, incident investigations, and ensure corrective actions are completed and sustained. Ensure compliance with MSH, DOT, and environmental requirements (e.g., permits, stormwater, air, reclamation); maintain audit reediness and partner with EHS on inspections a reporting.
• Lead and develop plant/site leadership teams; set expectations, coach performance, support staffing plans, and build a culture of accountability, engagement and continuous improvement.
• Own operating budgets for assigned area. Review monthly results, identify variances, and implement cost-control actions to effectively scale to current sales demands.
• Identify and execute continuous improvement initiatives (lean/CI) that improve throughput, yield, energy efficiency, and quality; standardize best practices across sites.
• Lead CAPEX scoping for site improvements (safety, compliance, plant upgrades); develop business cases, manage project execution, and ensure start-up meets performance targets.

What Are We Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Mining/Engineering, Operations/Industrial Management, Business, or related field; equivalent experience considered
• 7+ years of operations leadership experience in aggregates/mining or related heavy industrial operations; multi-site leadership preferred
• Strong working knowledge of MSHA and a demonstrated ability to lead safety culture and regulatory compliance
• Experience managing budgets and cost drivers; ability to improve productivity, reliability, and cost per ton
• Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills with the ability to develop teams and lead change

Conditions of Employment

• Successful candidate must submit to post‑employment physical examination, drug/alcohol screen, and background check
• Some positions require FMCSA-regulated ongoing drug and alcohol testing

Work Environment

Must be willing to travel regularly within the assigned area (typically 50%-75%), mostly day trips and occasional overnight trips.