Area Operations Manager

Heidelberg Materials Group; Westchester (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Heidelberg Materials is seeking an Area Operations Manager for Westchester, IL. You will lead several sites with direct and indirect reports, with a strong emphasis on safety, regulatory compliance, and cost control.

The role includes managing budgets, driving continuous improvement, and overseeing CAPEX initiatives across sites. Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree in Mining/Engineering, Operations/Industrial Management, or related field and 7+ years of leadership experience in heavy

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree as listed (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of operations leadership in aggregates/mining or related heavy industrial operations.
• Strong knowledge of MSHA and regulatory compliance.
• Experience managing budgets and cost drivers; improve productivity and cost per ton.
• Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead several sites with six direct reports and 100 indirect reports while prioritizing safety.
• Ensure compliance with MSHA, DOT, and environmental requirements; maintain audit readiness with EHS.
• Lead and develop plant/site leadership teams; set expectations and coach performance.
• Own operating budgets for the assigned area and review monthly results to control costs.
• Identify and execute continuous improvement initiatives (lean/CI) across sites.
• Lead CAPEX scoping for site improvements; develop business cases and manage execution.

Skills

Safety leadership

Operations management

Budget management

Lean/CI

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mining/Engineering, Operations/Industrial Management, Business

Job description

Area Operations Manager### Area Operations ManagerApply: Westchester, IL: Full time: Posted Today: JR10019669Line 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-offer pre-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.