Operations Manager

Ash Grove Cement Company; Bucks Canyon (AL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Medical benefits

Retirement plan

Wellness program

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Ash Grove Cement Company in Alabama is seeking an Operations Manager to lead the production department, ensure safe and environmentally responsible operations, and align with company goals.

You will work with maintenance, quarry, quality teams, develop SOPs, chase efficiency, and act as plant manager's back-up, supporting budgeting and 24/7 operations.

Eligible candidates have 3–5 years in a functional role and a Bachelor's degree or equivalent.

Qualifications

• Experience applying lean tools (5S, visual mgmt) to improve plant efficiency.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience; 3–5 years in production/operations roles.
• Strong knowledge of lean tools and safety practices.

Responsibilities

• Manage all areas of production, including SOPs and staff training.
• Direct shift teams for safety, quality, schedule adherence, labor efficiency, and costs.
• Optimize processes to improve plant efficiencies and develop key performance indicators.
• Collaborate with QC to ensure product quality meets expectations.
• Direct effective use of plant production equipment and personnel.
• Lead department staff through coaching, support, and delegation.
• Assist plant manager in forecasting and improvement planning.
• Develop and maintain a technically advanced, safety-conscious team.
• Establish annual objectives for staff aligned with plant goals and conduct performance reviews.
• Maintain relationships with other departments and management for smooth operation.
• Plan, budget, forecast, and report department performance and costs.
• Meet or exceed annual production volumes; keep costs within budget.
• Ensure timely, on-budget equipment shutdowns and preventive maintenance.
• Assist in hiring new production staff and manage onboarding.
• Apply Six Sigma / 5S principles for organized operations and continuous improvements.
• Create reporting formats to communicate results to plant associates.
• Provide back-up for Plant Manager as needed.
• Implement reporting to track performance and costs daily to annually.
• Record key metrics and use data analysis for continuous improvements.
• Support 24/7 operations with flexible scheduling.
• Develop and maintain safety and environmental programs.
• Plan daily activities and coordinate with Supervisors and teams.

Skills

Lean tools

5S

Root cause analysis

Safety leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Operations planning

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Maximo

ADP

Outlook

Excel

PowerPoint

Teams

Job description

Career Opportunities: Operations Manager (528086)

Eco Material Technologies, a CRH Company, is a leading producer of sustainable cement alternatives in the U.S. It is the nation's largest marketer and manager of fly ash, with the industry's only true national footprint of logistics networks and distribution channels. The Company also provides mission-critical utility services, including operations support, waste disposal, and environmental remediation.

Job Summary

The Operations Manager leads production department to efficiently manufacture, and ship budgeted amount of product while meeting safety, environmental, and quality objectives. Ensures practices are in alignment with company vision in the above areas. Work closely with maintenance, quarry, quality, process to provide leadership, guidance, and direction for plant operations to ensure alignment to plant and company goals. Partners with the marketing department to understand customer demand. This individual will be the plant manager's back up in their absence.

Job Responsibilities

• Manage all areas of production, including the development of Standard Operating Procedures, training of staff, and implementation of operations systems.
• Direct shift production teams in all aspects of safety, quality, adherence to production schedule, labor efficiency, waste management, maintenance schedule, and cost
• Optimize existing processes to improve plant efficiencies; including troubleshooting and resolving process issues as they occur. Development of key indicators and metrics that will ultimately tie to plant efficiencies.
• Work closely with QC department to ensure product quality meets customer, market, and industry expectations.
• Direct the effective and efficient use of plant production equipment and people.
• Provide leadership to department employees by directing, coaching, supporting and delegating as the situation requires.
• Assist plant manager in anticipating future needs of the plant including input into improvement plans.
• Develop and maintains a technically advanced and safety conscious team.
• Establishing and setting of annual department and personal objectives for self and all staff that are aligned with the plant and organization goals and objectives. Completion of mid-year and annual performance appraisals of department staff.
• Maintain positive working relationship with other departments and Group Management to allow smooth plant operation.
• Additional major functions include planning, annual budgeting and monthly forecasting, reporting of department's effectiveness, safeguarding assets, & environment compliance.
• Meet or exceed annual production volumes budget.
• Production costs equal or below budget.
• Equipment shutdowns completed on-time and on-budget.
• Ensure preventive maintenance systems are utilized and timely repair of all production equipment is maintained.
• Assist in the hiring of all new production employees.
• Utilize "Six Sigma" or related skills to maintain a clean and organized operation focused on 5S, visual metrics and continuous improvements.
• Create reporting format to communicate results to plant associates.
• Back-up for Plant Manager in their absence.
• Implement reporting process to record and report performance and cost daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually.
• Track and record all key metrics and use data analysis for continuous improvement.
• Able to be flexible with their schedule to support 24/7 process.
• Help develop, implement, and maintain safety and environmental programs adhering to requirements from tracking, testing, training, etc.
• Developing plan of the day and coordinating work with Supervisors and team members.
• Ensuring proper hand off daily at shifts is happening and effective.
• Perform time and attendance for direct reports.
• Creating process control limits to stabilize and optimize process.
• Assist in new hire orientation and assimilation.
• Maintain proper staffing levels and labor costs.
• Willing and able to learn all job positions to fill in as needed for absenteeism, breaks, etc.
• Set up new vendors and contractors as needed to plan the work.
• Submit capital projects as needed.

Job Requirements

• Demonstrated examples of metrics usage and planning processes to deliver results.
• Excellent organization and communication skills, with knowledge of lean tools such as root cause failure analysis, preventive maintenance, visual management, and 5S
• Required Computer and Software Skills: Computer skills with at least the following: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Maximo, ADP, Outlook.
• Travel Requirements: 10%
• Excellent organizational and management of people, including demonstrated experience in building high functioning teams.
• Basic knowledge of safety and environmental requirements preferred.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
• At least 3-5 years' experience in functional role

What CRH Offers You

• Highly competitive base pay
• Comprehensive medical, dental and disability benefits programs
• Group retirement savings program
• Health and wellness programs
• An inclusive culture that values opportunity for growth, development, and internal promotion

About CRH

CRH has a long and proud heritage. We are a collection of hundreds of family businesses, regional companies and large enterprises that together form the CRH family. CRH operates in a decentralized, diversified structure that allows you to work in a small company environment while having the career opportunities of a large international organization.

Ash Grove Cement, a CRH Company, is an affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer.

EOE/Vet/Disability

CRH is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

AI tools may be used in certain stages of the employment lifecycle, such as candidate review; however, all final employment decisions will be made by a person.