Operations Manager

Rex Lumber, LLC.; Pearlhaven (MS); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Rex Lumber, LLC. in Pearlhaven, MS, seeks an Operations Manager to direct the day-to-day production operations of the sawmill, planer mill, dry kilns, and log/lumber yards.

You will lead production superintendents and supervisors and partner with maintenance, EHS, HR, and sales to run a safe, efficient operation. Responsibilities include achieving safety targets, maximizing production volume and lumber yield, maintaining uptime, and managing cost per MBF while developing a skilled workforce.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in sawmill or wood products manufacturing, with 3+ years in supervision.
• Strong knowledge of safety, lean manufacturing, and cost control.
• Experience improving lumber recovery, uptime, and throughput.
• Proficient in MS Office; familiarity with production systems is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead safety initiatives and ensure proactive safety culture across all production areas.
• Direct production targets for sawmill and planer mill; maintain kiln schedules.
• Monitor lumber recovery, uptime, and cost drivers; drive continuous improvement.
• Manage staffing, training, performance, and HR-related collaboration.
• Coordinate maintenance schedules and ensure equipment reliability.
• Support quality control and alignment with customer specifications.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Safety leadership

Team development

Communication

Multitasking

Microsoft Office

Tools

Microsoft Office

Production planning software

Job description

EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/28/2026 REPORTS TO: General Manager

SUMMARY OF FUNCTIONS

The Operations Manager directs the day-to-day production operations of the mill, including the sawmill, planer mill, dry kilns, and log and lumber yards. This role leads the production superintendents and supervisors and works closely with maintenance, sales, shipping, EHS, and HR to run a safe, efficient, and cost-effective operation. Key responsibilities include safety performance, production volume, lumber recovery and yield, uptime, grade and quality, cost per MBF, and staffing and developing a skilled workforce.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Safety and Compliance

• Lead on safety with full participation of superintendents, supervisors, and employees to ensure a proactive safety culture where safety comes before production.
• Responsible for compliance with OSHA general industry standards (29 CFR 1910), company safety policies, and site safety programs in all production areas.
• Responsible for ensuring Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), machine guarding, confined space, hot work, and mobile equipment procedures are followed; correct deficiencies promptly.
• Responsible for conducting regular safety walk-throughs with supervisors and addressing unsafe acts and conditions promptly, including disciplinary actions when necessary.
• Work with the EHS Manager on accident investigations, root cause, and corrective actions. Follow up to make sure implementation occurs.
• Responsible for ensuring employees are trained before operating equipment and that supervisors hold regular safety meetings and toolbox talks.
• Responsible for housekeeping and dust control standards in all production areas to reduce fire and combustible dust hazards.

Production, Recovery, and Cost

• Responsible for meeting production volume targets for the sawmill and planer mill and for maintaining kiln schedules that support shipping needs.
• Responsible for lumber recovery and yield; work with supervisors and optimization personnel to monitor log breakdown, sawing accuracy, and trim loss and set goals for improvement.
• Responsible for uptime and throughput; track downtime by cause and lead efforts to eliminate recurring delays.
• Responsible for cost per MBF, including labor, overtime, supplies, and energy; review cost reports with the General Manager and department supervisors.
• Work with dry kiln personnel to meet moisture targets and minimize drying degrade.
• Coordinate log yard inventory and log rotation with procurement to support mill supply and limit log deterioration.
• Lead continuous improvement and lean efforts (5S, standard work, root cause problem solving) and track key performance indicators by department.

People Leadership (in partnership with HR)

• Responsible for staffing production departments to meet the operating schedule; work with HR on hiring, onboarding, and shift scheduling.
• Responsible for training and cross-training of production employees and for developing supervisors and future leaders.
• Responsible for applying company policies consistently and handling performance and disciplinary issues in partnership with HR.
• Review attendance, overtime, and turnover with supervisors and HR; set goals for improvement working together.

Maintenance, Quality, and Order Coordination

• Work closely with the Maintenance Manager on preventive maintenance (PM) schedules, planned downtime, and major repairs; ensure operators report equipment problems promptly.
• Responsible for lumber grade and quality; work with graders and quality control to meet applicable grading rules and customer specifications.
• Work with sales and shipping on order mix, production scheduling, and inventory to meet customer commitments and on-time shipments.
• Participate in capital project planning and equipment start-ups with the General Manager and maintenance.

SECONDARY AND ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Back up the General Manager, as needed
• Attend all meetings – including daily/weekly/monthly Management meetings to go over safety, production, quality, and cost.
• Participate in customer, insurance, and regulatory audits and site visits, as needed.
• The above represents most of the duties associated with this position but there may be additional aspects of the position not listed here. Flexibility is required.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports directly to the General Manager
• Directs the production and supervisors (sawmill, planer mill, dry kilns, and log/lumber yard)
• Works closely with Maintenance, EHS, HR, Sales, and Shipping
• Key member of the site’s management team

QUALIFICATIONS

• 7+ years of sawmill or wood products manufacturing experience, including 3+ years in a supervisory role.
• Working knowledge of sawmill, planer mill, and dry kiln operations; Southern yellow pine experience preferred..
• Experience with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement tools.
• Understanding of lumber recovery, grade, uptime, and cost drivers; able to use production and cost reports.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint); experience with production or maintenance systems a plus.
• Strong leadership and written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of multitasking.
• Reliable, flexible, and able to work independently and as part of a team.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work is performed in a sawmill environment with exposure to high noise levels, wood dust, heat and cold, outdoor weather, and moving machinery and mobile equipment.
• Must wear required PPE, including hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, high-visibility vest, and safety-toe footwear, and other PPE as required by area.
• Must be able to walk the mill and yards for extended periods, climb stairs and ladders, and stand, bend, and stoop.
• Extended hours, early mornings, and weekends as needed, including response to downtime and after-hours emergencies.