Manufacturing Operations Leader

RHI Magnesita; Hammond (IN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading refractory products company located in Hammond, Indiana, is seeking a Manufacturing Plant Leader as part of their Accelerated Leadership Pathway Program. This fully onsite role focuses on safety, team leadership, and driving improvement in operational excellence within the manufacturing sector. Ideal candidates will possess hands-on supervisory experience in heavy industry and a strong safety mindset. Join a global leader and accelerate your career path to senior leadership roles with impactful projects and challenges.

Qualifications

• 3–4 years of team leadership in a heavy industry environment.
• Knowledge of safety systems and production metrics is essential.
• Must have hands-on leadership with strong curiosity and adaptability.

Responsibilities

• Champion a culture of safety by reinforcing safe work practices.
• Build relationships with employees and promote teamwork.
• Provide coaching and facilitate problem-solving sessions.

Skills

Team leadership in heavy industry

Strong safety mindset

Lean basics knowledge

Coaching skills

Communication skills

Education

Highschool Diploma or GED

Engineering or Operations degree preferred

Job description

Accelerated Manufacturing Operations Leadership Program

Fully On-Site

Skills

Looking for a catalyst to level up your career? Join RHI Magnesita’s Accelerated Leadership Pathway Program to gain tangible experience to grow as a Manufacturing Leader! As an emerging leader in a $4 Billion global company with over 20,000 employees worldwide, you will find countless opportunities to expand your skills. This program is for you if:

• You have a strong safety mindset
• You have hands‑on supervisory or shop floor leadership experience
• You are willing to relocate within the United States
• You are ready to advance your skills!

In the Manufacturing Track of our Accelerated Leadership Pathway Program, you will help drive plant performance and operational excellence. You will partner with production teams and leadership to advance safety, quality, and productivity while leading improvement projects that strengthen workflows, support financial performance, and deliver measurable results. The intention of the program is to accelerate your path to senior leadership! The Manufacturing Plant Leader is a fully onsite role with a mix of office and shop floor tasks and will have the opportunity to travel approximately 20% of the time.

What You’ll Do

• Champion a strong safety culture by reinforcing safe work practices, leading safety talks, and supporting incident investigations.
• Build strong working relationships with frontline employees and cross‑functional partners to promote teamwork and accountability.
• Provide coaching, guidance, and performance feedback to production teams in partnership with Operations leadership.
• Facilitate root‑cause analyses and problem‑solving sessions to address operational challenges and drive sustainable solutions.
• Monitor key performance indicators and operational dashboards, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Coordinate with production supervisors to resolve workflow issues, equipment constraints, and staffing needs in real time.
• Support planning and scheduling activities to optimize labor, materials, and equipment utilization.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and industry standards across all operational processes.
• Lead and participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on workflow optimization, waste reduction, and process reliability.
• Translate plant and regional strategic objectives into actionable plans that drive measurable improvements on the plant floor.

What You Bring

• 3–4 years of team leadership in heavy industry
• A strong safety mindset
• Knowledge of lean basics, safety systems, and production metrics
• Hands‑on leadership approach
• Curiosity, resiliency, and adaptability
• Coaching, communication, and conflict management skills
• Highschool Diploma or GED required; Engineering or Operations degree preferred

About Us

RHI Magnesita is the leading global supplier of high‑grade refractory products, systems and solutions which are critical for high‑temperature processes in a wide range of industries. Serving customers around the world, RHI Magnesita has more than 20,000 employees in 76 main production sites (including recycling facilities), 16 raw material sites and more than 70 sales offices.

Our North American team helps build refractory products that solve the most extreme manufacturing challenges. From advanced lithium‑ion batteries for laptops and EVs and specialized glass on smartphones and tablets, to the steel and cement that build the world around us, our high‑performance bricks and linings make it possible to melt, bend, shape, and refine these materials at extreme temperatures.

With a vertically integrated value chain, RHI Magnesita has helped forge the materials that build industries and economies for almost 200 years. Come get fired up with our North American team!

Nearest Major Market: Gary

Nearest Secondary Market: Chicago