Job ID: 526240
Ash Grove family of companies is one of North America’s leading cement manufacturers, with a legacy of innovation and excellence dating back to 1882. The company operates 12 world-class cement plants and a vast network of 41 terminals across the United States and Canada. Renowned for its forward-thinking approach, Ash Grove combines technical expertise, robust safety standards, and empowered talent to deliver high performance and better serve our customers. At Ash Grove, we stand together to reinvent the way our world is built.
Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Retirement Plan
- Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Employee Assistance Program
- Disability Pay
- Life Insurance
- Growth Opportunities and more!
Summary
The Plant Technical Manager leads all process technical operations of the cement manufacturing process. This role has direct responsibility for the following disciplines at the cement plant: mining, process, automation engineering and IS/IT/OT engineering, quality control and capital projects management. The role directs a team to optimize the cement manufacturing process through maximizing plant efficiency, achieving production and process targets, reducing manufacturing costs, and maintaining cementitious product quality, while ensuring compliance with environmental, health, and safety regulations.
What You’ll Be Contributing
- Promote and follow all plant safety guidelines.
- Provide leadership to improve the efficiency and profitability of a cement manufacturing facility by maximizing resource utilization and minimizing waste, while also reducing environmental impact.
- Manage Technical Department team through analysis of the plant’s operational key performance indicators and recommend solutions to maximize plant performance and implement cost-effective solutions.
- Collaborate with other departments/functions such as production and maintenance management, technical services, sales, and engineering to achieve plant goals, KPIs and long-term strategic plans.
- Lead in the creation and delivery of training programs and materials on all aspects of the cement manufacturing process, including SOPs, work practices, presentations, safety protocols, quality control measures, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Manage the development of Technical Department engineering CDPs and interns.
- Perform performance testing and measurements on production equipment.
- Support, implement and contribute to Group Best Practices.
- Ensure that raw materials, processes, and finished products adhere to standards, specifications and customer requirements, and manage quality control procedures and testing.
- Provide leadership for mine planning, ensuring profitability and sustainability while maximizing the life of the plant’s reserves at the lowest possible cost and environmental impact.
- Direct the Technical Department team to prepare and distribute technical reports, budgets, and performance forecasts.
- Direct the Capital Projects Manager to draft and manage the plant’s Five-Year Capital Plan, ensuring all projects are approved, implemented and closed upon completion.
- Ensure the Technical Department provides plant technical support for the purchase of plant equipment where appropriate.
- Manage Automation Engineers maintaining existing systems and performance and specifying, installing, and programming new process control systems as required.
- Support the Automation Engineer to implement plant systems consisting of artificial intelligence, advanced process control, automation systems, analytical systems, and digitalization initiatives.
- Direct the IS/IT/OT Engineer to maintain robust cyber security systems to guard plant operations against malicious cyber-attacks and ensure continuity of operations.
- Support the plant’s IS/IT/OT Engineer to maintain the plant’s hardware/software systems, present relevant data for diagnosis of plant systems and reporting of plant activities.
- Continuously analyse performance, identify opportunities, and make incremental changes to processes, products, and personnel; constantly seek ways to improve and refine methods, aiming for better results.
- Champion CRH/AGC initiatives such as Critical Plant Review, Sapphire interaction and Task Force programs to maximize the plant’s throughput at the lowest available cost and implement best practices.
- Ensure plant’s CO2 roadmap targets are defined and annual goals are accomplished.
To Succeed In This Position, You Will Need
- Minimum 4 year/Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical engineering, Industrial engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Automation Engineering or related field.
- Minimum of 10 years Cement plant technical experience.
- Ability to read, write, and understand warning labels, instructions, signs, etc.
- Proficient in English written, verbal communication, and listening skills.
- Knowledge of end-to-end cement manufacturing operations, including quarry mining, raw material quality control, raw meal preparation, pyroprocessing, milling, and cement dispatch.
- Knowledge of cement plant quality control laboratory methods, testing standards, and analytical equipment used to ensure product quality and regulatory compliance.
- Knowledge of plant capital project management, plant automation systems and plant information systems.
- Understanding of operational efficiency, cost drivers, risk management, and decision-making within an industrial manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to attract, develop, and retain talent while building high-performing, engaged teams.
- Strong project management skills, including scope definition, scheduling, prioritization, risk mitigation, and delivery of results on time and within budget.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, enabling effective collaboration across departments, leadership levels, and external stakeholders.
- Skilled in cultivating innovation through creative problem-solving, process improvement initiatives, and implementation of new ideas and technologies.
- Proven ability to manage time and competing priorities effectively in a fast-paced operational environment.
- Skilled in balancing internal operational goals with customer requirements and service expectations.
- Ability to drive results by setting clear goals, monitoring performance metrics, and taking decisive action to achieve operational and business objectives.
- Ability to maintain a high level of accuracy and detail in operational oversight, quality assurance, and project execution.
- Ability to remain resilient, adaptable, and effective in the face of change, operational challenges, and high-pressure situations.
- Ability to make sound decisions, address challenges directly, and demonstrate accountability—even in complex or uncertain situations.
- Ability to identify solutions using available resources, think critically, and overcome constraints through practical and innovative approaches.
- Ability and commitment to continuous self-development and the professional growth of others through coaching, mentoring, and knowledge sharing.
What’s next for you?
We provide stability and advancement opportunities across North America. Use our tuition reimbursement program to help you meet your career goals.
The above duties and responsibilities are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all-inclusive. The physical demands, working environment, and other conditions of employment listed in this document are representative of but are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of the requirements for positions in this classification. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
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.