Production Manager

Specialized Career Search; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Specialized Career Search is seeking a Production Manager for a cement plant in Louisville, Kentucky. This role involves planning, coordinating, and controlling production activities to ensure efficient and cost-effective manufacturing.

The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a technical discipline, or over 10 years of cement experience. Responsibilities include promoting safety, managing quality, and optimizing production processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technical discipline preferred.
• 10+ years of cement experience in operations required.
• Must be able to work during off-shift hours and in extreme temperatures.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and control production activities within the cement plant.
• Promote safety and compliance with environmental regulations.
• Manage raw materials handling and optimize production processes.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Cement process background

Organized and detail-oriented

Experience in writing and technical reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technical discipline

10+ years cement experience in operations

Job description

Summary

Under the direction of the Plant Manager, the Production Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and controlling all production activities within the cement plant to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective manufacturing. This role ensures production targets, quality standards, and operational KPIs are achieved while maintaining compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Safety

• Promote a safe working environment for all employees and provide leadership/direction for the safety efforts in the plant.
• Support plant management in implementing and monitoring of safety policies. Make suggestions and aid in policy updates as necessary.
• Perform accident investigations as needed.
• Hold departmental and plant-wide safety stand-downs to discuss incidents and near misses.
• Participate and provide leadership in the hazard observation program.

Environmental

• Understand and oversee compliance of the operation with all NESHAP standards.
• Ensure compliance with local Title IV air permit.
• Coordinate with maintenance and environmental team to ensure all continuous monitors are working while minimizing downtime and data loss.
• Ensure all managed parties understand and adhere to Spill Prevention Controls and Stormwater Pollution Prevention plans.

Quality

• Work closely with the site quality manager to achieve compliance with all internal quality objectives.
• Make suggestions and actively participate in quality correction initiatives.

Production

• Responsible for all raw materials handling, rock crushing, raw/finish grinding, and clinker burning.
• Responsible for maintaining plant cleanliness.
• Drive metrics for mill/kiln throughput to achieve annual goals.
• Work with the Quality Manager and Plant Manager to optimize mixes to lower total cost and maximize throughput.
• Aid in remediation for process related issues and provide training for employees as necessary.
• Work with all departments to develop annual budgets involving raw materials, maintenance activities, and overhauls.
• Directly responsible for pyro-process refractory and grinding media planning annually.
• Responsible for managing specific heat consumption and adhering to process audits such as heat-mass balances and volatile balances.

Direct Reports

• Production Coordinator and Supervisors
• Process Engineers

Indirect Reports

• Control Room Operators
• Process Attendants
• Raw Material Handlers
• Plant Labor

Other Qualifications

• Strong communication skills, verbal and written.
• Strong cement process background.
• Experience in writing and technical reporting.
• Organized and detail oriented.
• Experience with refractory budget preparation, outage planning/scheduling.
• Must be able to work during off-shift hours, nights or weekends as required by the plant.
• Must be able to work in hot/cold environments for extended periods.
• Capable of overseeing work requiring >50% time in the field.
• Potential for upward mobility to position such as Plant Manager.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technical discipline with a preference given to chemical engineering OR
• 10+ years cement experience in operations