Recycling Plant Operations Manager - Industrial Shredding & Equipment

K&S Tire Recycling; Chicago Heights (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Accrued paid time off

My Illinois Savings retirement plan

Job summary

K&S Tire Recycling in Chicago Heights, IL is seeking a hands-on Plant Operations Manager with experience in scrap metal, tire recycling, or heavy material processing. The ideal candidate will directly operate or supervise industrial machinery, ensure equipment maintenance, improve production efficiency, and uphold workplace safety while managing a team of operators and technicians.

This is a hands-on role focused on day-to-day plant operations rather than a traditional warehouse manager

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience in recycling or heavy industrial operations.
• Hands-on experience operating or supervising industrial processing equipment.
• Strong mechanical knowledge of shredders, conveyors, hydraulics, motors, bearings, gearboxes.
• Experience supervising employees and coordinating equipment maintenance.
• Ability to troubleshoot equipment problems and improve production performance.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily shredding, material separation, screening, and recycling operations.
• Manage industrial shredders, conveyors, magnets, hydraulic systems, and processing equipment.
• Supervise machine operators, maintenance technicians, and production employees.
• Troubleshoot machinery problems and coordinate preventive maintenance and repairs.
• Monitor production output, material quality, equipment downtime, and operating costs.
• Enforce OSHA safety requirements, including lockout/tagout procedures.
• Improve plant efficiency, employee performance, and equipment reliability.
• Report directly to ownership on plant operations and improvement opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Troubleshooting

Mechanical knowledge

Operations management

Safety leadership

Job description

Description

K&S Tire Recycling is seeking a hands-on Recycling Plant Operations Manager with experience in scrap metal, steel recycling, tire recycling, industrial shredding, or heavy material processing.

The ideal candidate has directly operated or supervised industrial machinery and understands equipment maintenance, production efficiency, workplace safety, and employee management.

This is a hands-on industrial operations position, not a traditional warehouse management role.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily shredding, material separation, screening, and recycling operations.
• Manage industrial shredders, conveyors, magnets, hydraulic systems, and processing equipment.
• Supervise machine operators, maintenance technicians, and production employees.
• Troubleshoot machinery problems and coordinate preventive maintenance and repairs.
• Monitor production output, material quality, equipment downtime, and operating costs.
• Enforce OSHA safety requirements, including lockout/tagout procedures.
• Improve plant efficiency, employee performance, and equipment reliability.
• Report directly to ownership on plant operations and improvement opportunities.

Requirements

Minimum 2 years of experience in recycling, industrial shredding, scrap metal processing, or similar heavy industrial operations.

Hands-on experience operating or supervising industrial processing equipment.

Strong mechanical knowledge of shredders, conveyors, hydraulics, motors, bearings, and gearboxes.

Experience supervising employees and coordinating equipment maintenance.

Ability to troubleshoot equipment problems and improve production performance.

Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Experience

Experience in scrap metal recycling, steel processing, automotive shredding, tire recycling, material recovery facilities, or industrial crushing and screening operations.

Experience with CM shredders, steel liberation equipment, and magnetic separation systems is highly desirable.

Benefits

Accrued paid time off and participation in My Illinois Savings retirement plan.

Compensation of $70,000 to $110,000 per year