Senior Operator - 1st Shift Trim

Central States, Inc.; Graniteville (SC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

Education assistance

Profit-sharing

Medical

Dental

Vision

Holiday pay

Vacation pay

Employee Assistance Program

Life insurance

Wellness program

HSAs

FSAs

Short-Term Disability

Long-Term Disability

Merit increases

SHINE program

Job summary

Central States Manufacturing, Inc. is seeking a Senior Operator to lead advanced manufacturing, operate high-precision equipment, and mentor Operators. You will support safety, quality, and on-time production while coordinating across shifts and training new hires.

Ideal candidates will have 3+ years in production equipment and lead-level experience, plus lean manufacturing familiarity. This on-site role includes benefits and travel up to 5%.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Three years of production equipment experience
• Experience with hoists, cranes, forklifts
• Ability to interpret drawings, specs, and measurement tools
• Prior lead, senior, or trainer-level production role
• Technical or vocational training in manufacturing, machining, or mechanics
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, 5S, or continuous improvement methodologies

Responsibilities

• Operate advanced equipment and set up production lines.
• Lead and mentor Operators and Technicians.
• Coordinate workflow and ensure on-time performance.
• Troubleshoot equipment issues and escalate as needed.
• Maintain safety, quality, and housekeeping standards.
• Cross-train across production areas and support continuous improvement.

Skills

Team leadership

Training & mentoring

Troubleshooting

Quality control

Safety procedures

Equipment operation

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

3 years production equipment experience

Hoists, cranes, forklifts experience

Ability to read drawings/specs/measurement tools

Lead/trainer production role

Technical/vocational training in manufacturing

Lean manufacturing/5S/CI familiarity

Tools

Hoists

Cranes

Forklifts

Job description

Come be an Employee-Owner of one of the nation’s largest producers of metal roofing and siding! We sell, manufacture, build, and distribute metal building components and packages. Since 1988 we’ve grown to over 13 locations nationwide. We make raving fans of our customers with our “right, on time, every time” commitment.

So, who are we looking for?

People who “Own It” – Commitment to the customer, the company, and each other:

• You are customer-focused with an eye for detail.
• You are reliable.

People Who “Can Do” – Our Attitude

• You are an innovative thinker pursuing continuous improvement.
• You embrace teamwork.
• You want to positively make an impact and open to change.

People who “Act in Love” – Treats others with humility, respect, kindness, honesty, patience, and self-control.

You enjoy giving back to your community. We take great pride in the communities we live in, so we give back with our time and talents. Each year you can take paid time off to support a cause close to your heart.

And what will you do?

Summary

The Senior Operator leads and performs advanced manufacturing, equipment operation, and material handling activities across designated production areas. This role operates complex or high-precision equipment, provides training and guidance to Operators, supports troubleshooting, and ensures products are produced to engineering specifications while meeting safety, quality, and efficiency standards. The Senior Operator models best practices, supports workflow coordination, and consistently delivers “Right. On Time. Every Time.” products and customer service to both internal and external customers.

Core Functions

• Follows and enforces all plant safety procedures and uses all applicable personal protective gear (PPE). Ensure safety goals are achieved, and safety performance continually improves. Periodically performs Job Safety Analysis reviews. Observes and documents near miss/accident reports.
• Perform advanced operation and setup of specialized equipment such as panel lines, purlin machinery, trim/wrap systems, coil handling equipment, Alpha stations, and door assembly equipment. (Any new equipment added to facility)
• Plans, schedules and tracks of the team’s activities to ensure performance on time to schedule
• Carry out role‑specific responsibilities (Sr. Loader/Coil Receiving, Sr. Panel Operator, Sr. Purlin Operator, Sr. Trim/Wrap Driver, Sr. Door Operator, Sr. Alpha Operator, Sr. Hardware roles, and Offline Leads).
• Assist in troubleshooting equipment issues and escalating concerns to leadership or maintenance when needed.
• Drives and leads continuous improvement activities to improve team performance in safety, quality, on time performance, and site key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Conduct detailed product inspections and verify accuracy using measuring tools and production documentation.
• Support workflow coordination, communication between shifts, and basic leadership tasks when assigned.
• Train and mentor new hires, Technicians and Operators on equipment, procedures, safety, and quality standards.
• Validate and certify ALL training is completed for EOs in your area by completing required documentation.
• Maintain an organized, clean, and safe workspace, including completing required housekeeping.
• Ensures that Quality Control is being performed at each work center based on the QC standard, RMA corrective actions, and internal/external customer feedback.
• Crosstrain across production areas and assist where needed.

Performs other duties and activities related to the department as necessary to support overall operations and responsibilities, even if not specifically listed above.

Key Measures Of Success

• Safely and effectively operate advanced machinery while meeting or exceeding production and quality targets.
• Provides effective training, guidance, and leadership to Operators and Technicians.
• Coordinates workflow smoothly, reducing delays, quality issues, or equipment downtime.
• Produces highly accurate and defect‑free components with strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrates strong troubleshooting ability and supports rapid problem resolution.
• Identifies and communicates opportunities for process improvement and implements solutions where appropriate.
• Understands cost control and what financially impacts the team.
• Successfully cross‑trains on multiple pieces of equipment and serves as a technical resource to the team.
• Consistently exhibits and displays the company’s values of “Own It. Can Do. Act in Love.”
• Own It – Commitment to customer, company, and each other.
• Can Do – Team Player, Open to Change, & Pursuing continuous improvement.
• Act in Love – Treating others with humility, respectfulness, kindness, honesty, patience, and self‑control.

Education & Experience

Minimum Required: (Internal)

• Current Flexibility Test taken
• Observation Test
• Communicate effectively using email, Microsoft Teams, and other digital communication tools.
• Transfer policy requirements

Preferred: (External)

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Three (3) years of experience operating production equipment in a manufacturing setting
• Experience using hoists, cranes, forklifts, or similar material‑handling equipment
• Demonstrated ability to interpret drawings, specifications, and measurement tools
• Prior experience in a lead, senior, or trainer‑level production role
• Technical or vocational training in manufacturing, machining, or mechanics
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, 5S, or continuous improvement methodologies
• Communicate effectively using email, Microsoft Teams, and other digital communication tools

Physical Demands & Work Environment

Work is primarily performed in a manufacturing environment. This role will routinely utilize standard and/or specialized manufacturing equipment to perform core functions, and will interact with production areas, equipment, or machinery at operational sites. The work requires mainly active tasks, including standing, walking, bending, reaching, and occasional lifting of materials or tools weighing up to 55 pounds.

This role involves working in environments that may be loud, non‑temperature‑controlled, and exposed to outdoor weather conditions. Employees frequently interact with machinery, moving objects, and vehicles.

Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn as required by site policy when in designated production or operational areas.

Key Physical Requirements

• Regular activities: standing, walking, and performing tasks requiring fine motor skills (e.g., reaching, pushing, pulling, grasping, kneeling, crouching, twisting, bending)
• Occasional activities: sitting, climbing, crawling, and lifting items weighing up to 55 lbs.
• Environmental notes: exposure to noise, temperature variations, machinery, moving objects, and outdoor weather conditions

Reasonable accommodation is available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Travel

This position may require up to 5% travel, depending on business needs. Travel may include visits to company locations, client sites, training, or industry events. The amount of travel is subject to change and should not be considered a fixed or ongoing expectation.

Benefits Offered

At Central States, we are an ESOP. That means each one of our employees is an owner of the company and receives an allocation of stock every year. This allows all our employees to share in the wealth and success of the company. We also offer:

• 401K Match
• Education assistance available – Up to $5,250 each year
• Profit‑Sharing bonus
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Holiday pay
• Vacation pay
• Employee Assistance Program providing Confidential Emotional Support, Work and Lifestyle Support, Legal Guidance, Financial Resources and Digital Support
• Care Guides to help employees navigate the complex healthcare system
• Life insurance – 1.5x annual salary – 100% employer paid
• Wellness Program – earn up to $1,200 annually when enrolling in a medical plan!
• Health Savings Accounts
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short‑Term Disability
• Long‑Term Disability – 100% employer paid
• Performance based merit increases
• SHINE program – Employee Financial Assistance and Dependent Scholarships!

Central States Manufacturing, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.