Shift Manager Operations

AK Steel Corporation; East Chicago, Northern (IN, KY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Cleveland-Cliffs, a leading North America-based steel producer, seeks a Shift Manager of Operations at our East Chicago, IN facility. You will lead a team of hourly production employees, promote safety, and drive productivity and quality in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities include coaching, coordinating with maintenance and engineering, and using data to improve performance while ensuring reliable operations.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum of two years in industrial, manufacturing, operations, or production.
• Demonstrated leadership potential to influence and motivate teams.
• Strong communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Responsibilities

• Foster safety culture and ensure compliance with safety and environmental standards.
• Lead, coach, and develop hourly production employees to improve safety, quality, and productivity.
• Build an engaged workforce through clear communication and mentoring.
• Monitor production processes and make timely operational decisions.
• Partner with maintenance, engineering, planning and operations to maximize reliability.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and reduce downtime.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, and daily workforce activities.
• Coordinate activities with upstream and downstream operations and contractors.
• Analyze operational data and trends to drive improvements.
• Serve as a visible shop-floor leader promoting teamwork and accountability.
• Support special projects as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

MS Office

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate degree (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: East Chicago, IN

Cleveland-Cliffs has multiple opportunities to join our team as a Shift Manager of Operations at our East Chicago, IN location. At Cleveland-Cliffs, we're looking for shift leaders who thrive in dynamic manufacturing environments and are passionate about developing teams, improving processes, and delivering results safely. As a Shift Manager Operations, you'll play a key leadership role leading a team of skilled production employees.

Summary of Responsibilities

• Foster a world-class safety culture by ensuring compliance with all safety, environmental, and operational standards.
• Lead, coach, and develop hourly production employees to achieve exceptional safety, quality, and productivity results.
• Build an engaged and accountable workforce through clear communication, performance feedback, mentoring, and recognition.
• Monitor production processes and make timely operational decisions to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operations.
• Partner with maintenance, engineering, planning, and other operational teams to maximize equipment reliability and production performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce downtime, and increase product quality through continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, and daily workforce activities to ensure operational objectives are achieved.
• Coordinate activities with upstream and downstream operations, contractors, and support groups to maintain seamless production flow.
• Analyze operational data and trends to drive performance improvements and solve production challenges.
• Serve as a visible leader on the shop floor, promoting teamwork, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Support special projects and additional business initiatives as needed.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum of two years of industrial, manufacturing, operations, or production experience.
• Demonstrated leadership potential with the ability to influence and motivate teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays, in a 24/7 manufacturing operation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to work safely in a heavy industrial environment, including exposure to heat, dust, outdoor conditions, stairs, ladders, and uneven surfaces.
• Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree in a technical, manufacturing, business, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Previous supervisory or frontline leadership experience in steel, metals, manufacturing, chemical, paper, energy, mining, or other heavy industrial operations.
• Experience leading represented employees in a unionized manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of OSHA regulations, safety management systems, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Relocation assistance may be considered for highly qualified candidates from outside the local area.

Cleveland-Cliffs is a leading North America-based steel producer with focus on value-added sheet products, particularly for the automotive industry. The Company is vertically integrated from the mining of iron ore, production of pellets and direct reduced iron, and processing of ferrous scrap through primary steelmaking and downstream finishing, stamping, tooling, and tubing. We offer an excellent total compensation package, including competitive pay with variable compensation opportunity, health insurance, retirement plan, education assistance, paid time off, and more.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e‑mail to [e-mail] or call 1-[phone] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Do not email your application materials to this email address. Application materials sent to this email address will not be considered.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is an equal opportunity employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability. We are a drug‑free workplace and conduct pre‑employment screening as a condition of employment.