Shift Supervisor

AUSTIN POWDER COMPANY; United States; On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin Powder Company seeks a Shift Supervisor to lead plant operations with emphasis on safety, regulatory compliance, and production efficiency. The role directs and coordinates teams across ammonia, nitric acid, and related units, ensuring adherence to procedures and timely production.

You will supervise daily activities, train staff on safety and equipment, and maintain accurate logs while coordinating with plant management to optimize performance.

Qualifications

• Must have a High School Diploma or G.E.D. and prefer 5+ years of supervisor or leadership experience.
• Knowledge of Process Safety Management (PSM) and OSHA-based requirements is expected.
• Experience supervising multiple units and coordinating with plant management.

Responsibilities

• Direct and coordinate activities of employees in operation and production of ammonia, nitric acid, and related units.
• Ensure safety, regulatory compliance, and environmental procedures are followed.
• Maintain shift documentation: log sheets, PTO/vacation calendars, and daily reports.
• Train staff on safety procedures, process operations, and equipment handling.
• Review and sign off on shift process parameters and readings; escalate out-of-spec readings.

Skills

Active Listening

Speaking

Coordination

Critical Thinking

Management of Personnel Resources

Reading Comprehension

Time Management

Judgment and Decision Making

Monitoring

Social Perceptiveness

Deductive Reasoning

Written Comprehension

Speech Clarity

Problem Sensitivity

Written Expression

Category Flexibility

Work at heights / PPE compliance

Education

High School Diploma or G.E.D.

Job description

Join the Family - Come work for an exciting company offering great benefits, challenging opportunities, and colleagues who feel more like family. Job Summary The Shift Supervisor plays a critical role in maintaining operational excellence, safety, and service standards at the plant. This position serves as a key support and is expected to be a hands-on leader who fosters strong relationships with team members, drives communication, and ensures smooth production processes.

TASKS

• Ensure compliance with all applicable safety and environmental regulations – PSM, RMP, OSHA - and procedures.
• Direct and coordinate the activities of employees engaged in the operation and production of two ammonia units, one nitric acid unit and one liquid ammonium nitrate unit, OSB/L utility areas, 6000 Emulsion plant area and all Loading activities
• Coordinate work processes with plant management and other supervisors to ensure safe, efficient operations of all processes.
• Operations weekly time off schedule complete and posted two weeks in advance.
• Ensure there are no issues with proper vacation coverage.
• Ensure all vacation is completely scheduled per Handbook requirements
• Inspect and monitor process plants to detect potential process issues or needed maintenance.
• Review and signoff on all Log sheets each shift ensuring that out of specification readings are highlighted.
• Observe work and monitor process parameters and indicators to ensure that operators conform to production processing standards.
• Conduct employee training in safety procedures, process and equipment operations, work duties and assign employee training to experienced workers.
• Interpret process safety information, job orders, and company policies and procedures for workers.
• Ensure Team Members have a clear understanding of the Current shift requirements as outlined in the Special Orders provided by Operations Management.
• Keep records of employees' attendance and hours worked.
• Update PTO Log and Vacation Calendar
• Initiate and participate in investigations as required by company policy.

Administrative Duties

• Complete and ensure accuracy of all required Green Environmental sheets each shift.
• Ensure the Nightly Production Report is entered correctly and completely.
• Turn all daily paperwork in to the Proper Production Superintendent.
• Ensure Employee Evaluations are completed when due.
• Supervisor Shift Logs should be entered with detailed comments of each working area

Minimum Information needed

• a. Any deviations to Special Orders
• b. Work Orders written
• c. Limiting Factors for plant productivity
• d. Safety concerns
• e. pond levels and issues

KNOWLEDGE

• Production and Processing: Knowledge of chemical processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing production.
• Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership techniques, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Personnel and Human Resources: Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel management, training, and time keeping.
• Computers and Electronics: Working knowledge of computer systems and business administration software applications. Understanding of interaction and application of electronic instrumentation and Distributive Control Systems (DCS).
• Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, and asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
• Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand.
• Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• The ability to work at heights, navigate ladders and stairs, lift 50 pounds without assistance and operate valves and other controls in the field.
• The ability to participate/lead emergency response teams
• Meet physical requirements to wear personal protective equipment mandated by OSHA or USN policy.

WORK ACTIVITIES

• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

PREREQUISITES

• High School Diploma or G.E.D.
• 21 years of age with one of the following: Associate degree, military service or two years manufacturing experience.
• Prefer 5+ Years of supervisor or leadership experience.
• Preferably in a chemical manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of Process Safety Management and a good understanding of general process control preferred.
• Project management and budget management experience preferred.
• This is a safety sensitive position which requires employees to disclose the use of any prescription medications that may affect the Employee’s ability to perform safely the essential functions of his or her position to Human Resources.

Austin Powder is an Equal Opportunity and Aff… Austin Powder also participates in E-Verify. This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and for inquiring about, discussing or disclosing compensation. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

SINCE 1833, IMPROVING THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. Austin Powder has been making explosives for over 190 years and we take great pride in improving the world we live in. In 1833, the Austin family created the company to produce black powder that would help break the rock, mine the minerals and build the canals and railroads to develop the frontier. Initially along the banks of the Cuyahoga River near Akron, Ohio, we grew as the country grew. Today, Austin Powder is a world leader in the industrial explosives industry with a passionate commitment towards safety, a relentless customer focus, a family culture work environment, and a demonstration of respect of towards all. As in our early years, our mission continues to be to improve the world we live in through the safe and responsible use of explosives. Our success has been based on our core values and this has proven to be universally true around the globe as the company has expanded to be one of the leading providers of industrial explosives and blasting services in the world.