Shift Supervisor – Plywood

Freres Lumber Co.; Independence (KS); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401K

Profit sharing

Employee discounts

401K

Profit sharing

Holiday pay

Bonuses

Employee discounts

Job summary

A leading mass timber manufacturer in Independence, Kansas, is seeking a Shift Supervisor for the plywood branch plant. You will supervise production and ensure the safety and efficiency of operations. The position requires strong leadership and problem-solving skills, with a focus on team development and quality control. Applicants should have significant experience in a supervisory role and excellent communication abilities. The company offers competitive pay, benefits, and a collaborative work environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of related work experience with shift/large crew supervision (50+ employees).
• Current forklift certification; experience with plywood or laminated veneer lumber is a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and negotiation skills.
• Strong leadership, analytics, and communication skills.
• Ability to make decisions under pressure and prioritize safety.

Responsibilities

• Lead the plywood production team in a continuous manufacturing environment.
• Supervise and coordinate production efforts to drive improvement.
• Inspect product quality and provide direction to team members.
• Inspect product quality and guide team to maximize efficiency.
• Record activities and issues for timely reporting; lead safety meetings.

Skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Communication

Teamwork

Time management

Education

High school diploma/GED preferred

Tools

Forklift

Microsoft Office 365

Inventory control software

Job description

The Shift Supervisor reports to the Plant Manager and will lead the plywood production team in a continuous manufacturing environment.

We are an innovative leader in mass timber manufacturing (specializing in patented Mass Ply Panels as a high-performance alternative to traditional CLT) and are seeking an experienced, skilled shift supervisor professional to join our team!

Join Freres Engineered Wood at the forefront of the mass timber revolution. You’ll contribute to sustainable, high-impact projects using our patented Mass Ply technology, collaborate with industry leaders and academic partners, help shape emerging standards, and grow your expertise in renewable construction solutions that support both rural communities and healthy forests.

Job Title Shift Supervisor - Plywood Branch Plant 3 Report To Plant Manager Schedule Schedule TBD After Training Period (10/hr days/Rotating shift) Status Full-time Wage Range $(DOE) Date March 2026

Essential Functions

• Responsible for employee’s safety, production, quality and cleanliness of the overall facility
• Supervise & coordinate production efforts that drive improvement in plant
• Build employee commitment and ownership and hold employees accountable
• Help Plant Manager with team development and growth, cross training employees, problem-solving and resolution in a face paced environment
• Inspect quality of product and provide direction to team members to maximize efficiency
• Oversee cycle counts to ensure accuracy: Identify damaged, lost or missing products
• Detailed, organized, data entry for producing management reports
• Lead safety meetings & trainings
• Excellent team player with good communication skills
• Flexible & contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results to meet deadlines
• Utilizing time management and being prepared
• Able to execute process when giving direction, verbal or written instructions
• Understand priorities as a supervisor while making every attempt to keep critical Equipment and personal producing to get the best performance in the safest manner.
• Must document all activity’s, situations and issues which are required to be recorded in a timely manner.

Other Responsibilities

Responsibilities are not limited to the above mentioned and may include assisting other branches within reasonable and related tasks.

Physical Demands

This role requires the ability to perform the following essential physical functions, with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Standing for an extended period-of-time
• Flexible Schedule: Working shift work and some weekends
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
• Ability to frequently walk distances, climb ladders, climb up on equipment, or stand for prolonged periods of time
• Exposed to airborne particles, dust, dirt and frequent high levels of noise
• Ability to bend, stoop, and/or squat frequently
• Exposed to outdoor weather conditions, and indoor conditions, including variations in temperature and conditions
• Consistently works near on or around mechanical parts
• Frequent reaching, handling, carrying and balancing
• Standing, Walking, Sitting, Lifting, Carrying, Balancing, Stooping, Reaching, Handling, Feeling, Communicating, Acuity-Far, Acuity-Near, Depth Perception, and Field of Vision.
• Must be able to work in an office environment as well as a shop and plant environment as job duties require. May be exposed to loud operating machinery, cold and hot temperatures, chemicals, and vapors.

Qualifications

• High school diploma/GED preferred
• Current forklift certification; some Mill experience, particularly with plywood, laminated veneer lumber, etc. a plus
• 5+ yrs of related work experience with shift/large crew supervision (50+ EE’s)
• Proven leadership skills
• Good analytical, problem-solving skills, computer and math skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication and negotiation skills
• Positive and Excellent Interpersonal and Customer Service skills
• Ability to make important decisions under pressure
• Time management skills
• Must be flexible and adaptable to changing roles and responsibilities.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and manage efficiently and effectively.
• Computer literacy in commonly used business software products such as spreadsheets, word processing and database management
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work collaboratively and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, plant management and customers
• Experience with Microsoft Office 365
• Experience using a scanner/tagging system for inventory control

We offer a highly competitive wage, PTO, health, dental and life insurance, Section 125, 401K, profit sharing, Holiday Pay and discretionary quarterly bonuses.

Employee discounts as well as for vendors such as Columbia Sportswear, Carhartt, etc.

Our Company

Freres Engineered Wood, formerly Freres Lumber Co., Inc. was established in 1922 in Lyons, Oregon as a family-owned and operated wood products manufacturing business. Three generations of family management have led the Company’s veneer and plywood manufacturing facilities to sustain in the Santiam Canyon and we are committed to operating for another 100+ years.

We operate six processing plants, including a small log veneer plant, large log veneer plant, veneer drying facility, plywood plant and cogeneration facility. We are dedicated to reinvesting in our modern manufacturing facilities, providing high-quality wood products, and providing family wage jobs within our communities. We specialize in creating the highest quality wood products, from raw log to finished products, including hog fuel, bark fines, chips, shavings, specialty veneer, grade lumber, high-quality sheathing grade plywood and even electricity.

Our passion for continuous improvement aligned with our innovative approach to manufacturing has led us to become the sole producer and developer of a unique, patented wood product, the Mass Plywood Panel. If you have a growth mindset and thrive under pressure, you’re probably a great fit for our team!