Production Area Manager (Heavy Equipment) - Don Plant (Pocatello, ID)

J.R. Simplot Company - Pocatello, ID

Full-time - Mid Level

Pocatello, ID

Chemical Manufacturing

About the position

The J.R. Simplot Company is seeking a proactive maintenance and operations leader to provide leadership and direction in the effective operation and maintenance of equipment and processes. This role is critical in ensuring that operations are conducted in a safe, environmentally sound, and efficient manner, adhering to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. The incumbent will supervise, schedule, evaluate, train, and motivate hourly personnel while maintaining a high level of confidentiality. The position requires a strong focus on process, organizational, and personnel improvement efforts, with an emphasis on positively relating to others and representing the views of leadership effectively. In this role, the incumbent will identify process and equipment vulnerabilities and create actionable plans to address these findings. The position also involves providing technical expertise and project management discipline for new construction, expansion, and general capital improvements across various plant operating areas. The incumbent will oversee portions of the Heavy Equipment bid line in the Production Department, managing work groups such as the labor pool, hydroblasting/industrial vacuum crews, and dry product loading (bulking). Frequent coordination and communication with the JRS Corporate Transportation Team and the Supply and Operations Planning Group are essential to ensure seamless operations. Key responsibilities include ensuring environmental compliance, working closely with contractors and internal stakeholders, maintaining training certifications, coordinating day-to-day operations, monitoring maintenance activities, and supporting production supervisors. The incumbent will also be responsible for developing annual expense budgets, managing asset readiness, and participating in ongoing reliability efforts to enhance operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Ensure environmental compliance through knowledge of requirements, providing clear expectations and guidance, and maintaining a high level of accountability.
• Work closely with key contractors and internal stakeholders providing inspection services for high-pressure waterblasting pumps and industrial vacuum equipment.
• Maintain WaterJet Technology Association (WJTA) training certification for the facility and deliver WJTA training and certification for hydro blasters and vacuum technicians.
• Perform routine audits of jobs and associated personnel to verify training is up to date, procedures are accurate and being followed, and checklists are being utilized for all high-pressure water blasting and vacuum activities.
• Coordinate day to day operations for all dry product loading areas; collaboration with front line leaders and management across various plant operating units and departments.
• Closely monitor execution of maintenance activities and ensure personnel are working together to minimize downtime and maximize work effectiveness.
• Set example, sustain open communications, coach hourly employees and provide training opportunities, set goals, conduct performance evaluations, remedy employee work issues.
• Support the production supervisors and serve as a liaison to maintenance management, communicating appropriate information to the appropriate level.
• Assist in the development and execution of goals for the Production Department and cascade area specific expectations and goals down through railyard and load rack areas.
• Develop annual expense budgets and effectively manage to these plans and initiate appropriate action to mitigate variances.
• Manage and be responsible for asset readiness, including workflow requirements, to achieve short-term, defined key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Assist with ongoing reliability efforts by identifying bad actors, participating in root cause analysis, and working with Maintenance and Engineering on elimination plans.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree (B.A. or B.S.) from a 4-year college/university preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• 8+ years' experience and/or training in mining and/or manufacturing fields leading both salaried and hourly personnel.
• Expertise with heavy equipment, high-pressure water blasting, and fleet management preferred.
• Experience interfacing with and maintaining strong relationships with regulatory agencies (i.e., OSHA, FRA, etc.).
• Experience working with unions desired.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and communicate effectively with personnel in multiple departments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong computer knowledge (i.e., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, JDE preferred, timekeeping).

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in the successful planning and execution of complex projects or programs (major plant expansions, plant maintenance outages, departmental management).
• Demonstrated knowledge in preparing capital requests and managing project or program budgets.