Heavy Equipment Operations Supervisor – Compost | Req 3885

About the role

The Heavy Equipment Operations Supervisor – Compost & Mulch is responsible for supervising activities related to receiving, handling, processing, composting, and selling bulk organic materials as part of the facility operations leadership team. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong yard management experience, heavy equipment operating expertise, and the ability to lead by example in a fast-paced outdoor production environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop a workplace culture in line with Denali’s four values: Care For Our Future, Climb Higher, Dig Deeper, and Stand Together.
• Understand, communicate, enforce, and adhere to safe work practices and all applicable safety and environmental regulations, policies, procedures, and standards.
• Ensure efficient, safe operation of equipment, including but not limited to wheel loaders, excavators, dozers, grinders, screens, coloring, and mixing equipment. Work with operators to identify and remove unsafe work conditions.
• Collaborate with maintenance team and enforce daily equipment housekeeping to minimize downtime and maximize productive equipment utilization. Assist with preventative maintenance and minor repairs of equipment.
• Implement and maintain asset management practices to track equipment performance and utilization.
• Ensure composting operations are completed in compliance with all regulatory requirements. Maintain composting data records, including temperatures, product testing, windrow/pile age, etc.
• Work closely with other members of the facility leadership team to ensure product is ready for bagging and bulk sales. Support bag production schedules and communicate effectively with sales staff to understand bulk demand.
• Contribute to planning and ensure compliance with site plans for material flow, including pile content identification, site layout and organization, and equipment and material movement.
• Manage inbound materials, determine whether new materials are acceptable, and ensure materials are tipped in the correct locations.
• Ensure facility is maintained to support operations, including by managing roads and material pile construction to ensure proper stormwater flow.
• Complete post-incident reviews and documentation for all injuries, accidents, and incidents. Work with the Facility Manager to implement necessary coaching and/or retraining.
• Ensure adequate staffing to achieve operational objectives. Communicate with frontline employees daily to establish expectations. Provide feedback on performance goals, explain daily operating plans, and enforce safety standards.
• Utilize daily and weekly operating reports to analyze trends, identify bottlenecks, and drive operational improvements. Identify and implement process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and output.
• Provide hands-on leadership by operating heavy equipment as needed to support daily production and staffing requirements.
• Manage day-to-day yard operations, including equipment utilization, traffic flow, material placement, and overall site organization.
• Train, coach, and mentor equipment operators on safe operating practices, productivity expectations, and equipment care.
• Monitor yard activities to ensure efficient movement of materials and equipment while maintaining a safe work environment.
• Communicate effectively with operators, maintenance personnel, leadership, and other departments to coordinate operational priorities and resolve issues.
• Lead by example through active participation in operational activities and a visible presence in the yard.

Minimum Qualifications

• A high school diploma or equivalent required
• 2+ years of supervisory experience
• Experience with operating and maintaining heavy equipment
• Experience managing yard operations, material flow, and equipment utilization
• Proven leadership experience managing and developing teams
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supervising heavy equipment operators in a composting, mulch, aggregate, recycling, landscaping, construction, or similar outdoor production environment
• 3+ years in Composting, Operations Management, Agriculture, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline
• Certified Compost Operations Manager (CCOM) or Certified Composting Professional (CCM) certification
• Experience with asset/equipment management systems
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook and Excel
• Bilingual fluency (English & Spanish) is a plus

Core Competencies & Skills

• Strong leadership and team development skills
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and manage time effectively
• Ability to troubleshoot equipment performance issues quickly and effectively
• Skilled in workflow planning, shift coordination, and labor allocation
• Ability to analyze operational reports and implement data-driven improvements
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Strong yard management and material flow coordination skills
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to lead by example and motivate teams in a hands-on operational environment
• Advanced heavy equipment operating knowledge and experience
• Strong decision-making skills in fast-paced production environments