Plant Superintendent - Plywood

Reporting to the Vice President, this full-time position requires availability for day and some weekend shifts.

About the Role

We are an innovative leader in the engineered wood products industry, seeking a high-performing individual to lead in a fast-paced environment. Your work will involve interfacing with multiple vendors, contractors, businesses, and our own employees and manufacturing processes to ensure high-quality, on-time, within-budget products for end customers. Join Freres Engineered Wood at the forefront of the mass timber revolution, contributing to sustainable, high-impact projects that support the use of our plywood and patented Mass Ply technology.

The Plant 3 Superintendent reports to the Plant Manager and assists in leading the plywood production team in a continuous manufacturing environment. This position is key to the company and plant’s production and overall success, including supervising shift supervisors, coordinating with employees, setting deadlines, communicating with the plant manager and owners about production status, and ensuring production quality of plywood is maintained. A great degree of creativity and latitude is required, with a hands-on approach and willingness to assist where needed.

Responsibilities

Administration

• Assist the Plant Manager in creating and managing budgets and monitor monthly expenses.
• Develop proficiency with company software programs, including Lumber Track for reviewing sales orders, releases, and dispatch.
• Develop competency with the current HRIS system to approve timecards, PTO requests, and enter/monitor employee discipline.
• Coordinate with vendors and suppliers as needed.
• Develop computer literacy and proficiency in commonly used business software such as spreadsheets and word processing.
• Develop proficient mathematical skills to understand production units, values, and costs.
• Effective document management to record necessary HR information and compliance.

Management

• Assist the Plant Manager in maintaining productive relationships with other plant managers and management.
• Coordinate with the Co-gen manager regarding energy sources (e.g., natural gas or steam) to anticipate cost savings or compliance with contractual obligations.
• Coordinate with the Transportation Manager to ensure efficient truck scheduling and adequate product materials.
• Coordinate with Green End Managers to ensure efficient scheduling and delivery of raw materials for weekly production.
• Coordinate with Sales/Scheduling to efficiently plan production weeks and anticipate load discrepancies or other roadblocks.
• Analyze data and create reports for corporate management.
• Work closely with owners, upper management, and plant employees to relay information about changing company needs.
• Demonstrate ability to read, write, verbalize, and comprehend instructions and correspondence, and effectively present information in group settings.

Leadership

• Assist the Plant Manager in recruiting and training new employees.
• Oversee work schedules to ensure coverage.
• Form solid partnerships with employees and leaders to foster high levels of teamwork, development, trust, and performance.
• Provide constructive feedback, advice, and encouragement to team members.

Production & Safety & Sales

• Ensure a safe working environment that focuses on minimizing workplace injury and compliance with safety protocols.
• Assist the Plant Manager in developing plans to help operations run smoothly.
• Oversee daily operations for optimum efficiency and ensure a safe workplace.
• Project and anticipate veneer needs and sale availability.
• Coordinate directly with customers, dispatch, and logistics to communicate releases and availability in real-time.
• Collect and review data to reduce inefficiencies and waste.
• Oversee quality control to maintain expected products and standards.
• Responsible for employees’ safety, production, quality, and cleanliness of the overall facility.

Equipment

• Demonstrate proficiency with production computer systems to allow effective, efficient utilization of available technology.
• Develop an understanding of efficient plant operations regardless of heat source, product species, or seasoning.
• Learn how to program moisture management systems (Sequoia) to maximize dryer production and enhance product quality.
• Develop an understanding of density grading principles and grade set-up (Metriguard) to optimize density recovery.

Other Responsibilities

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

Physical Demands

• Standing, walking, sitting, lifting, carrying, balancing, stooping, reaching, handling, and feeling.
• Must be able to work in an office environment as well as a shop/production environment and outside environments, both hot and cold, as job duties require.
• Continual exposure to loud operating machinery, chemicals, and vapors.
• Visual requirements include reading off a computer screen as well as printed and copied materials.
• A high degree of dexterity, as well as verbal and auditory skills, are required due to frequent use of telephone consoles.

Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge and experience of a plant and manufacturing organization.
• Ability to lead and develop a large team that supports an efficient, positive work environment.
• Understand the actionable steps needed to support, train, and model clear and concise expectations for direct reports.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Cost and risk management skills.
• Must be enthusiastic about adopting Freres Engineered Wood’s Core Values: Resolute, Innovative, Bold, Loyal, and Trustworthy.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and manage them efficiently and effectively.
• Ability to make important decisions under pressure and effectively coach subordinates to do the same.
• Ability to effectively problem-solve.
• Must be flexible and adaptable to changing roles and responsibilities.
• Three or more years’ supervisory and/or managerial experience in the timber industry.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work collaboratively and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, customers, and visitors.
• Experience with Microsoft Office 365.
• Experience using a scanner/tagging system for inventory control.

Benefits

• Highly competitive wage (DOE).
• Paid Time Off (PTO).
• Health, dental, and life insurance.
• Short-term and Long-term Disability.
• Section 125.
• 401K.
• Discretionary Quarterly Profit-Sharing Bonus Program.
• Holiday Pay.

About the 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 offering 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!