Production Manager

About the Role

WE Soda is the world's largest and most sustainable producer of soda ash, with operations in Turkey and two US-based facilities located in Green River, Wyoming. We strive to be the global leader in safe, sustainable, and innovative soda ash solutions, inspiring progress and creating a lasting positive impact for our industry and communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee safe, reliable and cost-effective railcar loading and truck loading to meet or exceed business needs and objectives
• Execute operating plans and management of results against plans
• Accountable to manage production costs to budget
• Lead and implement plant Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) programs and standards including crew safety action plans
• Provide leadership, direction, growth, and development for Production Supervisors
• Communicate and partner with other plants and maintenance personnel to support safe, reliable operations for the plant
• Apply and ensure utilization of continuous improvement tools to drive improvements to safety, cost, capacity utilization, reliability, and productivity
• Drive cultural change and a continuous improvement mindset
• Coordinate with the maintenance and financial teams to manage assets for the plant facilities
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws and WE Soda policies, procedures, and requirements
• Enforce approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and WE Soda requirements

Activities

• Provide leadership and implementation of EHS and manufacturing standards and best practices and drive consistency across plant operations
• Execute plant operations to meet the S&OP targets for the business including EHS, production, cost, quality, and reliability
• Accountable to manage and reconcile financial and business budgets and forecasts for production
• Partner with S&OP manager, production managers, maintenance, and financial leaders to ensure the integration and balance of production requirements across Westvaco surface operations to optimize safety, cost, and reliability
• Develop and grow front-line leader talent including coaching and mentorship
• Review and drive performance objectives and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) within the plant area; KPIs are reported daily, weekly, and monthly while addressing any low performing indicators with appropriate action plans
• Execute the work priorities needed to maintain the plant assets including the prioritization of maintenance, capital, and engineering projects
• Partner with Human Resources in labor relations, employee relations, and contract administration
• Manage accurate employee scheduling to maintain consistent railcar loading operations, making sure coverage is provided for vacation, sick leave, and call offs
• Communicate production plans and make sure these are followed
• Maintain appropriate level of inventory in silos and on railcars
• Support ISO 9000 efforts within the plant
• Ensure Distribution functions are compliant with food safety (i.e.: Q7A, FSMA, FSSC 22000 and ISO 9001) as applicable
• Provide back up for the Distribution Manager to represent the department during customer, certification, and regulatory audits/inspections
• Serve as a member of the Food Safety Team
• Serve as a member of Product Withdrawal/Recall/Recover/Complaint Assessment Committee
• Serve as relief coverage for Distribution Manager and Fleet Supervisor on all related duties during absence
• Perform Weekend Duty as required
• Host customer certification and regulatory audits/inspections

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent required; B.S. in Engineering/Chemistry OR Supply Chain & Logistics preferred
• 5+ years plant operational experience required
• Demonstrated supervisory skills including one-year industrial supervisory experience required
• Rail/Distribution experience strongly preferred
• Project management experience preferred
• Experience with MS applications including but not limited to Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and Teams