Asphalt Plant - Operations Manager

Kokosing•Cleveland, OH

About The Position

Kokosing Materials, Inc. is seeking an experienced, results-driven Asphalt Plant - Operations Manager to lead regional asphalt operational performance across safety, production, maintenance, team leadership, quality control, and capital improvement initiatives. The manager ensures plants operate safely, efficiently, and profitably while supporting the company's growth objectives. The role calls for a hands-on operational leader who can build high-performing teams, drive continuous improvement, manage capital projects, and deliver strong production results. The position oversees safety compliance and culture, plant production and quality, team development, preventive and predictive maintenance, asset management, capital expenditure planning and execution, and financial and business performance. It works in partnership with area managers, plant teams, vendors, contractors, sales, and quality control to meet company objectives. The role may require extended hours, nights, weekends, and varying schedules during peak construction periods.

Requirements

20 years of experience in asphalt plant operations, aggregates, industrial manufacturing, or related industries.
15 or more years of leadership experience managing production teams and plant operations.
Demonstrated success leading safety, production, and maintenance.
Experience managing capital projects and annual CapEx budgets.
Strong understanding of asphalt plant operations, equipment, and production processes.
Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to analyze operational data and implement process improvements.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and plant operating systems.
Knowledge of aggregates, liquid asphalt, RAP/RAS, mix designs, and material handling.
Ability to work extended hours, nights, weekends, and varying schedules during peak construction periods.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Operations Management, or a related field.
Experience with Astec, Gencor, Dillman, or similar asphalt plant systems.
OSHA 30 certification or equivalent safety training.

Responsibilities

Champion a world-class safety culture with zero-incident expectations and ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, MSHA where applicable, and company safety standards.
Support area managers in conducting routine safety audits, inspections, and training programs.
Lead incident investigations and support implementation of corrective actions.
Drive employee engagement and accountability in safety initiatives.
Oversee regional asphalt plant operations to achieve production, quality, and delivery objectives.
Develop and support teams in executing production schedules that meet customer and operational demands.
Monitor throughput, plant utilization, downtime, and production costs.
Optimize plant efficiency, fuel consumption, and material usage, and ensure asphalt mixes meet specifications and quality standards.
Lead, coach, and develop area managers, plant operators, maintenance personnel, and the parts department.
Build a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Ensure area managers recruit, train, and retain talent; conduct performance evaluations and succession planning; and promote employee engagement and professional development.
Direct preventive and predictive maintenance programs to maximize plant reliability.
Coordinate major repairs, shutdowns, and equipment upgrades; manage maintenance budgets and critical spare parts inventory.
Work with vendors and contractors to support equipment performance and longevity, and minimize unplanned downtime through proactive asset management.
Develop and manage annual capital expenditure plans and budgets.
Identify opportunities for plant modernization, automation, and infrastructure improvements.
Prepare ROI analyses and business cases for capital investments.
Lead capital projects from planning through completion, ensuring they finish on time, within budget, and aligned with operational goals.
Manage operating budgets and control production costs.
Analyze performance metrics and support budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning.
Drive initiatives that improve operational efficiency and profitability.
Partner with sales and QC to meet company objectives.