Assistant Plant Manager

Gopher Resource

41d

About The Position

The Assistant Plant Manager provides senior operational leadership to our Tampa facility. This role strengthens day‑to‑day operational performance, asset reliability and drives cross‑functional improvement initiatives in EHS, quality and training. The position reports directly in the Vice President of Tampa Operations.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field from an accredited College or University
At least 3 years of previous work experience managing engineers or operations supervisors within a manufacturing operations environment
Previous experience leading production and/or maintenance teams
Proven ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives and deliver measurable results
Excellent problem‑solving, communication, and decision‑making skills
Previous experience supporting capital projects or modernization initiatives
Previous experience with driving safety/environmental performance improvement
Strong project and program management skills
Highly motivated and self-directed; ability to work well under pressure, manage and prioritize multiple tasks concurrently, attend to details, and meet deadlines
Technical proficiency with PC and maintenance/operational software applications (e.g. CMMS, Wonderware. Pi, etc.)
Willingness and ability to wear a full-face respirator mask directly against skin (e.g. clean shaven if applicable), work in a hot/high temperature production facility, and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in designated areas with or without reasonable accommodation
Willingness and ability to comply with safety protocols and company-provided decontamination measures which include utilizing private shower facilities upon leaving the plant environment with or without reasonable accommodation

Nice To Haves

Previous experience working in a chemical manufacturing or heavy industrial manufacturing setting strongly preferred, but not required
Previous experience with reliability, operations discipline, and continuous improvement preferred, but not required
Lean/Six Sigma certifications preferred, but not required

Responsibilities

Lead plant‑wide performance improvement initiatives focused on throughput, uptime and cost per ton.
Own and manage key operational KPIs, ensuring consistent tracking, analysis, and corrective action.
Drive standardization of processes, procedures, and operating practices across departments.
Provide direct leadership to the site maintenance team.
Support capital planning and asset‑management strategies and processes.
Lead the Training & Development function to ensure operators and supervisors have the skills needed for safe, consistent, high‑quality production.
Strengthen process discipline through improved onboarding, certification, and refresher training programs.
Support root‑cause investigations and corrective actions for EHS, customer complaints or quality deviations.
Partner with Safety and Environmental leaders to ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements.
Support audits, inspections, corrective actions, and continuous improvement in risk‑reduction practices.
Reinforce operational controls and adherence to standard operating procedures.
Lead and execute high‑impact strategic initiatives as assigned
Provide project leadership, cross‑functional coordination, and measurable results.
Serve as the primary escalation point when the Plant Manager/VP of Operations is unavailable.