Assistant Yard Manager

The Franklin Investment Corporation dba Franklin Industries•Franklin, PA

About The Position

The Assistant Yard Manager leads, coordinates, and oversees the performance of the Yard Department. The role directs daily operations for the safe receipt, preparation, storage, inventory, and movement of raw rail material, maintaining a continuous supply of properly prepared material to the Mill. The position leads the Breaker Operator, Logistics Coordinator, Inside Loader Operator, and Locomotive Crane Operator, and coordinates with the Yard/Mill Manager and other departments to support uninterrupted mill production. The role is accountable for departmental safety, inventory accuracy, material flow, equipment reliability, workforce development, and continuous improvement. Duties include overseeing yard operations and staffing; managing raw material receiving, inventory, and logistics; coordinating equipment maintenance; recruiting, training, coaching, and evaluating employees; reviewing operational and administrative records; supporting cost and efficiency initiatives; and leading cross-functional coordination and process improvements. The Assistant Yard Manager is also expected to implement employee development and succession-planning practices and perform the position independently with minimal guidance. This is a safety-sensitive position in a combination office and outdoor heavy industrial manufacturing environment. The work involves exposure to rail traffic, heavy equipment, suspended loads, weather, heat, noise, dust, and vibration. PPE is required in production areas. Physical demands include routinely walking yard and production areas, climbing on and around equipment and railcars, standing and walking for extended periods, and occasionally lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds. A physical examination and drug screen are conditions of securing the job; the company also conducts criminal background checks of job offerees and reviews records case by case.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least five years of progressive manufacturing, logistics, or material-handling experience.
Demonstrated leadership experience in an industrial manufacturing environment.
Thorough understanding of rail receiving, inventory control, and material flow.
Strong communication, organizational, and decision-making skills.
Ability to analyze production and inventory data.
Ability to develop employees and build high-performing teams.
Ability to routinely walk yard and production areas; climb on and around heavy equipment and railcars; stand and walk for extended periods; and occasionally lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
Ability to work safely in office and outdoor industrial environments and use required PPE in production areas.
Successful completion of the required physical examination and drug screen is a condition of securing the job.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Business, Logistics, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related field.
Previous supervisory or management experience.
Experience with Sage 100 ERP or comparable inventory management systems.
Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement experience.
Root Cause Analysis and problem-solving experience.
Working knowledge of a front-end loader, locomotive crane, and rail breaker.

Responsibilities

Promote the company’s safety culture, enforce safety policies and regulatory requirements, conduct safety observations, investigate incidents and near misses, ensure required training, and promote safe rail, equipment, and material-handling practices.
Direct daily Yard operations and supervise the Breaker Operator, Logistics Coordinator, Inside Loader Operator, and Locomotive Crane Operator.
Set operational priorities, allocate personnel and resources, monitor performance, and foster accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Coordinate timely receipt, inspection, preparation, inventory, and prioritization of raw material to support uninterrupted Mill production.
Coordinate inbound rail, outbound scrap shipments, and internal material movement; oversee scale operations, shipping documentation, and Bills of Lading; coordinate railcars, transportation providers, and vendors; and address material-flow bottlenecks.
Coordinate maintenance with the Maintenance Department, monitor equipment condition, prioritize repair requests, support preventive maintenance, and assist with equipment improvement projects.
Recruit, interview, onboard, train, coach, mentor, and evaluate associates; support the Franklin Associate Development Program; identify future leaders; and develop succession plans.
Review production, inventory, and logistics reports; monitor attendance, overtime, and staffing; approve schedules and PTO; review shipping documentation and inventory records; and maintain accurate departmental documentation and regulatory compliance.
Monitor productivity and efficiency, support cost reduction, minimize waste and unnecessary handling, promote responsible asset use, and assist with budget planning and resource utilization.
Coordinate with the Yard/Mill Manager, Mill Adjuster, Assistant Production Shears Manager, Farm Manager, Highway Manager, Maintenance Manager, Shipping, Sales, and Human Resources; communicate priorities and operational issues; and participate in management meetings and strategic planning.
Lead Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives, apply structured problem-solving methods, encourage employee participation, and support approved process improvements.
Participate in special projects, fill operational roles during emergencies or staffing shortages as needed, and perform other duties as assigned.
Within 90 days, demonstrate operational leadership, use of company decision-making and communication standards, implementation of FADP processes, succession planning, employee coaching and development, use of operational data and KPIs, cross-functional coordination, continuous improvement leadership, and independent performance with minimal guidance.