Supervisor Operations and Maintenance

Specialty Granules LLC•Trona, CA

1d•$88,000 - $121,000

About The Position

The Operations and Maintenance Supervisor manages site operations and plant repair, alteration, and preventive maintenance to improve productivity. The role supervises production operators and maintenance technicians and works with the site manager to balance priorities, staffing, materials, and equipment availability while developing department and individual work schedules. The supervisor is responsible for workforce safety, work quality, and productivity, coordinating closely with Sales in a highly involved workplace. The position provides operational and technical leadership across production and maintenance, including planning and overseeing routine and outage work, supporting equipment reliability, developing employees, and addressing performance. It also supports cost management, capital projects, inventory and purchasing, and collaboration with Sales on new products. The position has 12 direct reports across two departments, no indirect reports, and limited domestic travel of 5%.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least 5 years of practical experience as a mechanic or electronic technician in a high-volume manufacturing operation; continuous-process experience preferred.
1–2 years of supervisor experience in a mining or manufacturing operation.
Intermediate proficiency in root cause analysis for troubleshooting and problem-solving.
Proficiency in electrical distribution systems and instrumentation.
Proficiency in PLC programming, debugging, and troubleshooting.
Ability to maintain electronic, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.
Intermediate proficiency with variable frequency drives and AC and DC drives.
Knowledge of rotating equipment, machine design, bearings, and lubrication.
Ability to read blueprints, schematics, shop drawings, and sketches.
Familiarity with standard manufacturing concepts, practices, and procedures.
Strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to lead, influence, and manage people, and establish and maintain performance and accountability standards.
Proficiency in Microsoft or Google Suite.
Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without an employer-sponsored visa.

Nice To Haves

Technical school training, diploma, or certification.
Experience in a continuous-process manufacturing operation.

Responsibilities

Supervise hourly production staff to ensure orders are met.
Supervise maintenance technicians and contractor work.
Manage planned and unplanned maintenance jobs, including daily work and maintenance outages.
Provide on-the-spot equipment expertise and technical guidance.
Improve communication and coordination among maintenance, operations, and Sales.
Manage planned maintenance hours to maximize machine-line efficiency and production volume.
Plan, coordinate, and implement maintenance activities to ensure timely completion and machine reliability.
Review issues arising during shutdowns and implement measures to prevent recurrence.
Maintain a safe workplace through company safety policies, housekeeping, and training standards.
Lead site-wide safety meetings, monitor compliance, inspect plant areas, and ensure deficiencies are resolved or communicated.
Ensure hourly personnel are trained and meet department and safety expectations.
Provide department leadership and administrative support.
Observe employee skills and provide on-the-job training, tutoring, and coaching.
Recommend improvements to methods, procedures, and work practices.
Address performance issues fairly and promptly, and provide timely feedback through the performance evaluation process.
Schedule employee workdays and days off with the plant manager, and approve or deny vacation and floating holidays based on work requirements.
Provide input on hiring maintenance technicians, assist with interviews for other roles such as engineers, and identify training needs.
Inspect completed work to ensure quality and reduce rework.
Support department expense goals by controlling maintenance costs without negatively affecting operations.
Minimize major repair and purchased maintenance costs by using company personnel for maintenance and capital projects when possible.
Evaluate alternative parts and suppliers to improve costs, and identify shop and fabrication work that can be done in-house.
Support major plant capital projects and participate in reviewing equipment design, layout, and safety aspects.
Collaborate with Sales to develop and trial new products.
Communicate project plans and progress to site employees and relay employee suggestions and concerns.
Ensure personnel understand changes resulting from new equipment.
Maintain onsite inventory and update counts in management systems.
Submit purchase requisitions for site supplies and purchases.
Submit capital requests and assist with capital project management.