Production Operator IV

GAF • Newton, KS

2d • Onsite

About The Position

At GAF, we cover more than just buildings. We cover each other. Under this roof, you will have the tools and resources you need to grow and develop in your career. You will experience our incredible culture and will be empowered to support your teammates, your customers, and especially your community. Under this roof, we define the future while leading the present through our deep well of experience and our responsibility to the future to drive improvements and innovation in our products. We are GAF. And under this roof, we protect what matters most.
About GAF - Newton, Kansas
Newton is a vibrant Kansas community founded in 1871 on a spirit of work, from its earliest days as a railroad, agriculture and cattle drive hub. With a population of about 20,000, Newton and neighboring North Newton features an active arts community, three National Historic Districts, a variety of museums, trails, restaurants, shops and attractions, Bethel College, award winning school districts, a championship golf course, first-class convention center and many other amenities. This collaborative region is close to dynamic Wichita and may be the next best place for you to call home, in GAF’s newest “Field of Dreams!”
New Plant, New Opportunities
If you haven’t been part of a greenfield startup, now is your chance. GAF is the North American leader in residential roofing materials. We are honored to be constructing our newest shingle manufacturing facility in Newton KS and hiring is underway as we build our initial plant leadership team. Due to our investment in training and the development of employees, you will have the opportunity to travel to our other locations, engage with peers, support the hiring of plant staff and participate in the design and construction of the facility. Expect your first years to be rewarding and challenging with an amazing team fully supporting you. You will wear many hats during the construction and commissioning phases of the project, and ease into your steady role over time.
Job Summary
The Operator IV serves as a Master Technician, responsible for optimizing plant-wide production systems, defining best practices, and ensuring operational excellence. This role involves diagnosing and resolving complex, systemic process issues, owning high-impact continuous improvement projects, and directly training and certifying all levels of Production Operators.

Requirements

• H.S. Diploma or General Education Degree (GED)
• 5+ years of experience in a safety-sensitive industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated mastery of all critical production systems, setups, and changeovers across multiple lines.
• Proven history of leading continuous improvement projects and implementing safety/quality initiatives.
• A demonstrated commitment to safety
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to work as a team player
• Identifies and reports issues to supervisors and seeks proactive resolution
• Strong communication skills
• Adaptability to changes in production schedules or processes to maintain workflow
• A relentless pursuit for learning and improving processes within the production role
• Ability to follow instructions and make basic decisions within the scope of the role
• Ability to identify problems and resolve conflicts within a collaborative, team-driven environment
• Excellent organization skills
• Expert proficiency in G suite and various operating platforms and production applications.
• Adherence to health and safety policies, including the use of personal protective equipment.
• Understanding product safety regulations and handling instructions for hazardous substances.
• Expert understanding of the operation and maintenance of production machinery and associated processes.
• Familiarity with machine settings and making adjustments as needed to ensure smooth operation.
• Expert ability to identify and resolve issues and adjust settings to maintain production quality across interconnected systems.
• Awareness of production logistics, including handling and testing of pallets and materials.
• Expert familiarity with quality assurance protocols, such as knowledge of trial procedures, collecting samples for testing and verifying production targets.

Nice To Haves

• 5+ years experience in high-volume manufacturing, distribution or logistics.
• Certification or advanced training in continuous improvement initiatives and Lean Manufacturing Methodologies (e.g., TPS, Kaizen, Six Sigma (green/black belt), 5S).
• Expert proficiency in root-cause analysis tools and techniques (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone).
• Multi-line production experience and documented success in optimizing parameters plant-wide.
• Advanced leadership, mentoring, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and audit complex setups and changeovers across multiple production lines, including line clearances and equipment adjustments, ensuring proper documentation.
• Define and implement optimal machine parameters across all production lines to maximize flow, efficiency, and quality standards plant-wide.
• Serve as the plant-level technical expert for diagnosing and resolving complex, systemic process issues and major equipment failures using advanced root-cause analysis tools.
• Develop, implement, and audit preventive maintenance (PM) programs and work orders in collaboration with maintenance and engineering teams.
• Design and manage high-level defect containment strategies and corrective actions, ensuring site-wide compliance with quality assurance protocols.
• Audit and maintain production data integrity at a macro level, including accurate tracking of scrap, downtime codes, and throughput metrics, and report findings to management.
• Lead the planning and execution of trials for new products and processes, and be responsible for the creation and publication of all associated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Lead and implement major continuous improvement initiatives, including Kaizen events and 5S audits, driving cultural change and measurable improvements.
• Own and direct plant safety activities, such as near-miss reporting, Job Safety Analyses (JSAs), and safety audits, ensuring all personnel adhere to policies.
• Act as the primary trainer and certifier for Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 operators, including developing advanced training materials.
• Ensure effective shift handoffs with clear documentation and communication, mentoring shift leads on best practices.
• Regularly act as shift lead, backfill, or Area Supervisor, coordinating team activities and ensuring smooth operations across a defined zone.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Engineering, R&D, Management) to define and drive reliability improvements and achieve long-term production goals.
• Partners with other key stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of Process/project engineering, Maintenance and other process improvement projects, and becomes the practical expert to train and lead the change with the frontline team.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Benefits

• We offer a wide range of health insurance options that include medical, dental, and vision for you and your family.
• Our Family-Building benefits support the many different journeys to fertility and parenthood.
• Our robust 401K plan includes an employer match contribution with your pre-tax and/or Roth contributions.
• Other exciting programs and perks are available to help employees achieve work-life balance, including (but not limited to) a wellness program, free financial coaching, a referral program, and product rebates when purchased for an employee’s primary residence.
• Professional growth and development are very important to us! We offer internal training programs and courses, as well as a generous tuition reimbursement program.
• We're committed to fostering a culture that reflects our values to connect, empower, evolve, and inspire. We offer many opportunities for employees to connect with one another, including through our Employee Resource Groups who focus on education and allyship for all of our employees.
• competitive salary, benefits, 401k, and vacation packages for all full time permanent positions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED