Ready Mix Operations Manager

KRC Corporation • Stockton, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Knife River is a PEOPLE-first company, committed to providing its team members with the tools, training, and time to do their jobs productively and safely. As one of the 10 largest construction materials producers/contractors in the Country and a publicly traded company on the NYSE (KNF), Knife River aims to build strong teams that build strong communities. The Operations Manager will oversee the day-to-day performance of multiple ready-mix concrete plants and fleet operations throughout Northern California. This leadership role involves managing plant managers, dispatchers, drivers, and production teams to ensure safe, efficient, and profitable operations. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader capable of balancing operational demands, employee development, customer expectations, regulatory compliance, and financial performance, requiring strong industry knowledge, sound decision-making, and relationship-building skills.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of progressive leadership experience in ready-mix concrete, aggregates, construction materials, or related heavy industrial operations.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple facilities, plants, or operational teams.
• Strong understanding of ready-mix concrete production, dispatch, fleet management, maintenance practices, and quality control.
• Knowledge of OSHA, Cal/OSHA, DOT, environmental regulations, and industry best practices.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage change, and drive operational improvements.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and operational management systems.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, Engineering, Business Management, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Experience managing operations across multiple locations.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and KPI-driven performance management.
• Knowledge of California construction and ready-mix markets.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for ready-mix production, fleet operations, and plant performance across assigned Northern California locations.
• Ensure all facilities operate safely, efficiently, and in compliance with company standards and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor production schedules, plant capacity, dispatch activities, and delivery performance to meet customer expectations.
• Partner with sales and operations teams to align production resources with market demand and project requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce operational costs, and enhance overall operational performance.
• Promote a strong safety culture throughout all operations.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, Cal/OSHA, DOT, environmental, and company safety requirements.
• Lead incident investigations, corrective action plans, safety meetings, and ongoing safety training programs.
• Conduct regular site visits and operational audits to identify risks and drive continuous improvement.
• Oversee plant maintenance programs to maximize equipment reliability and minimize downtime.
• Coordinate with fleet maintenance teams to ensure trucks and mobile equipment remain safe, compliant, and operational.
• Monitor inventory levels of cement, aggregate, admixtures, fuel, and other critical materials.
• Ensure plants, yards, equipment, and fleet assets are maintained in a professional and organized manner.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and manage plant managers, supervisors, drivers, dispatch personnel, and production employees.
• Establish clear expectations, provide coaching, and conduct performance evaluations.
• Foster a positive, accountable work environment focused on teamwork, communication, and employee growth.
• Support workforce planning, succession planning, and employee retention efforts.
• Partner with quality control personnel to ensure products consistently meet customer specifications and industry standards.
• Monitor production processes and batching accuracy.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions when quality concerns arise.
• Drive consistency across all operational locations.
• Manage operational budgets and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, production, quality, maintenance, and profitability.
• Review labor, material, maintenance, and transportation costs to identify improvement opportunities.
• Assist in annual budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning activities.
• Support business growth initiatives and capital improvement projects.
• Maintain strong working relationships with customers, contractors, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Address operational issues promptly and professionally.
• Support customer satisfaction efforts through reliable service, quality products, and responsive communication.
• Participate in special projects and strategic initiatives as assigned.
• Travel regularly to plant locations throughout Northern California.
• Provide operational support during peak production periods, emergencies, or other business-critical situations.

Benefits

• Good Pay
• Good Benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager