Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field preferred.
7-10 years of progressive manufacturing or industrial operations experience required.
3-5 years of leadership experience in production or plant management environment.
Experience in mineral processing, food, pharmaceutical, or regulated manufacturing environments preferred.
Proven track record of driving operational improvements and plant performance.
Responsibilities
Lead daily production activities for safe and efficient operations.
Collaborate with the Plant Manager to achieve site objectives and priorities.
Coordinate across production, maintenance, quality, and supply chain functions.
Improve operational discipline and accountability within the plant.
Monitor KPIs and identify opportunities for enhanced productivity and profitability.
Drive Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
Develop a culture of accountability and teamwork among employees.
Benefits
Opportunity for career advancement into plant leadership roles.
Engagement in a hands-on production leadership role.
Involvement in continuous improvement initiatives.
Exposure to high-quality food safety and environmental standards.
Support in workforce planning, recruiting, and employee development.
Full Job Description
BASIC FUNCTION:
Based at our Superior, Arizona production facility, the Deputy Plant Manager is responsible for supporting the overall leadership, performance, and continuous improvement of the site while directly leading production operations. This role serves as the operational partner to the Plant Manager and plays a key role in strengthening day-to-day execution, improving reliability, developing people, and driving operational excellence across a food-grade, pharmaceutical, and industrial mineral manufacturing environment. The position combines hands-on production leadership with broader plant management responsibilities and is designed as a development path toward future plant leadership roles. The USAZ site operates under stringent food safety, quality, environmental, and safety standards including FSSC 22000, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Operations Leadership
Lead daily production activities to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operations
Partner with the Plant Manager to execute site objectives, operational priorities, and continuous improvement plans
Coordinate production, maintenance, quality, warehouse, and supply chain activities to achieve production, cost, and service targets
Improve operational discipline, shift execution, communication, and accountability across the plant
Monitor KPIs and operational performance, identifying opportunities to improve productivity, reliability, and profitability
Support the transition from reactive operations toward a more structured, performance-driven operating model
Provide leadership presence on the production floor and support off-shift operations as required
Act as site operational leader in the absence of the Plant Manager
Continuous Improvement & Reliability
Drive Lean Manufacturing, root cause analysis, problem solving, and continuous improvement initiatives
Analyze production, quality, downtime, maintenance, and cost data to identify trends and improvement opportunities
Partner with maintenance and technical teams to improve equipment reliability and plant performance
Lead or support process optimization, capacity improvement, and operational excellence projects
Promote visual management, standard work, performance boards, and daily operational reviews
People Leadership
Develop a culture of accountability, teamwork, engagement, and operational excellence
Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, operators, and production personnel
Support workforce planning, recruiting, onboarding, succession planning, and employee development initiatives
Conduct performance reviews, establish development plans, and provide ongoing coaching and feedback
Promote cross-training and the development of future shift leaders and operational talent
Health, Safety, Environment and Quality
Perform all work in compliance with health and safety standards, environmental requirements, and quality systems
Champion a strong safety culture focused on hazard identification, risk prevention, and employee engagement
Ensure compliance with food safety, pharmaceutical, GMP, and customer quality requirements
Support internal and external audits, corrective action programs, and management system compliance
Reinforce high standards for housekeeping, documentation, traceability, sanitation, and operational discipline
Business & Plant Management Support
Support budget development and management of operational costs, including labor, maintenance, and consumables
Participate in capital project planning, implementation, and commissioning activities
Collaborate with regional and functional teams to achieve operational and strategic objectives
Assist in developing long-term organizational capability and succession plans for key operational positions.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, or related discipline preferred
Equivalent combination of education and industry experience will be considered.
Experience
Minimum 7-10 years of progressive manufacturing or industrial operations experience
Minimum 3-5 years of leadership experience in a production, operations, maintenance, or plant management environment
Experience in mineral processing, food, pharmaceutical, chemical, bulk material handling, or other regulated manufacturing environments preferred.
Proven track record of leading teams, improving plant performance, and implementing operational improvements
Experience supporting GMP, food safety, FDA-regulated, or quality-driven manufacturing environments is considered a strong asset
Knowledge and Skills:
Strong leadership and people development capabilities
Demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams and drive accountability
Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, equipment reliability, and maintenance coordination
Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Understanding of OPEX, CAPEX, budgeting, and operational performance metrics
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities and perform effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and ERP systems such as SAP
Working Conditions:
Industrial manufacturing environment with exposure to dust, noise, moving equipment, and varying temperatures
Significant time spent on the production floor interacting with employees and operations
Occasional off-hours, weekend, and emergency support required
Ability to travel periodically for training, benchmarking, or operational meetings
