PRIMARY PURPOSE: The Multi-Site Sawmill Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for multiple sawmill facilities to ensure safe, efficient, and profitable operations. This role directly manages the Norton Sawmill and provides leadership and oversight to the Mill Manager at the Smoot Sawmill, driving performance in safety, production, quality, inventory, customer service, employee development, and financial results.
The position is responsible for production planning, budgeting, capital planning, forestry procurement, purchasing, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across both facilities. Regular travel between assigned locations is required.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Qualified individuals must have the ability (with or without reasonable accommodation) to perform the following duties:
Lead operations at the Norton Sawmill and provide direction, coaching, and oversight to the Smoot Mill Manager.
- Foster a culture of safety, accountability, quality, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.
- Drive production performance by optimizing safety, quality, efficiency, costs, inventory, and equipment utilization.
- Develop and monitor production schedules to meet customer demand and business objectives.
- Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, managers, and hourly employees through performance management and succession planning.
- Direct forestry procurement strategies, including log purchasing, pricing, supplier relationships, and inventory management.
- Monitor key operational metrics, inventory, and production performance to identify improvement opportunities.
- Manage pallet lumber sales and collaborate with internal teams to resolve quality and customer concerns.
- Prepare and communicate production, operational, and financial reports.
- Partner with Finance on budgets, forecasts, capital expenditures, and cost management.
- Oversee purchasing activities and vendor relationships while ensuring compliance with company financial controls.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental regulations, and company safety standards; lead incident investigations and corrective actions.
- Partner with Human Resources on staffing, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, and workforce development.
- Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Forestry, Sales, Finance, HR, and EHS to achieve company objectives.
- Travel regularly between facilities and perform other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:- Strong leadership, coaching, and employee development skills.
- Proven ability to improve operational performance and drive continuous improvement.
- Thorough knowledge of sawmill operations, lumber manufacturing, and forestry procurement.
- Strong understanding of budgeting, cost control, P&L management, and capital planning.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and project management skills.
- Knowledge of OSHA regulations, environmental compliance, and manufacturing safety.
- Strong communication, relationship-building, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ERP systems.
TRAVEL:- 15% of travel expected to Smoot location, training and other events
QUALIFICATIONS:- Bachelor's degree in Business, Forestry, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field preferred, or equivalent industry experience.
- Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in sawmill, wood products, or manufacturing operations.
- Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience managing supervisors, managers, or multiple operational teams.
- Experience with production planning, inventory management, purchasing, budgeting, capital planning, and continuous improvement.
- Strong understanding of OSHA regulations, environmental compliance, and manufacturing safety practices.
- Demonstrated success leading teams, improving operational efficiency, and achieving business objectives.
- Must be able to successfully complete and pass a background check, employment verification and drug screening
- Positive and Verifiable Work History
PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS:- Multi-site manufacturing or operations management experience preferred.
PHYSICAL DEMANDSThe demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- Push, pull, carry and lift 20 - 50lbs
- Walking, stretching, bending, stooping, twisting, reaching, grasping and repetitive movements
- Talk, hear, read, write and comprehend English
- Must be able to work in a non-temperature-controlled environment
MENTAL DEMANDSThe demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- Think analytically
- Make decisions
- Develop options and implement solutions
- Work with a team
- Maintain regular and punctual attendance (consistent with ADA and/or FMLA)
- Attention to detail
- Communicate effectively
- Multitask in a fast pace environment
- Work with a Sense of Urgency
