Description:
The Plant Supervisor is responsible for supervising the daily production activities of the mine and plant to ensure safe, efficient, reliable, and quality operations. This position provides hands-on leadership and direction to equipment operators, plant operators, laborers, and maintenance personnel.
The Plant Supervisor coordinates employee assignments, monitors production and product quality, supports equipment maintenance, enforces safety and operating standards, and responds to operational issues that may affect productivity, safety, quality, or customer requirements. The position is expected to maintain a visible presence in the field and work closely with the Operations Manager, Maintenance, Quality Control, Safety, and other departments.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Operations and Production Management
-
Supervise the daily operation of mine, material handling systems, and plant.
-
Assign employees and equipment based on production priorities, staffing levels, and operational requirements.
-
Coordinate daily production schedules with the Operations Manager and communicate expectations to employees.
-
Monitor production rates, inventory levels, equipment utilization, and material flow.
-
Ensure the efficient operation of screens, conveyors, wash plants, pumps, loaders, excavators, and related equipment.
-
Monitor finished products to ensure production meets established specifications and quality standards.
-
Make operating adjustments, when authorized, to improve production, recovery, product quality, and efficiency.
-
Identify production delays, bottlenecks, or operational concerns and appropriate corrective action.
-
Maintain accurate production, downtime, inspection, and shift records.
-
Communicate significant production, staffing, quality, safety, and equipment issues to the Operations Manager.
-
Coordinate shift start-up, shutdown, clean-up, and production changeover activities.
-
Ensure housekeeping standards are maintained throughout the mine, plant, work areas, and equipment.
Safety and Regulatory Compliance
-
Promote a strong safety culture by setting clear expectations and demonstrating safe work practices.
-
Enforce company safety policies, procedures, work rules, and required personal protective equipment standards.
-
Ensure employees conduct required workplace examinations, equipment inspections, and hazard assessments.
-
Lead or participate in pre-shift meetings, toolbox talks, safety meetings, and job safety analyses.
-
Monitor employee work practices and immediately correct unsafe behaviors or hazardous conditions.
-
Ensure compliance with applicable MSHA, OSHA, environmental, state, and company requirements.
-
Assist with incident, injury, property damage, and near-miss investigations.
-
Help identify root causes and implement corrective and preventive actions.
-
Ensure required safety, inspection, training, and operational documentation is completed accurately and on time.
-
Support regulatory inspections, audits, and follow-up activities.
-
Report environmental concerns, spills, permit issues, or other compliance matters promptly.
Leadership and Supervision
-
Provide direct supervision, instruction, coaching, and support to assigned employees.
-
Communicate daily priorities, responsibilities, production goals, and performance expectations.
-
Train new employees on job duties, equipment operation, workplace procedures, and safety requirements.
-
Ensure employees are properly trained, qualified, and authorized before performing assigned work.
-
Monitor attendance, productivity, conduct, safety performance, and quality of work.
-
Provide timely feedback and address performance or behavioral concerns in coordination with the Operations Manager and Human Resources.
-
Encourage teamwork, accountability, respectful communication, and cooperation between production and maintenance employees.
-
Assist with employee performance evaluations and development planning.
-
Help identify employee training needs and opportunities for cross-training.
-
Ensure company policies and work rules are administered consistently and fairly.
-
Verify employee time, hours worked, and other payroll-related information as assigned.
Maintenance Coordination
-
Coordinate routine inspections and preventive maintenance activities with maintenance personnel and the Operations Manager.
-
Identify equipment deficiencies, unusual operating conditions, and potential failures before they result in significant downtime.
-
Submit or communicate maintenance requests with accurate information regarding equipment symptoms and operating conditions.
-
Assist with troubleshooting plant and mobile equipment problems.
-
Coordinate production activities around scheduled maintenance and repairs.
-
Ensure equipment is properly locked out, tagged out, blocked, and secured before maintenance or repair work begins.
-
Monitor repair progress and communicate operational priorities to maintenance personnel.
-
Help maintain critical spare-parts awareness and identify recurring equipment issues.
-
Verify equipment is safe and ready for operation following repairs.
Quality and Customer Support
-
Work with Quality Control personnel to ensure finished products meet specifications and customer requirements.
-
Monitor material cleanliness, gradation, moisture, and other quality indicators.
-
Isolate or report nonconforming material and assist with corrective action.
-
Ensure product stockpiles are properly identified, separated, and maintained.
-
Help prevent contamination, material loss, and improper loading or handling.
-
Support production planning based on inventory levels, sales demand, and customer commitments.
Communication and Administration
-
Maintain clear communication between shifts, departments, and management.
-
Prepare or review daily production reports, equipment inspection records, downtime reports, and other required documentation.
-
Participate in operations, safety, production, and maintenance meetings.
-
Communicate schedule changes, equipment limitations, and production concerns to affected employees.
-
Assist management with operational projects, process improvements, and cost-control initiatives.
-
Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities
The Plant Supervisor directly supervises assigned equipment operators, plant operators, laborers, and other production personnel. The position may also provide daily work directions to maintenance employees or contractors assigned to plant-related work.
Supervisory responsibilities include assigning work, monitoring performance, providing training and coaching, enforcing safety and operating standards, documenting concerns, and making recommendations regarding employee performance and development.
Requirements:
Education and Experience
-
High school diploma or GED required.
-
Three to five years of experience in aggregate, sand processing, mining, or a related heavy industrial operation required.
-
At least one to two years of supervisory experience required.
-
Experience operating or supervising screens, conveyors, wash plants, pumps, and mobile equipment required.
-
Experience working in an MSHA-regulated environment required.
-
Experience coordinating production and maintenance activities required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
-
Working knowledge of mines, aggregate, sand-processing, or mineral-processing operations.
-
Knowledge of MSHA and OSHA safety requirements and safe work practices.
-
Ability to supervise, train, motivate, and hold employees accountable.
-
Ability to identify hazards and respond appropriately to unsafe conditions.
-
Strong mechanical aptitude and basic troubleshooting ability.
-
Ability to understand production rates, material specifications, equipment capacity, and operational priorities.
-
Ability to read and understand operating procedures, equipment manuals, safety rules, and regulatory requirements.
-
Ability to accurately complete production, safety, inspection, and employee documentation.
-
Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
-
Ability to communicate professionally with employees, managers, contractors, inspectors, and vendors.
-
Ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced operating environment.
-
Ability to organize work, establish priorities, and respond effectively to changing conditions.
-
Basic computer skills, including the ability to use email, electronic forms, and production or maintenance systems.
-
Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise appropriate judgment when handling employee matters.
-
Ability to work independently while maintaining effective communication with management.
Licenses and Certifications
-
Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record required.
-
MSHA training or certification preferred; required training must be completed within the company’s established timeframe.
-
First Aid and CPR certification are preferred.
-
Equipment-operation qualifications or certifications may be required based on assigned duties.
Physical Requirements
The employee must be able to:
-
Regularly stand, walk, climb stairs and ladders, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and reach.
-
Work on uneven terrain, elevated platforms, and around moving equipment.
-
Frequently lift and carry up to 50 pounds and occasionally assist with heavier objects using proper equipment or assistance.
-
Enter equipment cabs and access plant structures and work areas.
-
Wear required personal protective equipment, including a hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, high-visibility clothing, gloves, and steel-toed footwear.
-
Maintain sufficient vision, hearing, mobility, and coordination to safely perform the essential functions of the position.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Work Environment
-
Work is performed primarily outdoors and in an active mine and sand-processing environment.
-
The employee will regularly be exposed to dust, dirt, noise, vibration, moving mechanical equipment, heavy mobile equipment, wet conditions, and changing weather conditions.
-
The position may involve exposure to hot, cold, humid, muddy, or slippery conditions.
-
Work may be performed at heights, near water-processing systems, and around conveyors, screens, pumps, and electrical or hydraulic equipment.
-
Compliance with all safety procedures and personal protective equipment requirements is mandatory.
