Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Furnace Operations Manager to lead a critical production department within a heavy industrial manufacturing environment. This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who enjoys being on the production floor, developing teams, and taking full ownership of day-to-day operations.

Direct aluminum experience is not required. We are open to leaders from metals, steel, foundry, casting, smelting, extrusion, plastics extrusion, and other relevant industrial manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a department of approximately 30–40 employees
• Oversee day-to-day furnace melting and dross operations
• Manage production scheduling, organization, staffing, and workflow
• Take ownership of the department and operate it like an individual business unit
• Maintain a strong, visible presence on the production floor
• Build, coach, and develop a strong operations team
• Ensure production needs are met safely and efficiently
• Work closely with operations, maintenance, safety, and other departments
• Oversee operations involving industrial equipment such as furnaces, forklifts, payloaders, and conveyor systems
• Follow established safety, operational, and ISO procedures
• Help troubleshoot operational issues and keep production moving
• Maintain responsibility for the department beyond normal business hours when operational needs arise

Qualifications

• 5+ years of industrial/manufacturing leadership experience preferred
• Strong supervisors ready to take the next step into management may also be considered
• Previous experience leading employees in a manufacturing, metals, processing, or other industrial environment
• Proven ability to build, lead, and hold teams accountable
• Strong organization and production scheduling skills
• Comfortable managing approximately 30–40 employees
• Comfortable working in a hands-on, heavy industrial environment
• Strong shop-floor leadership presence
• Ability to work with production-related math and chemistry
• Ability to take ownership of a department rather than operate within a strict Monday–Friday management schedule
• Strong understanding of day-to-day production operations and manufacturing safety

Relevant Experience

Experience in any of the following environments can translate well:

• Furnace or melting operations
• Smelting
• Foundry operations
• Casting
• Extrusion
• Steel or metal processing
• Aluminum manufacturing
• Plastics extrusion
• Heavy industrial manufacturing

Rotary furnace experience is a major plus, but strong manufacturing leadership ability is more important than having direct aluminum furnace experience.