Production Manager

Aurubis – metallurgy is our passion. We are a leading global multi-metal company and one of the largest copper recyclers worldwide. We process complex metal concentrates, scrap metals, and metal-bearing recycling materials into metals of the highest purity. These metals serve as the basis for key megatrends such as digitalization, renewable energies, e-mobility, and urbanization. Aurubis has about 7,000 employees, production sites in Europe and the US, and an extensive worldwide distribution system.

Join our team and promote progress together with us!

The Aurubis Richmond Production Manager is a key leader in turning ideas into results—guiding processes from early concept through implementation and ensuring smooth operations once in production. This role blends strategic planning with hands‑on oversight, driving performance, safety, and efficiency across the manufacturing process.

In this position, you will:

• Oversee day‑to‑day production activities, ensuring targets for quality, output, and cost are met.
• Lead process improvements to boost productivity, reduce downtime, and optimize resources.
• Coordinate closely with operations, maintenance, supply chain, and other departments to deliver seamless production flow.
• Lead standardized and advanced process engineering for metallurgical or chemical equipment.
• Expand the organization’s process engineering capabilities.
• Support safe work practices, procurement specifications, supplier negotiations, and claims management.
• Manage project documentation and partner with teams to ensure operational readiness for new equipment or processes.
• Supervise manufacturing processes after commissioning to ensure consistent performance.

You will also work closely with the Production Director on departmental staffing, collaborating with local HR on administrative, hands‑on, and personnel development needs.

Provide daily coaching, feedback, and guidance to production staff.

Develop and execute training programs covering processes, health, safety, and environmental standards.

Motivate, engage, and empower employees to achieve objectives while fostering a culture of respect and collaboration aligned with Aurubis values.

Ensure the production team is fully staffed, retaining critical skills and knowledge.

Define clear roles, responsibilities, and KPIs for all production positions, and ensure accountability through the Production Manager.

Champion a strong safety culture, ensuring continuous improvement in occupational safety awareness.

Ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations; act promptly on reported safety issues.

Identify and document unsafe practices or conditions, coordinate corrective actions with the HSE Manager, and monitor follow‑up.

Serve as a role model for safe behavior, inspiring high safety standards among all team members.

Ensure all environmental requirements are met and address any deviations in coordination with the EHS Manager.

Actively participate in the Aurubis Operating System (AOS) program to drive performance improvements.

Identify opportunities to enhance production volume, safety, quality, efficiency, and environmental performance.

Coordinate with suppliers and contractors to develop improvement proposals and budget estimates.

Support decision‑making on improvement priorities and monitor small projects through completion.

Collaborate on larger operational and engineering initiatives, supporting implementation and employee rollout.

Take a lead role in the “management of change” process within the production department.

Participate in daily production meetings, providing insights and recommendations.

Share best practices by attending seminars and networking with colleagues at other plants.

Partner with other…