Asphalt Plant Operations Manager

Good Pay! Good Benefits! Good People! Knife River is a PEOPLE-first company. Our team members are key to our success, and we are committed to giving them the tools, training, and time to do their jobs productively and go home safely each day. Please consider joining our growing team today!

At Knife River, we take care of our team because we know it’s our people who make us successful. We are one of the 10 largest construction materials producers/contractors in the Country. Our goal is to build strong teams that, in turn, build strong communities. We are also a publicly traded company on the NYSE with the ticker symbol KNF and part of the S&P Mid Cap 400 index.

Role Overview

Oversee plant operations, quality assurance, and compliance with safety and environmental regulations. Manages staff hiring, training, and development, while optimizing production efficiency through preventive maintenance and troubleshooting. Coordinates logistics, budgeting, and vendor relations, and ensures accurate reporting and best practices for material handling.

DUTIES AND/OR RESPONSIBILITIES (summary of components that make up the job)

• Monitor material quality, inspect, & troubleshoot material. Work closely with Quality Control Department
• Coach and monitor Plant Supervisors and sites to comply with OSHA, MSHA and safety regulations
• Oversee Calibration of plants for best-in-class QAQC
• Trouble shoot downtime and eliminate or minimize the causes in the future by implementing preventive maintenance procedures
• Oversee the hiring, training and development of plant team members
• Maintain aggregate stockpile best practices to ensure accuracy
• Work with logistics and sales on internal and external distribution
• Record pertinent information accurately and relay production, quality, equipment and personnel information to appropriate individuals
• Oversee and approve work hours of personnel and pertinent job information daily
• Perform monthly equipment, walk around and site inspections to identify and correct any unsafe conditions and keep equipment properly maintained.
• Troubleshoot and problem solve situations/problems (material, quality, equipment, operation/repair, etc.). Monitor and discuss production problems with co-workers and managers/supervisors.
• Directs operation and maintenance of asphalt production. Assures that work is in conformity with federal and state standards, accepted principles of design and engineering, and available funds. Addresses meetings of interested parties to explain plans and activities of department.
• Develop operating budgets and forecast expenses. Analyze division budget requests and make budget allocations. Work with administrative personnel to get reports needed to monitor results. Review reports and determine changes in programs or operations required to achieve division objectives. Monitor vendor relationships to ensure that purchased products and services meet quality and pricing requirements.
• Gather, review and analyze information from all relevant sources to detect or assess problems. Evaluate options to make sound decisions to resolve issues. Confers with customers and representatives of associated industries to evaluate and promote improved and expanded services in area.
• Communicate effectively (verbal, listening, written) and work with difficult people under high stress situations. Self-motivated, team-player with good interpersonal skills; ability to maintain positive customer relations & act courteous/respectful of others.
• Ensure MSHA, OSHA, EPA, DNR, safety and environmental regulation compliance, Lockout/Tagout.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (types and extent of knowledge, skills or abilities an incumbent must possess to complete the job responsibilities satisfactorily)

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Able to work independently and under time constraints.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS (minimum educational, experience, or other relevant job requirements)

• 5+ years’ experience in an asphalt production environment
• 5+ years in a leadership role, directing tasks/and or production
• Ability to hold…