Shift supervisor, Manufacturing ​/ Production

Shift Supervisor

Cold Steppe Inc. Stuttgart, Arkansas, United States

Cold Steppe converts agricultural waste - rice hulls, sawdust, and other overlooked biomass - into biochar and renewable energy. Our mission is simple:
To find what is left behind and turn it into something that moves us forward. Our first facility, AR-1, is coming online in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and the people who join now will help set the standard for every site that follows. Cold Steppe is a certified service-disabled veteran-owned business, and veterans, tradespeople, and anyone ready to learn are welcome here.

Steward What Matters Speak Up Stand Together Safe Space No Exceptions Stack the Impact Set the Standard

Director of Plant Operations, AR-1 (interim: Matt Freniere, Co-Founder & COO, until that role is filled)

Full-time, exempt (salaried); overtime-eligible per company policy

Monday to Friday (8am – 6pm), 8 – 10 hours per day, with real opportunities to earn overtime and take on additional leadership responsibilities as AR-1 scales toward 24/7 operations.

$75,000–$85,000/year, based on experience, plus benefits, consistent with our commitment to pay above local prevailing wage

The Shift Supervisor owns everything that happens on the floor during their shift - leading our Floor Technicians and Logistics Technicians, keeping production, quality, and safety on track, and handing off cleanly to the next shift. As one of AR-1's first leadership hires, you won't just run a shift - you'll help build the playbook every future shift at Cold Steppe runs on.

• Lead and coordinate the Floor Technicians and Logistics Technicians on your shift, assigning tasks and keeping the team running efficiently and safely.
• Monitor production in real time, catching issues or bottlenecks early and directing the team to resolve them.
• Own quality control for your shift, enforcing standards so biochar output consistently meets spec.
• Enforce safety protocols, run shift-level safety checks, and address hazards or near-misses immediately.
• Train and coach frontline team members, including hands-on onboarding for AR-1's earliest hires.
• Communicate shift performance, issues, and handoff notes clearly to the next shift and to plant leadership.
• Troubleshoot process and equipment issues in real time, looping in maintenance or engineering when needed.
• Help build and refine the standard operating procedures, checklists, and training materials AR-1 will run on long-term.
• Maintain accurate shift reports, production logs, and documentation.

• 2+ years in a manufacturing, industrial, or production environment, with experience leading or coordinating a team (a formal “supervisor” title isn't required - shift lead, crew lead, or similar counts).
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes and how to keep a shift moving efficiently.
• Strong leadership instincts - able to direct, motivate, and hold a team accountable without being handed a fully built playbook.
• Sharp problem-solving skills and the composure to make good calls in the moment.
• A safety-first mindset and comfort enforcing standards, even when it's inconvenient.
• Clear communicator, comfortable reporting up to plant and company leadership.

Safety isn't a checkbox at Cold Steppe - it's one of our five core values. As Shift Supervisor, you set the safety standard for your crew: full training, zero tolerance for shortcuts, and the authority to stop the line.

Degrees aren't required for hire or advancement here, we look for talent, dedication, and skill. As one of our first shift leaders, you're positioned to grow into plant leadership as AR-1 scales and future facilities - including a planned site in Alabama - come online. We're also building Skills Bridge-aligned training and apprenticeship pathways as we scale.