Plant Operator - Aggregates

Position Overview

The Plant Operator is responsible for safely and efficiently operating mechanical equipment, production machinery, and electronic controls involved in the processing and handling of sand, gravel, rock, and other materials. This position supports the production of aggregate and asphalted materials by maintaining proper equipment functionality, monitoring production flows, and assisting with routine maintenance and housekeeping tasks. Attention to safety, equipment performance, and operational efficiency is critical to success in this role.

• Operate conveyors, crushers, screens, batching units, and related plant equipment used in sorting, sifting, mixing, and processing aggregate materials.
• Adjust equipment settings and monitor controls to ensure consistent material quality and production rates.
• Perform routine inspections, preventive maintenance, and minor repairs on plant machinery and production systems.
• Start and stop equipment as needed, monitoring conditions and communicating any abnormalities or issues to supervision.
• Complete daily production logs, and material tracking.
• Support the safe and efficient flow of materials through the plant by coordinating with mobile equipment operators and other team members.
• Responsible for completing area audits.
• Always maintain work area and equipment in a safe and clean condition.
• Responsible for abiding by and supporting all company and plant safety policies, rules and procedures as well as M.S.H.A regulations.

NOTE:

This list presents only the principal duties of the position and is not intended to be comprehensive. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned as dictated by the business needs and conditions. As an essential function of the job, good attendance is required.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to operate industrial equipment safely and responsibly.
• Strong mechanical aptitude with the ability to perform minor troubleshooting and adjustments.
• Basic understanding of plant processing systems, materials handling, and control panels.
• Ability to remain focused, follow detailed instructions, and react calmly in operational or emergency situations.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Self‑motivated with the ability to manage time and work independently or as part of a team.
• Basic record‑keeping skills for production logs and maintenance documentation.

• High School Diploma or GED preferred.
• Prior experience operating or maintaining equipment in aggregates, mining, construction, or a related industrial environment preferred, but not required.
• Willingness to learn plant systems, safety protocols, and job‑specific skills through on‑the‑job training.

• Ability to follow both verbal and written instructions and respond calmly to operational demands.
• Willingness to work outdoors in variable weather and physically demanding environments.
• Flexibility to work overtime, weekends, holidays, and occasional travel (including overnight) based on business needs.
• Must be able to work in elevated areas, confined spaces, or around moving equipment as required.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical equipment and heavy machinery. Work is performed in both indoor and outdoor environments, with frequent exposure to seasonal temperature extremes, high humidity, dry and dusty conditions, and varying weather. The role often requires working at elevated heights and navigating…