Assistant Mill Manager

The Assistant Mill Manager is responsible for supporting and leading daily stave mill operations while driving safety, quality, production, cost, and employee development initiatives. This role provides direct leadership to supervisors, team leads, and front-line team members while ensuring operational goals are achieved through strong process discipline and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, develops talent, and actively drives operational excellence through accountability, teamwork, and data-driven decision-making.

What You'll Do

• Lead daily mill operations by managing production teams, monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs), and ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations.
• Develop and drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, production, yield, cost reduction, and team member development.
• Coach, mentor, and develop supervisors, team leads, and front-line employees through performance management, feedback, training, and succession planning efforts.
• Partner with maintenance, quality, and operations leadership to address downtime, staffing needs, equipment reliability, product quality, and process improvements.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, environmental regulations, OSHA requirements, and safety programs while maintaining a clean, organized, and safe facility.

Qualifications/Requirements and/or Desired Qualifications

Required

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 5 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience with demonstrated career growth and responsibility for production teams.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles, safety regulations, OSHA compliance requirements, environmental regulations, and manufacturing best practices.
• Strong analytical, technical, communication, and leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, develop employees, and drive operational performance.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Business, Forestry, Industrial Technology, or a related field.
• Experience managing production teams in a high-volume manufacturing environment, including supervisory responsibility for leaders and front-line employees.
• Experience in hardwood processing, stave production, lumber manufacturing, forest products, or related industrial manufacturing environments, along with familiarity with ERP systems, production reporting tools, Six Sigma, and operational excellence methodologies.