Shift Manager - Hot Mill

U. S. Steel is an integrated steel producer committed to delivering high-quality steel solutions safely, reliably, and responsibly. Our employees work together to support customers, strengthen operations, and build the future of steelmaking through disciplined execution, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Position Summary:
The Shift Manager - Operations, Hot Mill is responsible for providing hands-on leadership and direction for assigned Hot Mill operations at Fairfield Tubular Operations. This role coordinates the safe, efficient, and economical operation of the Hot Mill while leading the operating crew and making timely decisions to address technical and non-technical production issues with limited direction from other managers.

The Shift Manager ensures production plans are executed in accordance with safety, quality, cost, reliability, and delivery expectations. The role monitors material flow, process performance, and equipment conditions throughout Hot Mill operations, reinforces standard operating practices, responds to process or equipment disruptions, and partners with Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and other support teams to sustain stable operations and product quality.

Qualified candidates must be able to engage teams and promote an environment of respect, communication, accountability, and collaboration. The Shift Manager is expected to lead represented personnel effectively, encourage two-way communication, welcome new ideas and different perspectives, and create the conditions for individual, team, and company success.

Responsibilities:

• Administer the U. S. Steel safety program to maintain a safe work environment, including compliance with safety requirements, effective safety conversations, hazard recognition, and proper housekeeping throughout the Hot Mill area.
• Coordinate, organize, and direct the activities of the assigned operating crew to safely meet production, quality, cost, reliability, and delivery objectives.
• Supervise and lead union-represented employees while working closely with vendors, contractors, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and other operating departments.
• Monitor Hot Mill operations to ensure standard quality and operating practices, procedures, and guidelines are consistently followed.
• Oversee material flow and equipment operation through the Hot Mill process, including billet or workpiece movement, furnace and heating activities, rolling operations, cooling, product handling, inspection, identification, and transfer to downstream operations.
• Implement the production plan by coordinating staffing, material availability, operating priorities, process settings, and equipment availability to meet customer specifications, quality requirements, and delivery commitments.
• Respond to operating disruptions, process deviations, equipment malfunctions, and product quality concerns; make timely decisions and coordinate resources to restore safe and stable production.
• Assist employees in diagnosing machinery and equipment malfunctions and coordinate repairs or corrective actions with Maintenance and technical support resources.
• Reduce unit downtime and improve the performance and reliability of Hot Mill equipment through disciplined operating practices, effective problem solving, and follow-through on corrective actions.
• Develop, implement, and reinforce operating methods and procedures designed to eliminate recurring problems, improve product quality, and strengthen process consistency.
• Monitor production results and key operating indicators, including safety performance, throughput, delays, yield, quality events, equipment downtime, and operating cost, and take action when performance is outside expectations.
• Lead and support root cause analysis, continuous improvement, and cost-saving initiatives that improve safety, quality, productivity, reliability, yield, and cost performance.
• Provide coaching, feedback, and day-to-day direction to represented Union employees; reinforce accountability, teamwork, respectful workplace expectations, and consistent execution of standard work.
• Perform administrative activities such as scheduling crews, managing attendance and coverage, completing production reports, documenting shift activity, conducting safety conversations, and compiling other required reporting.
• Communicate shift status, production priorities, equipment conditions, safety or quality concerns, and open action items through effective shift turnover and cross-functional coordination.
• Due to the nature of our business, our facilities operate 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. This position requires the ability and willingness to work rotating shifts and may include extended workdays, weekends, holidays, and additional coverage as operational needs require.

Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Demonstrated experience leading employees in a hands-on manufacturing, production, industrial, or military environment.
• Ability and willingness to work rotating shifts, including extended workdays, weekends, and holidays, as operational needs require.
• Demonstrated ability to lead represented personnel, reinforce expectations, address day-to-day employee matters, and make sound decisions with limited direction.
• Strong commitment to safety, quality, operational discipline, respectful leadership, and employee engagement.
• Effective communication, problem-solving, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work effectively with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, vendors, contractors, and plant leadership.
• Level and compensation will be based on experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Applicable industrial experience in steelmaking, rolling, tubular manufacturing, metals processing, heavy manufacturing, or a comparable continuous-process environment.
• Prior Hot Mill, rolling mill, furnace, finishing, material handling, or related production experience.
• Prior experience supervising union-represented employees or comparable military leadership experience.
• Working knowledge of industrial production equipment, material flow, production planning, quality controls, equipment troubleshooting, and continuous improvement methods.
• Experience using production reporting systems and performance data to manage throughput, downtime, yield, quality, and cost.
• Experience leading root cause analysis, equipment troubleshooting, process improvement, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Associate or bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Business, or a related field.