Tundish Refractory Supervisor

The Tundish Refractory Supervisor is responsible for leading and supervising an 8-person refractory installation crew (2 per crew, 4 crews on shift work) in the safe, efficient, and quality-focused execution of tundish refractory maintenance, installation, repair, and tear-out activities within a continuous steel casting operation. This role serves as the primary point of coordination between production, maintenance, contractors, and customer personnel to ensure refractory work is completed on schedule, within quality standards, and in compliance with all safety requirements.

The ideal candidate is a strong leader with extensive refractory experience, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to safety, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction. The Supervisor is responsible for workforce management, job planning, quality control, productivity improvement, and developing team members while maintaining a safe working environment.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Supervision

• Direct and coordinate daily activities of an 8-person (2 per crew, 4 crews on shift work) refractory installation crew.
• Assign work responsibilities and ensure manpower is utilized efficiently.
• Lead pre-job safety meetings, toolbox talks, and shift handovers.
• Train, mentor, and develop crew members on refractory installation procedures, safety practices, and quality standards.
• Monitor employee performance and provide coaching to improve productivity and workmanship.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Operational Management

• Plan and oversee tundish refractory tear-outs, rebuilds, repairs, and maintenance activities.
• Coordinate manpower, materials, equipment, and scheduling to support casting operations.
• Ensure projects are completed safely, efficiently, and within established timelines.
• Work closely with steel plant operations, maintenance teams, and customer personnel to minimize downtime.
• Monitor progress and adjust resources as necessary to meet production requirements.

Quality Assurance

• Verify proper installation of working linings, impact pads, dams, nozzles, well blocks and flow-control refractory products.
• Conduct inspections throughout installation activities to ensure adherence to specifications and quality standards.
• Confirm all refractory work meets operational and customer performance expectations.
• Investigate quality concerns and implement corrective actions when needed.
• Maintain accurate records of work completed, inspections, and material usage.

Safety & Compliance

• Promote and enforce all company and customer safety policies and procedures.
• Ensure proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe work practices.
• Conduct hazard assessments and identify opportunities to reduce workplace risks.
• Lead incident investigations and implement corrective actions as required.
• Maintain compliance with all environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements.

Equipment & Materials Management

• Help monitor inventory levels of refractory materials, tools, and consumables.
• Ensure equipment is maintained and operating safely and efficiently.
• Coordinate procurement and delivery of materials required for scheduled work.
• Minimize material waste and improve overall cost effectiveness.

Customer Relations

• Serve as a point of contact for customers regarding refractory maintenance activities.
• Communicate project status, challenges, and recommendations professionally.
• Identify opportunities to improve refractory performance and provide value-added solutions.
• Support customer success initiatives through proactive problem-solving and continuous service improvement.

Success Measures

A successful Tundish Refractory Supervisor will:

• Maintain a zero-injury safety culture.
• Deliver refractory projects on schedule and within budget.
• Improve tundish reliability and refractory performance.
• Develop and retain a highly skilled crew.
• Reduce downtime through effective planning and execution.
• Build strong customer relationships through responsiveness, quality workmanship, and proactive problem solving.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance safety, productivity, and customer satisfaction.