Assistant Plant Manager (Wood Department) in Fort Smith, Arkansas at Burford Corp

Position: Assistant Plant Manager

Reports To: Plant Manager

Department: Wood Manufacturing

JOB SUMMARY

The Assistant Plant Manager leads daily operations at the wood manufacturing facility, driving operational excellence across safety, quality, throughput, and cost control. Serving as a key operational partner to the Plant Manager, this role oversees shift supervisors, coordinates cross-functional activities across all departments, and executes continuous improvement initiatives to maintain seamless plant performance. The Assistant Plant Manager acts as the site operational leader in the Plant Manager's absence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational Leadership & Execution

· Direct daily plant operations across all shifts and departments to hit targeted production, yield, and safety milestones.

· Monitor real-time operational metrics—including overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), throughput, scrap rates, downtime, and labor efficiency—and execute immediate corrective actions when bottlenecks occur.

· Partner with Maintenance leadership to optimize machine availability, schedule preventive maintenance, and minimize unscheduled downtime.

· Coordinate material movement, inventory tracking, and usage variance with supply chain and staging teams to keep production lines running without delay.

People Management & Talent Development

· Manage, mentor, and evaluate production supervisors, ensuring consistent accountability, clear communication, and alignment across shifts.

· Oversee labor planning, headcount allocation, and overtime authorizations to balance production demands against budget goals.

· Partner with Human Resources to manage recruiting, onboarding, performance reviews, employee relations, and succession planning within the plant floor hierarchy.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

· Enforce absolute compliance with OSHA regulations, plant safety protocols, internal SOPs, and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.

· Lead root-cause investigations for safety incidents or quality non-conformances, implementing lasting corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

· Drive a proactive safety culture through regular floor walks, hazard identification, and safety committee oversight.

Continuous Improvement & Cost Control

· Identify and eliminate waste across manufacturing processes using Lean, 5S, or Six Sigma methodologies.

· Analyze production data and prepare regular operational updates for leadership, highlighting key trends and efficiency gains.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

· Core Competencies: Production planning, root-cause analysis, workflow optimization, and labor/yield management.

· Leadership & Strategy: Proven track record coaching frontline supervisors, driving cross-shift consistency, and resolving interpersonal or operational conflicts.

· Technical Aptitude: Strong understanding of wood manufacturing processes (milling, assembly, finishing, tooling) and industrial equipment mechanics.

· Communication: Clear verbal and written reporting skills; ability to collaborate effectively with Maintenance, Quality, HR, Engineering, and Logistics.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

· Education: Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Operations, Manufacturing Technology, Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred. Relevant experience may substitute for formal degree requirements.

· Experience: 5+ years in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, with at least 3 years in a direct supervisory or multi-department managerial role.

· Industry Focus: Direct experience in wood manufacturing, building materials, or heavy industrial production strongly preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

· Environment: Daily presence on the plant floor required. Exposures include manufacturing machinery noise, wood dust, ambient temperature fluctuations, and active industrial traffic.

· Physical Demands: Ability to stand, walk, inspect machinery, and traverse the 8–10 hour production footprint regularly.

· Flexibility: Willingness to support off-shifts, weekends, or emergency operational needs as required.