The Requirements
To be a good fit for this opportunity you should have:- A bachelor's degree in Engineering, preferably Mining or Mechanical.
- Significant experience in mining operations, preferably with industrial minerals. The ideal candidate will have a background that includes:
- At least three years of experience in a technical department.
- At least three years of experience as a front-line supervisor.
- Proven leadership skills.
- Experience in union operations and strong labor relations skills.
- Solid financial savvy and experience with budgets or P&Ls. Quick question for you - click here

- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Good organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple activities and priorities simultaneously.
Role Overview
You will organize, plan, and direct all production activities associated with mining, processing and shipping. Your main objectives will include:
- Providing customers with quality products, on schedule, at the lowest optimum cost consistent with corporate objectives.
- Maintaining satisfactory labor relations. Quick question for you - click here

- Coordinating work with other supervisory personnel in executing plans and achieving goals for location profitability.
- Satisfying all local, state, and federal requirements regarding operations, including health & safety and environmental matters.
- Ensuring all work areas are maintained to UNIMIN safety and cleanliness standards.
Pictured: Unimin mines quartz-rich rock and sandstone deposits throughout North America to produce industrial silica sand. High purity SiO2 is an essential chemical component in glass, ceramic and silicate manufacture and a durable structural element in a wide range of building products, filtration and energy service applications.
Role Specifics
- Ensure development of quarry faces consistent with mine plan and in conformance with MSHA requirements.
- Organize, plan, and direct all maintenance activities associated with mining, processing and shipping equipment, with emphasis on optimum equipment availability, while controlling maintenance costs.
- Ensure acceptable quality and quantity of work performed by subordinates; ensure full compliance with and consistent enforcement of all Safety requirements, including Local Plant, Corporate, Federal, and State laws, regulations, and policies.
- Coordinate and direct activities of subordinates to achieve optimum rates of productivity and availability consistent with long/short range requirements.
- Direct the Plant operation's job training, safety, and housekeeping programs; ensure housekeeping meets UNIMIN Standards.
- Prepare daily and weekly operating plans / schedules to ensure customers' requirements are met, in conjunction with shipping requirements.
- Coordinate plant operating and maintenance schedules, adequately emphasizing provisions in operating schedule for "maintenance windows" to perform scheduled maintenance on straight time, when possible.
- Prepare and maintain daily and weekly production reports; ensure shift supervisors prepare/complete daily and weekly reports for areas under their direction.
- Review daily quality reports and ensure quality of product shipped.
- Monitor operating costs and make adjustments to maintain lowest possible operating cost.
- Prepare operating reports as required; ensure operating and shipping information is completed and consolidated in a timely manner, to ensure OPSCON can be completed in timeframes outlined in Corporate Policies and Procedures.
- Perform audits and reconciliation reviews for various operating areas, to ensure reported information is consistent and can be accounted for.
- Develop, analyze, and update operating productivity standards to utilize in monitoring the results of improvement projects.
- Develop and initiate corrective actions to improve and maintain operating efficiencies.
- Lead and monitor Continuous Improvement teams and their activities; recommend and develop projects as necessary to ensure Corporate, Departmental, and Plant objectives are achieved.
- Ensure the Plant-specific CMP is updated and in full compliance with Corporate CMP standards, including, but not limited to proper updating of the Spare Parts Inventory Plan to stay abreast of the plant's requirements.
- Maintain programs regarding inspection and accountability for facilities and equipment; ensure subordinates are utilizing equipment within parameters of intended use.
- Perform projects to establish requirements, and to recommend equipment and process modifications that will improve efficiencies and reduce operating costs.
- Recommend changes in standards, work methods, and procedures to improve performance, productivity, and profitability.
- Recommend and/or purchase materials and supplies as necessary, in accordance with Corporate and Local Plant Purchasing Policies and Procedures.
- Develop and maintain acceptable labor and employee relations; ensure thorough knowledge and application of Collective Bargaining Agreement and Plant Policies and Procedures.
- Develop cooperative working relationships with other corporate and plant personnel.
- Review and update training criteria to ensure employee training is achieving objectives of ensuring that all personnel are thoroughly and properly trained for the job classification(s) they work in.
- Take a leading role in initiating investigation of accidents incurred by subordinates; ensure investigation, root-cause analysis, actions to prevent recurrence, and follow-up are developed and/or performed in a timely manner.
- Monitor manpower requirements and recommend manning changes.
- Ensure environmental regulations are adhered to; ensure records are kept in accordance with all associated permits (air, storm water, etc.).
- Handle discipline and grievances as required.
- Perform or direct root-cause analysis to determine reasons for any unplanned internal occurrence that adversely affects operating costs, product quality, or sales.
- Assist in resolving customer complaints.
- Perform or direct projects to achieve goals, objectives, and management development plans, consistent with Corporate, Departmental, and Plant objectives.
- Assist in preparation of operating and capital plans.
- Prepare ER's for approved projects.
- Organize, plan, direct, and control assigned capital projects.
- Handle other duties as assigned, or as judgment or necessity dictates.
Why Unimin
Professional development -- if you are looking to find a long-term professional "home," you may have just found it. We'll groom you to move up into a Plant Manager role here or in one of several other Unimin sites. Advancement opportunities may require relocation.Great environment -- we recruit and retain top talent by offering our employees a work environment where their talents and energies are challenged and productively engaged. From highly trained equipment specialists to professional engineers and research scientists, talented individuals work together as colleagues with shared objectives and recognition.
Safety first -- safety is a top priority at Unimin, and we ensure operational safety through a full time Safety and Health Officer and dedicated department of Certified Safety Professionals who emphasize risk awareness and safe work practices. In fact, Unimin established an industry milestone when the company worked 4.57 million hours without a lost time incident.
Growth and stability -- we invest for the future and manage for the next decade, with emphasis on growth, diversification and sustainable development. As part of the privately held Sibelco Group, our philosophy of conservative financial management has anchored Unimin in challenging times and fueled our steady growth. Our reputation for stability and reliable supply is built upon the planned integration of superior mineral reserves, efficient production technologies, and empowered employee teams.
Commitment to the community -- we believe that an investment in the communities in which we work is an investment in Unimin. We are first and foremost citizens of the communities in which we work, so our standing as good corporate citizen and neighbor is an important component of our standard operating practices. We take pride in the places we work, and are actively engaged with local leaders, educators and institutions. Our participation can take many forms and we express ourselves through donations and volunteerism, by sponsorship of youth programs and community events, and with genuine interest for the welfare of our employees, friends and neighbors.
Commitment to the planet -- with disciplined application, our sustainability programs facilitate the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social consciousness . . . it's how we deliver "Value Beyond Minerals." Our three-pronged approach includes sustainable development, resource management and land restoration.
Excellent compensation -- Employee benefit and wellness programs are a top priority at Unimin. In addition to a competitive salary we offer comprehensive benefits.
Pictured: a motorcycle show in Portage's historic downtown shopping district.
Keys to Success
To excel in this role you will bring a collaborative and empowering leadership style as well as the ability to motivate your team. You'll need to promote a strong sense of teamwork and shared ownership of goals. At the same time, you will provide clear expectations, hold people accountable, and remain willing to be assertive when necessary. Pivotal to your success will be your understanding of the nuances of union environments, and of the importance of strong labor relations.In addition, in order to be an outstanding Plant Superintendent, you will:
- Ensure that safety remains at the forefront of everyone's mind.
- Promote a solid customer focus.
- Remain willing to get hands-on in all operational areas.
- Manage shifting priorities across multiple operational areas effectively.
- Combine your operational knowledge with a degree of business savvy, including understanding financials and managing to financial goals.
- Monitor the details but also understand the big picture and how the details fit into it.
- Demonstrate integrity, in part by maintaining open and honest communication.
- Keep a constant eye out for ways to improve processes, efficiency and safety.
About Unimin
Founded in 1970, Unimin Corporation has grown from a small, local sand mining company to become a leading producer of non-metallic industrial minerals in the worldwide Sibelco Group. Our products are the fundamental building blocks of nearly every manufacturing and industrial process.We're a worldwide supplier to the glass, ceramic and lighting industries, to oil and natural gas service companies, and to paint, plastic, rubber and composite manufacturers. Our high purity quartz products are the starting point for the world's semiconductor and solar photovoltaic cell production. We're also an integral supplier to the metallurgical and foundry industries, and we participate in a wide range of civil, industrial, environmental and building-related applications. Our products touch the lives of millions of people daily.
Quality and innovation are at the foundation of Unimin; but our real strength is our employees. Unimin employs a diverse and highly skilled team of professionals to convert natural mineral resources into engineered customer solutions. We are an application-focused company, drawing from a synergistic product portfolio and the global production capabilities of the Sibelco Group to deliver performance and value for our customers.
From the food and beverages we consume to the energy that powers our lives, Unimin plays a central role in the production, preparation and delivery of life's necessities and luxuries. For our customers, employees, neighbors and other stakeholders, Unimin stands for leadership, continuity and commitment . . . now and in the future.
Pictured: the Native Grass Habitat project is an example of our commitment to our communities and the environment. In 1999 Unimin set aside 494 acres in Gleason, Tennessee for land and wildlife habitat enhancement projects. In partnership with the University of Tennessee, the project is recreating farmland and rolling landscapes that incorporate native grasses and wildflowers. Local elementary and middle school students, as well as scout troops, are among the many groups who benefit from this program.
