Machine Operations Manager Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Role Overview

The Plant Operations Manager is responsible for the overall safe, efficient, and reliable operation of the plant. This position provides leadership and direction for plant operations, maintenance, production, safety, quality, personnel, and continuous improvement.

The Plant Operations Manager ensures production objectives are achieved while maintaining a strong safety culture, regulatory compliance, equipment reliability, product quality, and effective cost control.

Key Responsibilities

Plant Operations

• Direct and oversee daily plant operations to meet production, quality, and efficiency objectives.
• Establish daily operating priorities and coordinate manpower, equipment, materials, and resources.
• Monitor production rates, equipment performance, downtime, product quality, and operating costs.
• Identify operational problems and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure operating procedures and established production standards are followed.
• Coordinate plant activities with management, maintenance, quality, engineering, sales, and other departments.

• Maintain effective communication between shifts and departments.
• Ensure the plant is adequately staffed and operating efficiently.

Maintenance & Equipment Reliability

• Provide leadership and direction to maintenance personnel and maintenance activities.
• Ensure preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs are effectively implemented.
• Prioritize maintenance work based on safety, production requirements, equipment condition, and business needs.

• Monitor equipment availability, downtime, repair costs, and recurring failures.
• Support troubleshooting of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, instrumentation, and process equipment.
• Coordinate planned shutdowns, major repairs, equipment installations, and capital projects.

• Ensure maintenance work orders and equipment records are properly maintained.
• Develop strategies to reduce unplanned downtime and improve equipment reliability.

Safety & Compliance

• Provide visible leadership and accountability for plant safety.
• Ensure employees follow company safety policies, procedures, and applicable regulations.

• Conduct regular safety meetings, inspections, audits, and workplace observations.
• Ensure appropriate training and qualification of employees.
• Support incident investigations and ensure corrective actions are completed.
• Ensure proper implementation of lockout/tagout, machine guarding, electrical safety, confined-space, fall protection, and other applicable safety programs.
• For mining operations, ensure compliance with applicable MSHA requirements and site-specific standards.

Personnel & Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop operations and maintenance employees.
• Establish clear performance expectations and hold employees accountable.
• Assist with hiring, training, performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, and workforce planning.
• Develop strong supervisors and frontline leaders.
• Promote teamwork, communication, professionalism, and employee engagement.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, overtime, and vacation coverage to meet operational requirements.

Production & Cost Management

• Monitor labor, maintenance, parts, contractor, energy, and operating expenses.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs while maintaining safety, quality, reliability, and production.
• Monitor production KPIs and develop action plans when performance falls below expectations.
• Assist with annual planning, capital budgeting, equipment replacement, and plant improvement projects.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead initiatives to improve plant productivity, efficiency, reliability, and overall performance.
• Analyze production losses, downtime, equipment failures, and process inefficiencies.
• Utilize root-cause analysis to eliminate recurring problems.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators, including:
  • Safety performance
  • Production output
  • Equipment availability
  • Unplanned downtime
  • Preventive maintenance compliance
  • Maintenance backlog
  • Product quality
  • Labor efficiency
  • Operating costs
• Promote a proactive culture focused on continuous improvement and accountability.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• 5+ years of progressive experience in plant operations, manufacturing, mining, aggregate, processing, or a similar industrial environment.
• Previous supervisory or management experience required.
• Strong knowledge of industrial production and maintenance practices.
• Demonstrated ability to lead employees in a demanding operating environment.
• Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting knowledge preferred.
• Experience with preventive maintenance and CMMS systems preferred.
• Strong understanding of workplace safety and regulatory requirements.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure and effectively prioritize competing demands.

Preferred Experience

• Mining, aggregate, heavy manufacturing, or mineral processing experience.
• MSHA experience and familiarity with Part 46 or Part 48 training requirements, as applicable.

• Experience managing both operations and maintenance functions.
• Experience with major plant shutdowns and capital projects.
• Experience with reliability programs, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Experience managing operating and maintenance budgets.

Physical & Work Conditions

• The Plant Operations Manager will routinely work in an industrial plant environment and may be exposed to noise, dust, moving equipment, electrical equipment, elevated temperatures, outdoor weather conditions, and other industrial hazards.

• The position requires regular field presence and may require extended hours, weekends, holidays, or emergency response to support plant operations.

Success in the Position

• Success in this position will be measured by the ability to operate the plant safely, meet production objectives, maintain reliable equipment, develop a strong workforce, control costs, maintain regulatory compliance, and continuously improve plant performance.

• Regular in-person attendance consistent with the Company's established work schedule is an essential function of this position to facilitate effective collaboration, communication, and business operations. 

Compensation & Benefits

• $103,000 - $176,000 + bonus opportunity
• 401(k) with 6% company match
• Paid parental leave, PTO, and holidays
• Employer-supported health and dental coverage
• Fitness and wellness reimbursement
• Annual merit increase opportunity
• Career growth through operational exposure and leadership visibility
  

About Oil-Dri

Oil-Dri Corporation of America is a leading specialty minerals manufacturer serving consumer and business-to-business markets. We offer the stability of an established manufacturing company with the visibility, ownership, and direct impact of a more closely connected organization. Our teammates help Create Value From Sorbent Minerals every day.

Oil-Dri is committed to providing equal opportunity for all teammates and qualified candidates without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, mental or physical disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Accordingly, all employment decisions and personnel actions or programs such as hiring, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, transfers, reductions in workforce, and training, etc. will be consistent with the principle of equal employment opportunity.