General Position Summary & Responsibilities
The Production Operations Support Manager, provides high-impact, field-focused operational support across the Autos (Pick-n-Pull) and Metals divisions of Radius Recycling. This role strengthens operational discipline, standardizes production practices, drives efficiency improvements, and supports organization-wide continuous improvement initiatives.
Working closely with executive, regional, and site leaders, the Manager analyzes operational performance, develops solutions to address constraints, leads structured improvement efforts, and ensures consistent adoption of standard operating procedures. This position is essential to improving production throughput, reducing operating costs, elevating safety performance, and aligning operations with evolving requirements driven by Radius Recycling.
This role combines hands-on field engagement, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional leadership. It requires significant site travel, strong operational acumen, and the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
Essential Functions
Operational Support & Process Improvement
- Partner with Autos and Metals enterprise and site teams to identify, assess, and resolve operational challenges related to workflow, production processes, equipment utilization, yard layout, and personnel deployment.
- Lead structured improvement initiatives using Lean, Kaizen, A3, DMAIC, and other continuous improvement methodologies.
- Conduct time studies, process mapping, takt/cycle time analyses, and workflow assessments to identify inefficiencies and drive improvements.
- Analyze operational data, performance metrics, and cost drivers to develop recommendations for improvement and evaluate impact.
- Develop and update standard operating procedures (SOPs), technical instructions, and training materials.
Training, Standardization & Capability Building
- Collaborate with H&S, Learning & Development, and Operations to create and deliver training on production processes and standard work.
- Coordinate deployment of the Process Improvement Team and training resources to priority sites.
- Facilitate divisional, regional, and site-level training events for new managers and supervisors.
- Validate adoption of standard work and reinforce consistent execution.
- Support alignment with Radius Recycling standards for high-risk tasks, standardized work, and new projects
Field Execution & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Serve as a subject matter expert and an operational advisor to regional and site managers on production flow, equipment reliability, and staffing utilization.
- Partner with Maintenance, Engineering, and Safety to improve equipment uptime and safe work practices.
- Support rollout of new equipment, technologies, and production standards across Autos and Metals.
Job Conditions
Air and/or car travel will be required (approximately 25%), including exposure to physical operations ranging from office to field environment. Must adapt to a flexible schedule, potentially working different shifts to support operational needs and respond to urgent matters.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, Business, or a related technical field highly desired; equivalent heavy-industry experience considered.
- 5+ years of operations experience in heavy industry (autos salvage, recycling, metals processing, construction, mining, agriculture, or similar).
- Experience working in operations environments involving mobile and/or heavy equipment, complex yard operations, and outdoor/weather-driven variability.
Ideal Competencies
- Proven ability to influence and coach leaders at all levels (frontline supervisors, location managers, regional directors).
- Experience leading or supporting structured continuous improvement initiatives in an operational environment.
- Demonstrated experience improving production processes, labor utilization, and equipment workflows in field-based operations.
Physical Requirements and Work Environment
Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds frequently and over 50 pounds occasionally; walk, go up and down stairs, or otherwise negotiate around physical barriers in the field or warehouse environment; sit for up to 6 hours per day; keyboard for 1-3 hours per day; and be mobile for extended periods, up to several hours per day. Visual acuity is required to perform close detail work to input and retrieve data from a computer, read and interpret figures on reports, conduct physical facilities inspections, and drive. Must be able to scale varying heights as necessary.
This position offers competitive pay along with a variety of benefits including medical, dental and vision plans for both you and your dependents; 401k with company match, Flexible Time Off, and paid holidays.
PLEASE NOTE: The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills.
All U.S. applicants must be 18 years of age or older, and all Canadian applicants must be 16 years of age or older.
Radius Recycling Industries, Inc. participates in E-Verify for all U.S. new hires.
An offer of U.S. employment by Radius Recycling Industries, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries is contingent on the satisfactory completion of a post-offer drug screen and background check.
All new hires must review and sign an Arbitration Agreement. This applies to all U.S. non-union employees.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Radius Recycling Industries, Inc. does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, marital status, disability status, national origin or ancestry, veteran status, age, prior industrial injury, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected status under local, state, or federal law.