Area Manager, Quality and Barge Loadout

Job Purpose

The Quality and Barge Loadout Area Manager is responsible for overseeing plant quality systems, laboratory operations, and port terminal operations to ensure the safe, compliant, and efficient production, storage, and transfer of finished products. This role leads quality assurance and quality control initiatives while also managing terminal operations, maintenance coordination, labor oversight, process improvement efforts, and operational performance metrics.

The position works closely with plant leadership, corporate teams, contractors, and plant personnel to ensure environmental, safety, production, and customer quality standards are consistently achieved.

 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead quality assurance, quality control, laboratory, and port terminal operations to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient production, storage, and transfer activities.
• Manage laboratory operations, including technician training, certification, sampling, testing, reporting, and QA/QC documentation.
• Develop, implement, and maintain quality systems, SOPs, process controls, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor and report operational and quality KPIs, analyze trends, conduct root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
• Lead tramp metal prevention and management programs, including oversight of magnets, metal detectors, screening systems, inspections, calibration, verification, ownership across all storage/handling areas, require verification of pre and post work controls, and continuous improvements.
• Serve as the primary contact to lead investigations related to tramp findings, contamination events, product quality deviations, and process risks.
• Ensure execution of barge inspections, probing, venting, loader blow-downs, and operational checklists to support product quality and safe operations.
• Coordinate terminal and vessel loading operations, including contractor oversight, product handling, logistics coordination, and operator training.
• Manage barge drafting activities and train operators to maximize loading efficiency while maintaining safety and quality standards.
• Maintain FIFO finished goods inventory practices and ensure accurate inventory, barge reporting, loading weights, and shipment documentation.
• Monitor product temperatures, storage conditions, dust levels, and environmental risks across silos, flat storage, warehouses, and barges by being accountable for accountability for investigation and mitigation of temperature excursions and barge weight/reporting discrepancies.
• Ensure cleanliness and operational readiness of silos, warehouses, conveyance systems, flat storage areas, and barge loading equipment.
• Ensure compliance with OEMS standards, environmental permits, safety policies, SOPs, and regulatory requirements.
• Support preventative maintenance, reliability efforts, budgeting, cost control, and operational efficiency initiatives.
• Collaborate with plant leadership, port operations, maintenance, engineering, customers, contractors, and regulatory agencies to achieve operational and quality goals.
• Lead, coach, and develop personnel while promoting a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and operational excellence.
• Maintain end-to-end accountability for finished product quality from plant production through terminal storage and customer shipment from the port.
• Support special projects and additional operational initiatives as assigned.

 

Leadership & Administrative Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop plant and port personnel.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Effectively communicate with all levels of the organization.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and cost control efforts.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Management, STEM, or an equivalent demonstrated experience of these requirements in past work.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of management experience in a fast-paced industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Experience with quality assurance, quality control, and process improvement methodologies.
• Strong understanding of statistical analysis, root cause analysis, and process control systems.
• Experience managing operations, maintenance, labor, and production activities.
• Experience in manufacturing, bulk materials handling, marine terminal operations, or similar industries preferred.
• Strong mechanical and troubleshooting skills preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel and data analysis tools.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to analyze operational and financial data and develop actionable recommendations.
• Ability to work independently and lead teams in a 24/7 operational environment.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

 

Working Conditions

• Must be able to work in outdoor environments and occasionally in temperatures above 100°F and below 32°F.
• Willing and able to work in hot, humid, cold, and noisy industrial environments.
• Must maintain strict adherence to all safety policies, procedures, and PPE requirements.

 

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift, walk, climb, stoop, stand, push, and pull for up to 12 hours per day.
• Ability to work around moving equipment and machinery.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to safely perform essential job functions in accordance with ADA, FMLA, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.