Operations Supervisor / Superintendent (Manufacturing & Production)

Key Details & Confidential Profile

• Client Profile: Premier, stable national manufacturer and distributor specializing in high-performance structural building materials, architectural metal roofing, and gutter systems (operating a robust multi-state network for 50+ years).
• Location: Sacramento, CA (100% On-Site)
• Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the regional General Manager (located remotely / regional oversight)
• On-Site Leadership: Represents the highest level of local operational leadership physically on-site in Sacramento, with a clear trajectory for rapid site-management advancement.

Company Snapshot

• Headcount: 51–200 employees
• Industry: Heavy Building Materials Manufacturing & Industrial Distribution
• Established: 1974 (50+ years of industry stability)
• Direct Reports: On-site back-office crew (10 to 20 hourly machine operators, fabricators, and material handlers)
• Core Values: Accountability & Ownership, Operational Excellence, Customer Commitment, Continuous Improvement, Team Performance

Position Summary & Career Trajectory

The Operations Supervisor / Superintendent is the primary tactical site lead responsible for directing all back-office operations at our client's Sacramento branch—their largest facility nationwide—including custom metal roll-forming, fabrication, machinery utilization, warehousing, inventory control, and plant logistics.

Because this position serves as the top physical operational presence in Sacramento, you completely own the plant floor and run day-to-day production like your own business. This role is specifically structured for an ambitious, high-caliber floor leader looking for rapid professional growth. Candidates who demonstrate strong people leadership, operational discipline, and site ownership will have direct opportunities to advance into higher-level executive site management (General Manager).

Rather than sitting at a desk, we are looking for a 90% floor-first operator who thrives in daily blocking and tackling—resolving machine downtime, keeping lines moving, optimizing Lean/5S workflows, and motivating a dedicated crew.

Essential Job Functions

1. Floor-First Production Ownership (90% Floor Presence)

• Spend the majority of your day directly on the plant floor overseeing metal conversion, roll-forming, and fabrication lines to meet daily production schedules.
• Drive real-time tactical problem-solving: resolve equipment delays, manage staffing call-outs, clear staging bottlenecks, and ensure raw materials are prepped for smooth runs.
• Direct day-to-day back-office logistics, material receiving, stock staging, and order fulfillment. (Excludes front-office administrative sales duties).

2. People Leadership, Team Coordination & Advancement

• Directly lead, mentor, and build a high-performing crew of 10 to 20 hourly operators and machinery specialists.
• Bring strong interpersonal and coaching skills to foster a culture of daily accountability, high morale, and safety.
• Manage performance improvement plans (PIPs), address skill gaps, and serve as the primary site leader evaluating crew performance and staffing needs.

3. Equipment Performance & Asset Management

• Monitor machine performance, setup routines, and preventive maintenance (PM) schedules for specialized metal roll-forming machinery, cutting tools, and industrial forklifts.
• Partner with equipment vendors and millwrights when repairs are needed to ensure maximum plant uptime and safe operating conditions.

4. Practical Data Discipline & Inventory Tracking

• Maintain practical, daily tracking of material movements using a modern cloud-based ERP framework and handheld RF barcode scanners.
• Utilize basic Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and digital metrics to track shift output, material accuracy, and labor efficiency without getting bogged down in administrative office work.

5. Continuous Improvement & Workflow Optimization (5S/Lean)

• Implement practical Lean and 5S/6S organization to clean up line bottlenecks, reduce scrap rates, and ensure safe, organized material staging across the facility.

Requirements

Must-Have Qualifications

• Frontline Manufacturing Leadership: 3 to 5+ years of operational supervisory, shift lead, or superintendent experience directly on an industrial manufacturing, fabrication, metal-conversion, or heavy production floor.
• Leadership & People Skills: Proven track record of managing a crew (10+ direct reports) with strong communication skills and an approachable, accountable leadership style.
• Hands-on Mechanical Aptitude: High mechanical aptitude and comfort around machinery; fully willing to step onto the floor to operate equipment, run a forklift, or support the crew during peak runs.
• Practical Tech Comfort: Basic computer literacy (comfortable with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and standard ERP data entry/barcode scanning) without needing to be an IT expert.
• Career Ambition: Motivated by site ownership and eager to earn a rapid promotion into higher facility leadership (General Manager track).
• Career Stability: Steady employment record showcasing professional growth and reliability (no pattern of job-hopping).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in rigid corporate or large industrial plants where your upward mobility was capped, and you are seeking an entrepreneurial environment to prove your full leadership potential.
• Prior experience with industrial ERP platforms (Infor CloudSuite Industrial / SyteLine, Sage, or similar).
• Active forklift certifications and formal safety credentials (OSHA-10 or OSHA-30).
• Exposure to Lean Manufacturing, 5S layout strategies, or structured preventive maintenance workflows.

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or GED.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Business, or Engineering (equivalent practical frontline leadership experience will be fully accepted in lieu of a degree).

Compensation Package

• Hourly Rate: $31.25 – $43.27 / hour (Estimated $65,000 – $90,000 base annualized, dependent on experience).
• Overtime Eligibility: Full W2 Non-Exempt structure. All hours worked beyond 8 hours/day or 40 hours/week in California are compensated at standard time-and-a-half overtime rates.

Working Conditions & Schedule

• On-Site Requirement: 100% on-site at the Sacramento, CA facility.
• Shift Structure: Standard day shift, single-shift operation (no night shift or rotating shift patterns).

What This Role Offers

• High Growth & Fast-Track Promotion: Step into the top on-site operational role at our client's largest plant with an explicit pathway to advance into higher site leadership (General Manager).
• True Floor Autonomy: Enjoy daily freedom to run the plant floor like your own business without local micromanagement.
• Paid for Every Hour Worked: Unlike salaried positions expecting 50+ hours with zero extra pay, this role offers full overtime eligibility for all extra time spent driving site performance.

Interview Process

1. Stage 1: Talent Harbor Introductory Screening (Tenure, people leadership, ambition, and compensation fit)
2. Stage 2: Technical & Leadership Evaluation (Deep dive into 90% floor leadership, production troubleshooting, and Lean/5S)
3. Stage 3: Executive Interview – Virtual call with Regional Leadership and the Vice President of Operations
4. Stage 4: In-Person Site Visit – On-site walkthrough at the Sacramento plant