Production Manager

Stella-Jones is North America's leading producer of industrial pressure-treated wood products. Responding to the vital infrastructure needs of our economy, we manufacture and distribute railway ties, utility poles, residential lumber and industrial wood products across the continent. The Company’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: SJ).

Stella-Jones recruits team members who embody our core values and desire an environment where growth is inspired, dedication is recognized, and achievement is rewarded. Our ever- expanding footprint provides a great prospect for career advancement as we seek to develop our emerging leaders.

The Production Manager is responsible for planning, organizing plant schedules, assessing resource requirements and meeting deadlines from corporate sales within budget and safely.

Inventory Control

• Works with the sales personnel across North America to ensure adequate raw material inventories are available in the plant or released to cover active orders
• Collaborates with Sales Department, pole yards, wood supply personnel, shipper and receiver, and freight coordinator in the movement and timing of inbound trucks, booms and barges
• Oversees the storage and disposal of reject volumes
• Coordinates the management of material inventory to ensure proper stock rotation and material identifications, and maintains the overall inventory management system
• Collaborates with sales and chargehands (if applicable) to ensure the proper stock is applied to the work orders
• Monitors material storage practices to minimize loss and reduce moisture content of materials presented to the framers
• Maintains and recommends strategies to minimize inventory of slow moving items and rotation of older stocks into active orders

Scheduling and producing work orders

• Reviews and approves sales orders prior to scheduling to ensure that information is clear and correct
• Coordination with plant and sales if requested ship dates can’t be achieved
• Follow-up with Sales Department if clarification is required prior to scheduling
• Schedules sales orders into treating schedule to optimize plant resources
• Verifies the accuracy of treating schedule
• Validates framing print accuracy prior to processing work order. Checks application of framing prints with pole Chargehands
• Ensures tag order requirements are accurate to the sales order requests and to CSA - Canadian Standards Association, AWPA – American Wood Preserving Association and ANSI – American National Standards Institute.
• Coordinates independent inspection and other special support to sales order completion
• Communicates special instructions and sales orders details to the framing crews and Quality Control
• Tracks sales orders in process to ensure manufacturing time meets the shipping schedules. Communicates necessary changes and adjustments to sales department, plant and office support staff
• Actively participates and/or leads all production meetings, daily at plant level and weekly globally – North America

Shipping

• Works closely with the shipper and receiver, and freight coordinator to ensure trucks/railcars are loaded at the plant as per sales department’s requests
• Booms, barges and railcars requires special tally, isolation, identification and loading procedures from trucks. Ensures these procedures are implemented and coordinated with internal staff and outside contractors (i.e. towing, barge and railway dimensional load inspectors) as required
• Coordinates and confirms the completion of sales orders
• Ensures the shipper and receiver, and freight coordinator receives up to date order reports

Communication

• Updates the plant manager on a regular basis as it relates to plant production, processing and shipping
• Communicates with sales staff to ensure that both internal and external customer’s needs are being met and informs the group if deviation occurs from these requirements
• Quality Control
• Works closely with various departments to optimize inventory loss with maximum recovery
• Monitors pole quality and workmanship to ensure quality control and inventory control standards are achieved

Health and Safety

• Co-chair or at minimum, have a position on the Health & Safety Committee
• Monitors compliance to the company safety program
• Identifies and organizes training needs for the new and existing employees
• Maintains employee training records
• Workers Compensation Board claims management
• Investigate near misses, incidents and equipment damage
• Ensure all appropriate forms are accurate and submitted
• Participates and encourages modified work and graduated return to work programs
• Works with the Health & Safety Coordinator on the maintenance of the ERP and the Health & Safety manuals
• Ensures that all contractors and visitors are signed in and compiles with the all company safety rules
• Monitors and organizes yard conditions, direct road and ditch maintenance as required
• Works with Maintenance staff to ensure machinery, tools and supplies are in good condition and ready to apply to the work areas and personal as required

Labour Relations

• Takes all the steps to be familiar with the Collective Agreement
• Partakes in conjunction with the Plant Manager in dispute resolution with the bargaining unit
• Discipline employees when necessary as per company Progressive Discipline Process and the Collective Agreement
• Ensures the EFAP – Employee Family Assistance Program is promoted
• Manages employees’ time card reporting and ensures that office staff and accounting receive data that meets the deadlines
• Works directly with appropriate employees in developing manpower schedule that fits the requirements and minimizes overtime
• Participates in the administration and coordination of holidays and time off requests for plant personnel

Qualifications:

• 3+ years of related experience
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrated problem solving, prioritization and conflict resolution skills
• Presentation Skills
• Proven ability to perform appropriately in emergency situations
• Lead by example” work manner
• Ability to: Train, motivate and coach employees and take direction
• Time and stress management
• Intermediate Computer skills (Microsoft Office)
• Knowledge of wood treating industry
• Knowledge of health and safety standards.

As a Stella-Jones employee, you will enjoy access to excellent benefits and incentives, including:

• Extended health and dental coverage
• Life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
• Short-Term and Long-Term disability coverage
• Competitive compensation
• Annual Profit Share Program
• Retirement program (RRSP) with generous Company match (150% of employee's 4% contribution)
• Company Share Purchase Program with 10% Company contribution match
• Career advancement opportunities

Stella-Jones is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, provincial, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Stella-Jones makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.