Thermal Area Lead

Primary Purpose of Job

Under the direction of the Maintenance Manager, this position is responsible for training, coaching, and motivating hourly crafts personnel and Maintenance Supervisors to provide reliable equipment consistent with customer quality and delivery requirements. Direct reports include (2) Thermal Supervisors and (2) Reliability Engineers.  The incumbent communicates continually with the Engineering, Production, Purchasing, Human Resources, and EHS Departments, as well as with Maintenance Supervisors and other Maintenance Department personnel. Externally, they communicate with outside contractors.

Accountability Objectives

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Coaching, supervising, and training skilled craftspeople, apprentices, and laborers in the repair, maintenance, temperature measurement, and instrument calibration of product heating and combustion systems.
• Supervising, training, coaching, and assisting Maintenance Supervisors.
• Assuming single point accountability for maintenance activities in assigned area of responsibility. 
• Performing frontline troubleshooting activities on equipment in area of responsibility. 
• Directing safety awareness programs to manage workforce safety, maintain housekeeping, and assist the Operations Department in area safety analysis. 
• Establishing maintenance priorities that are consistent with overall production requirements.
• Establishing short-term and long-term proactive maintenance plans with internal customers to meet external customer delivery requirements.
• Coordinating PM and other outage activities on equipment in area of responsibility. 
• Planning the daily activities for assigned maintenance crews and providing the tools, materials, and technical direction for normal maintenance, preventative maintenance, and capital work in area of responsibility.
• Determining and procuring proper levels of critical spares in area of responsibility.
• Performing root cause analysis and “5-why” techniques to eliminate maintenance downtime. 
• Working with the Engineering Department to remedy repetitive maintenance problems to continuously improve the reliability of equipment and facilities. 
• Coordinating and managing the development of maintenance work procedures and standard practices to maximize product quality and eliminate waste. 
• Procuring and coordinating contractor services, when necessary, in the area of responsibility.
• Driving continuous improvement activities to eliminate all waste, especially as it relates to maintenance downtime, safety, work practices, and employee involvement.
• Driving best practices within the organization and across all areas in coordination with other Area Leads and Maintenance Supervisors. 
• Managing applicable labor issues effectively within area of responsibility. 
• Performing administrative duties to effectively manage the workforce, as necessary.  
• Communicating with and guiding the Safety Department to identify root causes. This includes developing and implementing root cause corrective action.
• Performing other duties as assigned. 

Basic Qualifications

For this position to be successful, the incumbent should have:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a heavy manufacturing environment. 
• Minimum 3 years of combustion, product heating, temperature measurement, and instrument calibration systems experience in the metals processing industry.
• Minimum 3 years of supervisory experience. 
• Familiarity with applicable safety and quality standards including, but not limited to, NFPA 86, AMS2750, AMS 2770, and AC7102 NADCAP.
• Thorough knowledge of maintenance and inspection procedures. 
• The ability to effectively communicate (verbally and written) and delegate while maintaining forward motion on key deliverables. 
•  A high degree of interpersonal skills to motivate and influence others, including those not under their direct supervision. 
• Demonstrated ability of problem solving, systems thinking, project management, and team building. 
• This position is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which requires U.S. person status. ITAR defines U.S. person as an U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e. ‘Green Card Holder’), Political Asylee, or Refugee. 

Preferred Qualifications

For this position to be successful, preference is given to candidates with: 

• A technical degree from an accredited institution.
• An AMS 2750 Pyrometry Certification. 
• A Combustion Specialist Certification. 
• Experience with EHS, RCF, PFMEA, CMMS, and equipment design. 

Working Conditions

This position involves extreme exposure to risk of accident and requires following basic safety precautions. Work is normally performed in a shared work environment divided between the shop floor and an atypical interior workspace. While not exposed to hazardous materials, this position requires wearing full PPE to protect from mobile equipment and hot materials when on the shop floor. 

This position requires heavy physical activity, such as walking, sitting, and standing for extended periods of time, as well as working in confined spaces and engaging in all motions necessary to perform asset troubleshooting, combustion safety, and equipment inspection activities. 

This position also requires a willingness to maintain a flexible work schedule, be available and on-call 24/7, travel domestically and internationally as requested, continue education, and participate in training seminars necessary to maintain the AMS 2750 Pyrometry and Combustion Specialist Certifications.