Area Manager, Cement Kiln System

• Job Title: Area Manager, Cement Kiln System
• Location: Bloomsdale, Missouri, United States
• Employment Type: Full-Time.

This is a key leadership position within the plant management team, accountable for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the cement manufacturing facility. The role provides end-to-end oversight of clinker production and maintenance, including kiln, fuel handling, pyro-processing, and associated material handling systems.

Responsibilities include long-range operational and maintenance planning, process optimization, performance monitoring, and cross-functional coordination across maintenance, production, quality, and reliability functions. The role leads multiple Area Leaders and is accountable for departmental KPIs, operating and capital budgets, major kiln outages, turnaround execution, and continuous improvement initiatives using data-driven and root-cause methodologies.

• Ensure compliance with safety protocols and MSHA regulations, as well as environmental and air permit requirements.
• Collaborate with maintenance teams to plan shutdowns, prioritize repairs, and implement preventive maintenance programs.
• Extend lifecycle of existing process control systems (PCS) and support future replacement planning.
• Develop and manage annual operating, capital, and maintenance budgets while controlling expenses.
• Plan and schedule kiln operations to meet production targets cost-effectively.
• Oversee KPI performance, area budgets, capital requirements, and major maintenance project implementation.
• Plan, organize, and execute refractory repairs and kiln turnarounds.
• Establish short- and long-term operational objectives to maintain departmental efficiency and effectiveness.
• Drive daily execution and accountability within the process area.
• Benchmark performance and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide leadership, direction, and alignment with plant and organizational goals.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate a multi-skilled workforce.
• Monitor and control inventories of raw materials and fuels.
• Utilize systems such as MAC, SAP, PMA, and CBM to optimize equipment effectiveness at sustainable maintenance costs.
• Promote employee development, continuous learning, and high-performance team culture.
• Coach and develop direct reports to improve organizational effectiveness and achieve business objectives.
• Promote and adhere to health, safety, and environmental standards while fostering a culture of safety.

Bachelor’s Degree required.

Master’s Degree preferred.

Mechanical or Chemical Engineering.

• Deep understanding of clinkerization processes.
• Expertise in kiln systems, vertical grinding mills, and heat transfer functions.

10–15 years of relevant experience, preferably within the cement industry.

• Strong computer proficiency.
• SAP knowledge required.

• Must adhere to all safety protocols and properly use required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including respirators where applicable. Employees required to wear respirators must meet fit-test requirements.
• 401(k) (pre-tax and/or Roth options)
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Medical, Dental, Disability, and Life Insurance
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) & Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)