We are seeking an experienced Furnace Operations Manager to lead a critical production department within a heavy industrial manufacturing environment. This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who enjoys being on the production floor, developing teams, and taking full ownership of day-to-day operations. Direct aluminum experience is not required . We are open to leaders from metals, steel, foundry, casting, smelting, extrusion, plastics extrusion, and other relevant industrial manufacturing environments. Responsibilities Lead and develop a department of approximately 30-40 employees Oversee day-to-day furnace melting and dross operations Manage production scheduling, organization, staffing, and workflow Take ownership of the department and operate it like an individual business unit Maintain a strong, visible presence on the production floor Build, coach, and develop a strong operations team Ensure production needs are met safely and efficiently Work closely with operations, maintenance, safety, and other departments Oversee operations involving industrial equipment such as furnaces, forklifts, payloaders, and conveyor systems Follow established safety, operational, and ISO procedures Help troubleshoot operational issues and keep production moving Maintain responsibility for the department beyond normal business hours when operational needs arise Qualifications 5+ years of industrial/manufacturing leadership experience preferred Strong supervisors ready to take the next step into management may also be considered Previous experience leading employees in a manufacturing, metals, processing, or other industrial environment Proven ability to build, lead, and hold teams accountable Strong organization and production scheduling skills Comfortable managing approximately 30-40 employees Comfortable working in a hands-on, heavy industrial environment Strong shop-floor leadership presence Ability to work with production-related math and chemistry Ability to take ownership of a department rather than operate within a strict Monday-Friday management schedule Strong understanding of day-to-day production operations and manufacturing safety Relevant Experience Experience in any of the following environments can translate well: Furnace or melting operations Smelting Foundry operations Casting Extrusion Steel or metal processing Aluminum manufacturing Plastics extrusion Heavy industrial manufacturing Rotary furnace experience is a major plus , but strong manufacturing leadership ability is more important than having direct aluminum furnace experience.