Are You Ready to Lead, Learn, and Make Things Happen?

Piedmont Asphalt is looking for an energetic, motivated, hands-on leader who wants more than just a job. We are looking for someone who enjoys working with people, solving problems, operating equipment, and making things happen.  If you are mechanically inclined, naturally curious, take pride in your work, and have the drive to become a strong operations leader, we want to talk with you. This is an opportunity to take on a leadership role, learn a specialized business, and make a real impact on a growing company.

Who We Are

Piedmont Asphalt, LLC operates five asphalt production facilities across South-Central Virginia and North-Central North Carolina. We supply hot mix asphalt to a variety of customers, including paving contractors, construction companies, and other businesses that depend on us for a quality product and reliable service.  Much like the ready-mix concrete industry, our business is built around serving customers, managing production, coordinating deliveries and materials, maintaining equipment, and keeping operations running safely and efficiently.  We believe in maintaining a family-oriented culture while operating with the professionalism and accountability of a successful business. Our people are important to us, and we believe good leadership, teamwork, hard work, and personal responsibility make the difference.

The Opportunity

As Plant Operations Manager, you will play an important leadership role in overseeing the day-to-day operations of Piedmont Asphalt's production facilities.  This is not a desk job! You will be out in the field, working alongside plant personnel, learning the equipment and production processes, solving operational challenges, and making sure our facilities are operating safely, efficiently, and profitably. You will work closely with plant operators, maintenance personnel, quality control, customers, and company leadership. You will have the opportunity to develop a thorough understanding of the asphalt production business while building and leading a team of people who take pride in what they do.

We are looking for someone who brings energy, initiative, sound judgment, and a willingness to learn. We don't expect you to know everything on day one. We do expect you to be engaged, ask questions, take ownership, and have the desire to get better every day.

What You Will Do

Lead People and Operations

• Provide leadership, direction, and support to personnel at all asphalt production facilities.
• Build a positive, accountable team environment built around safety, communication, teamwork, and pride in workmanship.
• Lead by example. Be visible, approachable, and willing to get involved.
• Set expectations, coach employees, develop talent, and address performance issues.
• Coordinate staffing and daily operations to meet production and customer demands.

Learn and Manage Asphalt Production

• Develop a hands-on understanding of asphalt plant operations, equipment, production processes, and material requirements.
• Work with plant operators and quality control personnel to ensure consistent production of quality asphalt that meets job specifications.
• Monitor production performance, material usage, and plant efficiency.
• Coordinate raw material deliveries and inventory levels to keep plants operating without interruption.
• Learn to recognize operational problems, troubleshoot issues, and coordinate solutions.

Take Ownership of Equipment and Facilities

• Oversee the inspection, maintenance, and repair of plant equipment and facilities.
• Work with maintenance personnel and outside contractors to address equipment issues and minimize downtime.
• Develop an understanding of preventive maintenance programs and equipment operating requirements.
• Ensure plant sites are clean, organized, safe, and professionally maintained.

Manage Safety and Compliance

• Establish and maintain a strong safety-first culture.
• Conduct regular plant inspections and safety meetings.
• Ensure compliance with applicable MSHA, OSHA, DEQ, EPA, and other regulatory requirements.
• Identify unsafe conditions and take prompt corrective action.
• Ensure proper documentation and reporting of safety incidents.

Understand the Business

• Monitor production costs, operating expenses, and key performance measures.
• Review monthly financial and production results and explain significant variances to company leadership.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce costs, and increase operating efficiency.
• Develop strong working relationships with customers and respond professionally to their needs and concerns.
• Assist with planning and coordinating annual plant maintenance and winter shutdown activities.

Industries and Experience That Translate Well

We recognize that great operations leaders don't necessarily come from the asphalt industry. In fact, we believe the ideal candidate may have developed their experience and leadership skills in one or more of the following industries:

• Ready-Mix Concrete Operations: Experience managing production facilities, materials, quality, scheduling, equipment, and customer demands.
• Manufacturing or Industrial Production: Experience overseeing production processes, managing personnel, controlling costs, maintaining equipment, and improving operational efficiency.
• Heavy Equipment and Fleet Operations: Experience with heavy machinery, equipment maintenance, preventive maintenance programs, troubleshooting, and fleet management.
• Construction Field Supervision: Experience leading crews, coordinating resources, managing jobsite activities, maintaining safety standards, and meeting production schedules.
• Aggregate, Quarry, or Mining Operations: Experience with material production, processing equipment, inventory, plant maintenance, safety, and environmental compliance.
• Trucking and Logistics Operations: Experience coordinating people, equipment, deliveries, scheduling, fleet utilization, and customer service.

If you have experience in one or more of these industries, we believe you may have the foundation to become an excellent leader at Piedmont Asphalt. 

We are willing to teach the asphalt business to someone who brings the right attitude, work ethic, mechanical aptitude, leadership ability, and desire to learn.

What We Are Looking For

• Drive and Initiative: Someone who is motivated, energetic, and doesn't wait to be told what needs to be done.
• Leadership Potential: Someone who enjoys working with people, accepts responsibility, and can earn the respect of a team.
• Mechanical Aptitude: An interest in equipment, machinery, troubleshooting, and understanding how things work.
• Willingness to Learn: Someone who is curious, asks questions, accepts coaching, and wants to continually improve.
• Problem-Solving Ability: Someone who can think on their feet, make sound decisions, and work through challenges.
• Accountability: Someone who takes ownership of their responsibilities and follows through on commitments.
• Communication Skills: Someone who can communicate effectively with employees, customers, vendors, and company leadership.
• Work Ethic: Someone who understands that successful operations require visibility, involvement, hard work, and leading by example.

Experience and Qualifications

• Experience in ready-mix concrete, manufacturing, industrial production, heavy equipment, fleet operations, construction, aggregates, mining, trucking, logistics, or a related industry is preferred.
• Previous supervisory or team leadership experience is highly desirable.
• Asphalt production or asphalt plant experience is beneficial but not required.
• Mechanical aptitude and the ability to understand equipment operations and maintenance.
• Basic computer skills and the ability to learn operational reporting systems.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel between company facilities.
• High school diploma or GED required; vocational training, technical education, or college coursework is a plus.

  We are more interested in the right person, attitude, work ethic, leadership potential, and desire to grow than a particular career path or number of years in the asphalt industry.

What You Can Expect from Piedmont Asphalt

• An important leadership position with a growing company.
• Hands-on experience learning a specialized industry and business.
• The opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals who understand the asphalt business.
• The ability to make decisions, take ownership, and influence operational results.
• Opportunities for professional development and advancement.
• A company culture that values teamwork, hard work, integrity, and personal accountability.
• Competitive compensation with entry level wage of $1500/week with consideration for additional compensation based on experience and qualifications.

Benefits Include:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with Company Matching
• Paid Time Off
• Additional Ancillary Benefits

Piedmont Asphalt is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy, and productive work environment for all employees. As part of our commitment to a drug-free workplace, any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screening.

The Bottom Line

We are looking for someone who wants to build something, not just manage something.

Someone who is willing to get their hands dirty, learn the business from the ground up, earn the respect of employees, solve problems, and help lead Piedmont Asphalt into the future.

If you have the energy, ambition, mechanical aptitude, and desire to become a great operations leader, we would like to hear from you.

COME GROW WITH PIEDMONT ASPHALT!

Equal Employment Opportunity Employerextending employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation, parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or any other non-merit-based factor.