Process Manager

Southland Industrial Coatings, Galvanizing Division

Location: Amite, Louisiana

Reports to: General Manager

Position Type: Full Time, On Site, Salaried

About Southland Industrial Coatings

Southland Industrial Coatings provides hot dip galvanizing, blasting, painting, and metallizing from our campus in Amite, Louisiana, protecting structural steel, utility infrastructure, and solar products against corrosion. We are a growing operation that values people who take ownership, learn quickly, and look for better ways to run the business.

Position Overview

The Process Manager is responsible for the day to day health of the galvanizing process at Southland Industrial Coatings. This person keeps the process in good condition from the pretreatment tanks through the kettle, manages the production schedule alongside our production coordinators, owns zinc inventory, and serves as a primary contact for customers. Working directly with the General Manager and alongside the managers of each area, the Process Manager takes ownership of daily operational issues and tasks so that problems are solved quickly and at the right level. This role also presents weekly performance results and is expected to understand and explain what is driving them.

Key Responsibilities

• Galvanizing Process
• Own the condition of the galvanizing process from pretreatment through the kettle, including the acid, rinse, and flux tanks and the zinc bath.
• Perform and record acid titrations on a regular schedule, and determine when tanks need additions, adjustment, or replacement.
• Test and monitor flux and rinse tanks, and take corrective action when results fall outside targets.
• Pull zinc bath samples, review lab results, and recommend alloy additions such as bismuth and nickel.
• Schedule the removal of spent acid for disposal and the sale of dross and skims to recyclers.
• Report equipment issues that affect the process to maintenance and follow them through to resolution. Maintenance remains responsible for repairs and preventive maintenance.
• Scheduling and Daily Operations
• Manage the production schedule alongside the production coordinators, balancing customer due dates, kettle capacity, and backlog.
• Coordinate daily with production, maintenance, quality control, shipping, and safety to resolve issues and keep work moving.
• Take ownership of day to day operational issues and tasks, resolving them directly and escalating to the General Manager when needed.
• Oversee the receiving and shipping of customer loads.
• Zinc and Process Materials
• Audit zinc inventory, track consumption, and monitor zinc usage against targets.
• Prepare orders for zinc, acid, flux, and other process chemicals for approval by the General Manager.
• Track usage of process chemicals and identify opportunities to reduce cost and waste.
• Customers and Commercial
• Serve as a primary contact for customers, handling phone calls and emails about pricing, lead times, and load status.
• Quote galvanizing projects.
• Prepare invoices for completed loads and provide accounting with accurate billing information.
• Performance and Reporting
• Prepare and present weekly key performance indicators (KPIs) to the General Manager and be able to explain what is driving the results each week.
• Build and maintain the monthly forecast.
• Identify process and operational improvements and help lead them to completion.

Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing, industrial operations, or a related field.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret operational and financial data and explain it clearly.
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly, take ownership, and solve problems without close supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with plant employees, managers, and customers.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and comfortable learning in house software.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, engineering, industrial technology, business, or a related field.
• Supervisory or leadership experience.
• Chemistry or laboratory experience.
• Hot dip galvanizing experience.

Schedule and Work Environment

• Salaried position. Typical hours are 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and vary based on business needs.
• Early mornings, late nights, and some weekend work are required.
• At least 2 to 4 hours per day on the plant floor and in the yard, and sometimes more.
• Industrial galvanizing facility with exposure to acid fumes, heat from the kettle and molten zinc, and outdoor yard conditions.
• Must wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) in plant and yard areas.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk and stand for extended periods, including on uneven ground in the yard.
• Ability to safely handle chemical samples and testing equipment.
• Occasional lifting of up to 25 lbs.

Join our team at Southland Industrial Coatings and play a key role in delivering quality galvanizing to our customers and moving our business forward. Apply today. We offer a competitive salary and benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k). Southland Industrial Coatings is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Southland Industrial Coatings is a drug-free workplace. This position requires pre-employment screens.