Assistant General Manager - Burns Harbor, IN

Assistant General Manager

SMS Mill Services, LLC is a leader in the steel mill services industry prioritizing recycling and environmental/worker safety and handling all operations with integrity. SMS Burns Harbor is seeking a highly skilled, safety focused and results-driven Assistant General Manager. This role supports day-to-day operations at our steel mill scrap facility. This role partners closely with the General Manager to oversee production, safety, maintenance, and workforce performance while ensuring efficient, profitable operations. The Assistant General Manager will be heavily involved on the floor—coaching leaders, resolving issues in real time, and ensuring equipment, crews, and processes are aligned to meet customer and production demands.

SMS provides a comprehensive range of services for steel mill customers. We partner with our customers to design custom, cost-effective solutions, which focus on adding value and achieving goals for the operation and the environment. Our range of services includes, but is not limited scrap yard management, finished or semi-finished product services, melt shop services, logistics/transportation support, and slag processing.

Key Responsibilities

• Support daily operations across scrap processing, material movement, and loading/unloading activities
• Coordinate with Shift Foremen, Scale Operators, and Equipment Operators to ensure production targets are met
• Monitor workflow, identify inefficiencies, and implement process improvements
• Assist in scheduling manpower, equipment, and work priorities

Leadership & Workforce Management

• Provide direct leadership and support to supervisors and hourly workforce
• Reinforce accountability, attendance, and performance expectations
• Assist with hiring, onboarding, training, and employee development
• Address employee relations issues in coordination with HR
• Maintain strong communication across all shifts and departments

Maintenance & Equipment Oversight

• Partner with Maintenance Manager to ensure equipment uptime and reliability
• Support planning of preventive maintenance and repair schedules
• Help prioritize repairs based on operational impact

Safety & Compliance

• Promote and enforce a strong safety culture and adherence to all policies and procedures
• Conduct safety observations, audits, and incident follow-ups
• Ensure housekeeping and site organization standards are maintained

Financial & Administrative Support

• Assist in managing budgets, production costs, and operational efficiency
• Review reports related to production, downtime, labor, and performance metrics
• Support administrative functions including documentation, reporting, and purchase order oversight as needed

Customer & Business Support

• Maintain strong relationships with customers and vendors on-site
• Assist in resolving operational or service-related issues
• Support business growth initiatives and continuous improvement efforts

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; bachelor's degree preferred
• 5+ years of experience in steel mill, scrap recycling, manufacturing, or heavy industrial operations
• 2+ years of leadership experience (supervisor, foreman, or manager level)
• Strong understanding of heavy equipment operations (loaders, excavators, material handlers, haul trucks)
• Proven leadership, communication, and decision-making skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Intermediate computer skills (reports, email, scheduling, spreadsheets)
• Experience in union environments is a plus

Physical / Work Conditions

• Ability to work in an industrial steel mill scrap yard environment
• Exposure to noise, weather changes, dust, and moving equipment
• Combination of office work and frequent time spent on the floor

What We Can Offer:

• A comprehensive compensation package to commensurate with experience including bonuses
• Benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision, company-paid life insurance, etc. offered on day 1!
• 401(k) with 4% matching, 100% vested as of first contribution
• Paid holidays, 4 weeks paid vacation
• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team.
• Opportunity to help drive operational improvements and team success
• Opportunity to grow within operational organization

SMS Mill Services, LLC is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. SMS Mill Services, LLC makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.