Area Production Director

American Welding & Gas Inc. (AWG) is growingand were looking for an experienced Area Production Director ready to make a BIG impact across our East Region!

If youre a proven production leader who thrives on driving operational excellence team performance safety and growth this is an opportunity to step into a high-impact role with a growing organization.

Position Summary :

The Area Production Director is responsible for the overall operational leadership safety efficiency and performance of multiple production and fill plant facilities within an assigned region. This role oversees regional production operations including industrial medical specialty and beverage gas production activities to ensure operational excellence regulatory compliance product quality asset reliability and customer fulfillment. The ideal candidate is a hands-on operational leader with extensive experience in industrial gas production manufacturing plant operations and regulatory compliance who can effectively lead teams optimize processes and drive continuous improvement initiatives across multiple facilities.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Production & Plant Operations Leadership :

• Provide strategic and day-to-day leadership for multiple production plants and fill facilities across the assigned region.
• Ensure safe efficient and compliant production operations for industrial medical specialty and beverage gases.
• Drive operational consistency plant productivity asset utilization and process standardization across all facilities.
• Develop and implement operational strategies to support company growth customer demand and service objectives.
• Monitor production capacity and coordinate operational planning to ensure uninterrupted product supply.

Safety & Regulatory Compliance :

• Champion AWGs safety-first culture and ensure compliance with OSHA DOT FDA EPA NFPA CGA and all applicable regulatory requirements.
• Lead safety initiatives audits incident investigations root cause analysis and corrective action programs.
• Ensure all production facilities maintain compliance with medical gas manufacturing standards quality systems and regulatory inspections.
• Promote proactive risk management and continuous safety improvement initiatives throughout the region.
• Ensure employee adherence to operational procedures PPE requirements and safe handling practices for compressed and cryogenic gases.

Production Planning & Quality Management :

• Oversee production scheduling cylinder filling operations bulk gas supply coordination and inventory management.
• Partner with supply chain and operations teams to ensure product availability and efficient distribution support.
• Ensure production quality standards are consistently achieved and maintained across all facilities.
• Support implementation and maintenance of quality assurance programs and production documentation requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity waste reduction throughput and operational reliability.

Asset & Maintenance Management:

• Oversee preventive maintenance programs and plant equipment reliability initiatives.
• Ensure production equipment pumps manifolds vaporizers compressors filling systems and cryogenic assets are properly maintained and operational.
• Partner with maintenance and engineering teams on facility upgrades capital projects and equipment improvements.
• Monitor plant downtime maintenance trends and operational performance metrics to improve asset reliability.

Team Leadership & Development :

• Lead coach and develop plant managers production supervisors maintenance personnel and production associates.
• Support recruiting onboarding training performance management and succession planning efforts.
• Foster a culture of accountability teamwork operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Provide leadership development and operational guidance to plant leadership teams.

Financial & Performance Management:

• Manage regional production operating budgets labor costs maintenance expenses and capital expenditures.
• Monitor KPIs related to safety production efficiency downtime quality inventory accuracy and profitability.
• Identify operational efficiencies and cost-saving opportunities while maintaining safety and product quality standards.
• Support forecasting budgeting and long-range operational planning activities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration :

• Partner closely with operations distribution safety sales supply chain engineering HR and finance teams to support business objectives.
• Support onboarding and operational integration of newly acquired production facilities.
• Serve as a senior escalation point for plant operational production and compliance issues.
• Support company-wide operational initiatives standardization efforts and strategic growth objectives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Education Requirements

• Bachelors degree in Engineering Operations Management Business or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 10 years of progressive leadership experience in industrial gas production manufacturing chemical processing or related industrial operations environments.
• Strong knowledge of industrial gas production operations cylinder filling processes cryogenic systems and plant safety practices.
• Working knowledge of OSHA DOT FDA medical gas requirements EPA regulations NFPA standards and CGA guidelines.
• Demonstrated experience leading multiple production facilities and large operational teams.
• Strong leadership communication organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Experience managing operational budgets capital projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ability to analyze operational data and drive performance improvements.
• Willingness to travel regularly within the assigned region.

Incentives:

• Competitivesalary and comprehensive benefits package.

• 401(k) with companymatch.

• Medical dental and vision coverage from day one.

• Life and disability insurance.

• Generous paid time off and paid holidays.

• A supportive team-oriented culture with opportunities for growth.

AWG Culture :

A family-like atmosphere known for growth opportunities and a low turnover rate in the industry.

AWG is expanding and seeking exceptional talent to drive our progress out ona promising future join our team today!

American Welding & Gas (AWG) is a manufacturer and distributor of industrial gases as well as a provider of all your welding supply needs. We are a family and team member owned company that is headquartered in Raleigh North Carolina. Our company provides industrial medical and specialty gases as well as food and beverage gases across the United States from Montana to Pennsylvania and down through Texas and Florida. With a team of over 800 employees over 100 retail locations and 22 fillplants we pride ourselves in our customer serviceexpertise assets and resources that allow us to reach a large and diversified customer base of the highest quality.

American Welding & Gas is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race color religion gender sexual orientation gender identity national origin age protected veteran status or disability*

Required Experience:

Director