McWane is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices. McWane will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran or service member status, marital status, citizenship status or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
Job Description
Summary: Operations Trainee is an entry-level position designed to develop future leaders in manufacturing operations. This role provides hands-on experience in production processes, quality control, safety, maintenance coordination, and continuous improvement initiatives. Trainees will rotate through key departments to gain a comprehensive understanding of plant operations by blending technical learning with early-stage leadership experience, preparing candidates to step into supervisory roles by developing decision-making ability, team coordination and oversight, and accountability for production performance.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include those listed below. Other duties may be assigned. This position is a full-time (minimum 40 hours per week) on-site position.
Production & Operations
- Assist in daily production activities to meet efficiency, quality, and safety targets.
- Monitor operations and escalate issues or deviations.
- Support production scheduling and workflow coordination.
- Learn and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Process Improvement
- Participate in Lean / Six Sigma / continuous improvement initiatives.
- Identify inefficiencies and recommend solutions.
- Assist with tracking KPIs (OEE, downtime, scrap, throughput)
Maintenance & Engineering
- Coordinate with maintenance on equipment issues.
- Assist in basic troubleshooting and preventive maintenance activities.
- Support equipment installations and process changes.
Quality & Compliance
- Follow and enforce quality standards.
- Assist with root cause analysis and corrective actions.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory and company requirements.
Safety/Environmental (EHS)
- Promote and model safe behaviors on the shop floor.
- Participate in EHS audits and hazard identification.
- Ensure team adherence to EHS policies and requirements.
Team Collaboration
- Work cross-functionally with engineering, maintenance, quality, and operations.
- Participate in meetings, training, and project teams.
- Communicate effectively across all levels of the organization.
Training & Development
- Cross-functional rotations
- Structured leadership development
- Increasing responsibility, including progressive supervisory exposure
Career Path
- Manufacturing Department Head
- Operations Management
- Manufacturing / Process Engineer
- Continuous Improvement Leader
Supervision and Leadership Development: Provide indirect supervision to production employees by guiding workflow and task prioritization, reinforcing safety, quality, and production standards, and supporting team communication and coordination. The successful candidate will serve as backup/relief for frontline leadership roles (e.g., shift supervisor, team lead) , providing assistance with shift coverage during absences, vacations, or high-demand periods. The candidate will be exposed to onboarding and training of new employees, participation in team performance discussions and problem-solving efforts, and develop leadership skills through hands-on team interaction and accountability.
Qualifications
Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative, but not all inclusive, of the knowledge, skills and abilities required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or other related fields. Experience in a manufacturing maintenance environment a plus.
Additional InformationAll your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
McWane is a Federal VEVRAA contractor, and an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices. McWane will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran or service member status, marital status, citizenship status (In IL - sex, including same sex, ancestry, order of protection status, physical or mental disability, military status, pregnancy, unfavorable discharge status, genetic information), (In IA - gender identity), (In CA- gender identity or expression, and genetic information) or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field.
- Ability to work full-time on-site (minimum 40 hours per week).
- Experience in a manufacturing or maintenance environment.
- Ability to perform essential duties satisfactorily, including adherence to safety and quality standards.
What We Do
McWane, Inc. is a global leader in the manufacture of waterworks and plumbing products, fire suppression solutions, and pressure vessels. The company provides a wide range of infrastructure components, including ductile iron pipes, fittings, and utility poles, aimed at ensuring clean water distribution and wastewater removal. With a commitment to sustainable infrastructure, McWane serves communities worldwide through its diverse family of industrial companies.
