At GAF, we cover more than just buildings. We cover each other. Under this roof, you will have the tools and resources you need to grow and develop in your career. You will experience our incredible culture and will be empowered to support your teammates, your customers, and especially your community. Under this roof, we define the future while leading the present through our deep well of experience and our responsibility to the future to drive improvements and innovation in our products. We are GAF. And under this roof, we protect what matters most.
About GAF - Newton, Kansas Newton is a vibrant Kansas community founded in 1871 on a spirit of work, from its earliest days as a railroad, agriculture and cattle drive hub. With a population of about 20,000, Newton and neighboring North Newton features an active arts community, three National Historic Districts, a variety of museums, trails, restaurants, shops and attractions, Bethel College, award winning school districts, a championship golf course, first-class convention center and many other amenities. This collaborative region is close to dynamic Wichita and may be the next best place for you to call home, in GAF’s newest “Field of Dreams!”
New Plant, New Opportunities If you haven’t been part of a greenfield startup, now is your chance. GAF is the North American leader in residential roofing materials. We are honored to be constructing our newest shingle manufacturing facility in Newton KS and hiring is underway as we build our initial plant leadership team. Due to our investment in training and the development of employees, you will have the opportunity to travel to our other locations, engage with peers, support the hiring of plant staff and participate in the design and construction of the facility. Expect your first years to be rewarding and challenging with an amazing team fully supporting you. You will wear many hats during the construction and commissioning phases of the project, and ease into your steady role over time.
Job Summary The Asphalt Operator II is an advanced technical role responsible for the end-to-end oversight of asphalt processing. Reporting to the Asphalt Operations Supervisor, this individual manages the blow stills, boilers, and thermal support systems to ensure a continuous, high-quality supply of asphalt products to the roofing mill. The Level II operator functions with high autonomy, making critical quality decisions and providing general oversight of yard activities
Essential Duties
- Champion a safe and clean work environment, embedding safety as the highest priority within our culture.
- Participate in safety, continuous improvement, and 5S initiatives.
- Serve as an active member of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) and lead the development of safety pre-plans and JSA revisions.
- Maintain compliance with safety policies and procedures, conduct inspections of plant areas and/or equipment, and ensure deficiencies found are resolved or appropriately communicated.
- Monitor and adjust blow stills, industrial boilers, hot oil heaters, and water conditioning equipment via Wonderware or similar HMI systems to maintain production specifications.
- Provide general oversight and support to all Yard activities, including directing the flow of asphalt via complex pump and valve operations.
- Understand and be able to adjust asphalt processing needs based on plant consumption
- Perform advanced raw material testing and exercise independent judgment to accept or reject products based on a high degree of quality knowledge
- Identify faulty operations or defective equipment and initiate technical repairs and maintenance through the Maximo work order system
- Support the receiving of all asphalt and filler deliveries, ensuring truck drivers strictly adhere to plant safety policies
- Monitor and maintain fire systems and critical equipment during non-production hours to ensure a seamless plant start-up
- Maintain detailed and accurate records of temperatures, pressures, and chemical specifications for long-term production tracking
- Participate in Outage and downday work as assigned
- Perform other duties as assigned
Qualifications Required
- H.S. Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) required
- 3+ years in a safety sensitive position within a high volume manufacturing environment
General Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- A demonstrated commitment to safety
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to work as a team player
- Situational awareness in plants with moving machinery, overhead hazards and pedestrian walkways
- Strong communication skills required when working with employees at all levels of the organization
- Ability to pivot quickly to operational disruptions
- Ability to lead safety activities and mentor Level I operators on technical troubleshooting and process flow
- Able to work under limited supervision make independent judgement and decisions as necessary.
- Ability to solve complex problems involving multiple concrete variables and resolve conflicts within a high-pressure environment.
- Ability to identify and react to upset conditions such as leaks, pressure spikes, or equipment malfunctions and report them immediately
- Ability to perform manual labor, including lifting up to 50 lbs with assistance, climbing industrial ladders, working on elevated catwalks, and unloading rail cars
- Ability to maintain productivity during an 8 to 12 hour shift that may involve bending, lifting, and mounting/dismounting equipment.
- Excellent organization skills.
Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Intermediate proficiency in Google suite and/or Microsoft Office
- Intermediate knowledge of OSHA and FRA regulations, Lock, Tag Verify, Fall protection and PPE required for hot liquid handling
- Intermediate knowledge of secondary containment, spill prevention, and reporting procedures for oil and asphalt
- Intermediate of piping layouts, valve types (plug, gate, check), and the mechanics of asphalt/flux flow from railcars and trucks to storage.
- Intermediate Knowledge of safe steam connection procedures used to heat high-viscosity materials to flowing temperatures
- Intermediate understanding of heat transfer fluid (HTF) degradation, boiler water conductivity, and the impact of ambient temperature on oxidation rates within the blow stills.
- Knowledge of how the Fume Collection, Steam Suppression, and HTF systems interact; understanding how a failure in one auxiliary system affects the primary production line.
- Knowledge of the wear patterns of high-temperature pumps and valves, and the ability to identify "early warning" acoustic or vibrational changes in rotating equipment.
- Ability to perform "Autonomous Maintenance," including the lubrication of plug valves, changing of pump strainers, and basic pipe fitting
- Understanding of Title V air permit requirements and EPA regulations regarding opacity and fume scrubbing to ensure the plant remains in constant compliance.
- Skill in using infrared thermometers or vibration pens to identify "hot spots" or bearing failures before they lead to unplanned downtime.
- Ability to navigate complex Wonderware or Rockwell interfaces to adjust PID loops, set alarms, and trend historical data to find the root cause of process deviations.
- Skill in using advanced lab equipment (e.g., Automated Ring and Ball testers or Penetrometers) to certify that "finished" asphalt meets exact mill specifications.
- Skill in using "5-Why" or "Fishbone" methodologies to investigate equipment failures or quality "off-spec" events
- The ability to lead a full system restart following a power outage or emergency trip, including the sequential firing of boilers and re-establishment of thermal loops.
- The ability to look at a WinSPC control chart and make decisions to adjust process settings to meet or maintain product specifications.
- The ability to manage multiple concurrent processes (e.g., unloading a railcar, monitoring a blow still, and receiving a granule truck) without compromising safety or quality.
- Unloading trucks, rail cars or asphalt transfer from refinery
- The ability to safely manually override automated systems during a sensor failure to bring the equipment to a "safe state
- Intermediate knowledge in using computer systems to log daily transactions, inventory levels, and safety audits accurately
- Ability to safely operate pumps, blowers, and air compressors under the guidance of a Level II operator or supervisor
- Skill in directing or assisting in the precise positioning of transport vehicles for unloading operations.
- Ability to perform root cause analysis for safety and loading incidents
Qualifications Preferred
- 2+ years of working knowledge with P&ID’s (Piping and Instrumentation diagrams), valve operations, and use of hand tools for routine maintenance
Physical Demands
- Stationary Position - Frequently
- Move/Traverse - Frequently
- Stationary Position/Seated - Frequently
- Transport/Lifting - Frequently
- Transport/Carrying - Frequently
- Exerting Force/Pushing - Frequently
- Exerting Force/Pulling - Frequently
- Ascend/Descend - Frequently
- Balancing - Frequently
- Position Self/Stooping - Frequently
- Position Self/Kneeling - Frequently
- Position Self/Crouching - Frequently
- Position Self/Crawling - Frequently
- Reaching - Constantly
- Handling - Constantly
- Grasping - Frequently
- Feeling - Occasionally
- Communicate/Talking - Frequently
- Communicate/Hearing - Frequently
- Repetitive Motions - Frequently
- Coordination -
Working Conditions
- Extreme cold - Frequently
- Extreme heat - Frequently
- Humid - Frequently
- Wet - Frequently
- Noise - Frequently
- Hazards - Frequently
- Temperature Change - Frequently
- Vibration - Frequently
Travel Requirements: May require occasional travel in connection to job duties as it relates to conferences, site visits, professional development or learning opportunities, etc. in which advance notice of travel expectations/events will be provided. Pay Transparency
Base salary and/or rate of pay ranges listed are exclusive of fringe benefits and potential bonuses. Individual compensation offers will be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to geographic location, relevant candidate experience and skill, education, and/or qualifications.
Base Hourly Rate: $33.00
How We Protect What Matters Most:
- We offer a wide range of health insurance options that include medical, dental, and vision for you and your family. 2. Our Family-Building benefits support the many different journeys to fertility and parenthood. 3. Our robust 401K plan includes an employer match contribution with your pre-tax and/or Roth contributions. 4. Other exciting programs and perks are available to help employees achieve work-life balance, including (but not limited to) a wellness program, free financial coaching, a referral program, and product rebates when purchased for an employee’s primary residence. 5. Professional growth and development are very important to us! We offer internal training programs and courses, as well as a generous tuition reimbursement program. 6. We're committed to fostering a culture that reflects our values to connect, empower, evolve, and inspire. We offer many opportunities for employees to connect with one another, including through our Employee Resource Groups who focus on education and allyship for all of our employees.
GAF complies with federal, state, and local disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR Services at 833-HR-XPERT.
We believe our employees are our greatest resource. We offer competitive salary, benefits, 401k, and vacation packages for all full time permanent positions. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity on the basis of each candidate's qualifications, experience, and merit, without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. If applying for positions in the U.S., must be eligible to work in the U.S. without need for employer sponsored visa (work permit).