Area Operations Manager
Heidelberg Materials · Thornton, IL
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Production
- Base pay
- $136k–$181k
- Travel
- 50%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 7+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
A management production role at Heidelberg Materials (industrial) in Thornton, IL.
- They ask for
- 7+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- EHS / safety
- Base pay
- $136k–$181k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · about 50% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Production Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $107k–$152k. This one lists $136k–$181k.
Median of the low and high ends of 25 live postings that list pay, out of 45 production engineer openings in Illinois, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 44 other live production postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- About 27% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (7+ vs 5+)
Typical $100k–$150k, from 21 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Lean 49%
- Team leadership 31%
- ✓ EHS / safety 29%
- Six Sigma 27%
- Root cause 24%
- New product launch 22%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Heidelberg Materials
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- The posting says about 50% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Heidelberg Materials in Thornton
1 other open role at this site.
- Aggregates Production Supervisor 2nd Shift · Production · Supervisor
Area Operations Manager at Heidelberg Materials in other locations
Heidelberg Materials lists this title in 2 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
Full description from Heidelberg MaterialsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Line of Business: Service & Support
Pay Range: $136,030.00 – $181,363.32
About Us
Heidelberg Materials is one of the world's largest suppliers of building materials. Heidelberg Materials North America operates over 450 locations across the U.S. and Canada with approximately 9,000 employees.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
What You'll Be Doing
- •Lead safe, efficient operations across multiple aggregates sites, ensuring consistent execution of safety and operating standards
- •Deliver production, quality, and customer service targets through effective planning, daily management routines, and performance coaching
- •Ensure MSHA, DOT, and environmental compliance; partner with EHS on inspections, audits, training, and corrective action closure
- •Drive equipment reliability and maintenance execution, including outage coordination, downtime prioritization, and PM compliance
- •Own cost per ton performance through budget management, variance reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives
What Are We Looking For
- •Bachelor’s degree in Mining/Engineering, Operations/Industrial Management, Business, or related field; equivalent experience considered
- •7+ years of operations leadership experience in aggregates/mining or related heavy industrial operations; multi-site leadership preferred
- •Strong working knowledge of MSHA and a demonstrated ability to lead safety culture and regulatory compliance
- •Experience managing budgets and cost drivers; ability to improve productivity, reliability, and cost per ton
- •Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills with the ability to develop teams and lead change
Conditions of Employment
- •Successful candidate must submit to post-offer pre-employment physical examination, drug/alcohol screen, and background check
- •Some positions require FMCSA-regulated ongoing drug and alcohol testing
Work Environment
- •Must be willing to travel regularly within the assigned area (typically 50%–75%), mostly day trips and occasional overnight trips.
What We Offer
- •Competitive base salary and participation in our annual incentive plan $136,030-$181,363
- •401(k) retirement savings plan with an automatic company contribution as well as matching contributions
- •Highly competitive benefits programs, including:
- •Medical, Dental, and Vision along with Prescription Drug Benefits
- •Health Savings Account (HSA), Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- •AD&D, Short- and Long-Term Disability Coverage as well as Basic Life Insurance
- •Paid Bonding Leave, 15 days of Paid Vacation, 40 hours of Paid Sick Leave and 10 Paid Holidays