Asphalt Operator II

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 con