Dragline Supervisor

The Walnut Creek Coal Mine is a prominent surface coal mine featuring state-of-the-art equipment, including an 80-cubic-yard dragline, a 29-cubic-yard mass excavator, a 24-cubic-yard hydraulic backhoe, and a fleet of 150-ton end-dump trucks. The Walnut Creek Mine is a captive lignite operation with an impressive capacity, producing over 2 million tons of lignite annually. Additionally, the mine operates a blending program to ensure consistent quality lignite for fueling a 308-megawatt power plant.

Opportunity Summary

The Dragline Supervisor oversees daily mining operations, ensuring safety, production targets, and equipment utilization are met efficiently. The role leads and mentors shift superintendents and crews, manages dragline and loading unit schedules, and drives continuous improvement while maintaining compliance with safety and environmental standards. The supervisor also monitors performance, coordinates maintenance, and ensures smooth shift transitions through clear communication and documentation.

Your scope of responsibility as Dragline Supervisor will include the following primary functions:

• Oversee daily mining operations, including scheduling, workforce allocation, and coordination of weekly and daily dragline dig plans, ensuring compliance with safety and production policies while supporting shift superintendents in executing operational plans effectively.


• Recommend strategies to optimize mining outputs, operational efficiency, and equipment utilization.


• Guide, mentor, and provide direction to shift superintendents and crews to promote safe, efficient work practices, effective labor and equipment allocation, and adherence to company policies, safety protocols, and mining regulations, including support for employee relations tasks such as development, compliance, recognition, and discipline.


• Implement, enforce, and communicate safety policies and procedures, conduct regular audits, and ensure personnel use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), while leading safety meetings, training sessions, and crew onboarding to reinforce best practices and safe equipment operation.


• Ensure mining activities are conducted within design parameters and comply with safety and environmental regulations, including the safe handling of hazardous materials and waste.


• Identify, recommend, and apply corrective actions to address safety concerns, production inefficiencies, or personnel issues, and report operational anomalies promptly to management.


• Coordinate dragline and large loading unit downtime schedules with maintenance and production teams to maximize equipment availability and performance.


• Monitor performance of dragline and large loading units, develop continuous improvement initiatives, and report progress using key performance indicators (KPIs).


• Supervise the start-up, operation, and shutdown of mining equipment according to established procedures.


• Oversee routine maintenance and inspections of mining equipment and infrastructure, including scheduling and coordinating planned outages, and prepare maintenance requests to address issues with minimal disruption to operations.


• Review operational data, logs, records, and business systems to ensure adherence to safety procedures, monitor equipment status, detect issues, and resolve operational or process problems.


• Manage daily shift superintendent manpower, including overtime, maintain attendance and safety records, and conduct or assist with performance evaluations to promote continuous improvement and adherence to safety standards.


• Monitor paperwork compliance, including pre-shift and on-shift reports, and supervise the pass-on process to ensure seamless shift transitions with clear communication of plans and safety hazards.


• Complete other duties as assigned by plant management.

NAES Safe

Safety is a core value at NAES, and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to remain mentally alert and work safely at all times. All NAES managers and supervisors have a direct and important role in ensuring that all work is performed in a healthy and safe manner. Effectiveness in carrying out this responsibility is part of the evaluation of each Supervisor’s performance.

Working Relationships

The Dragline Supervisor reports to the Production Manager and receives general direction from plant management The Dragline Supervisor is responsible for directing and overseeing shift superintendents and dragline operations ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the plant and its related processes.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Physical requirements include standing and walking for extended periods of time on uneven, rough, or inclined surfaces; climbing stairs, ladders, and equipment; and working from elevated platforms or confined locations at varying heights. Frequent lifting, carrying, and maneuvering of materials or tools weighing up to 50 pounds is expected.

Coal mining environment may involve working in underground or surface mine settings, which can include confined spaces, low-clearance areas, or restricted pathways. Tasks may require crawling, kneeling, or stooping in tight quarters. Exposure to coal dust, fumes, vibration, high noise levels, moisture, extreme temperatures, and low-light conditions is common. Work may also occur in remote or outdoor environments subject to changing weather.

Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required and may include hard hats, safety glasses or goggles, steel-toed boots, respiratory protection (air-purifying or supplied-air respirators), hearing protection, gloves (including hot and cut-resistant), flame-resistant clothing (FRC), and fall protection harnesses. Respirator fit testing may be required. Strict no-smoking policies apply in and around the mine site and designated work zones.

Fitness for Duty

All personnel will participate in the Fitness for Duty Program, which includes a post-offer physical examination, drug screening, and post-employment random drug screening.

Work Schedule

The Dragline Supervisor works a standard Monday to Friday day shift schedule, ensuring consistent plant operation and support during regular business hours.

This position will also occasionally necessitate extended working hours and flexible shifts as needed, including weekends and holidays, in response to schedules, workload demands, and plant conditions. Periodic callouts or “On call” status may also be required.

Compensation

This position offers an annual base salary ranging from $110,000 to $137,700 and includes eligibility for an annual performance bonus.

Operational Expertise and Leadership Competencies

We are looking for a results-oriented supervisor with experience in coal mining operations, coupled with a track record of leadership, career development, and operational success.

• An associate degree in mining, engineering, or a related technical field is preferred, providing a foundation for understanding the technical and operational aspects of dragline and mining operations. Relevant industry or military experience may be considered in lieu of formal education, may be considered.


• Must possess a valid Coal Surface Certification.


• Significant experience in coal mining operations, preferably in a supervisory role, demonstrating the ability to manage teams, oversee daily operations, and achieve safety and production goals.


• In-depth understanding of coal mining processes, equipment, and safety protocols, with hands-on experience overseeing daily mining activities.


• Extensive knowledge of dragline components, repair procedures, inventory tracking, and replacement intervals.


• Hands-on experience with the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of mining equipment and machinery, including supervising maintenance activities and coordinating equipment outages.


• Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local mining regulations and safety standards, with the ability to enforce compliance and conduct safety audits.


• Ability to identify and address operational issues, make informed decisions under pressure, and recommend corrective actions to optimize mining efficiency and safety.


• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and manage diverse teams, ensuring smooth and safe operations; experience in conflict resolution, employee development, and performance management is essential.


• Excellent communication skills for conducting shift handovers, safety meetings, and training sessions, with the ability to document activities and report issues clearly and concisely.


• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver’s license and ensure it remains in good standing at all times.

About NAES

NAES Corporation is a leading provider of operations, maintenance, and engineering services for energy facilities. We have built a reputation as a reliable partner for clients in North America and internationally, offering services across the power generation, oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors. Our growing family of companies allows us to address the entire life cycle of power generation and other industrial plants.

NAES is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We prioritize selecting employees based on merit and competence, seeking individuals of the highest quality, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status, or affiliation protected under USERRA, or any other form of discrimination prohibited by applicable local, state, and federal law.