Sawmill Machine Operator

Plain Dealing, LA
Full Time
Mid Level

Who We Are:
Plain Dealing Lumber is a harvesting and lumber manufacturing company in Plain Dealing, LA, committed to sustainable forestry and producing high-quality wood products. Our fast-paced, hands-on environment prioritizes safety, teamwork, and opportunities for continuous growth and long-term skill development.

Job Summary:
Build your skills in a hands-on production environment as a Sawmill Machine Operator at Plain Dealing Lumber. In this role, you’ll operate sawmill equipment, monitor lumber quality and material flow, and work alongside other operators to keep production running safely and efficiently. You’ll play an important part in producing quality lumber, maximizing recovery, and keeping materials moving smoothly throughout our sawmill operations.

This is a shift position based out of our Plain Dealing, LA facility, with 1st shift (6:00 am–6:00 pm) and 2nd shift (6:00 pm–6:00 am) options available. 

Hourly rate: $18.50

Essential Responsibilities:
  • Safely operate assigned sawmill equipment and production positions according to established procedures, production requirements, and supervisor direction.
  • Develop skills across multiple sawmill positions through our operator progression structure:
    • Operator 1: Qualified to operate one assigned position.
    • Operator 2: Qualified to operate 2-3 positions.
    • Operator 3: Qualified to operate 4 or more positions and may float between positions as needed.
  • Make production decisions related to edging, trimming, sorting, stacking, and material flow to maximize lumber recovery and meet dimensional and quality standards.
  • Monitor lumber quality, material flow, and equipment performance and promptly identify and report defects, dimensional issues, bottlenecks, or equipment concerns.
  • Complete pre-shift equipment inspections to ensure guards, conveyors, rolls, saws, chains, and other components are in safe operating condition before startup.
  • Coordinate with other operators to maintain smooth, continuous material flow and communicate production, quality, or equipment issues as they arise.
  • Maintain accurate production counts, sort records, shift logs, downtime information, and quality documentation for assigned equipment and work areas.
  • Follow all company safety policies and lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures, including completing required LOTO before clearing jams, cleaning, or adjusting equipment.
  • Maintain clean, safe, and organized work areas by regularly removing sawdust, bark, slabs, trim ends, and other production debris.
  • Promptly report safety concerns, equipment malfunctions, unusual conditions, or changes in product quality and stop equipment when unsafe or abnormal conditions occur.
  • Assist with cross-training and other production responsibilities as directed to support safe and efficient sawmill operations.
Education and Experience Requirements:
  • High school diploma or GED preferred; relevant sawmill or industrial manufacturing experience may substitute.
    • Operator 1: No prior sawmill experience required; training provided.
    • Operator 2: 6–12 months of downstream sawmill experience required.
    • Operator 3: Proficiency in 3+ downstream positions or completion of PDL’s Operator 2–3 cross-training program required.
  • Ability to follow verbal and written instructions, including run sheets, sort orders, shift logs, and safety procedures.
  • Ability to identify and communicate lumber quality issues while maintaining focus and working safely around moving machinery in a high-noise, high-dust environment.
  • Strong commitment to workplace safety, reliable attendance, and flexibility to work rotating shifts, scheduled overtime, and weekends as needed.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Prior experience on downstream sawmill positions — edger, trimmer, sorter, stacker, green chain, log deck, debarker, or utilities — in a commercial sawmill or wood products manufacturing environment.
  • Operator 2 or Operator 3 certification from a prior employer; willingness to cross-train rapidly across all sawmills downstream positions to achieve Operator 3 status at PDL.
  • Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills a plus.
Working Conditions & Physical Requirements:
  • Work is performed primarily on the sawmill production floor with continuous exposure to high noise levels, sawdust, wood chips, bark, vibration, moving machinery, and varying temperatures.
  • Regularly work in physically demanding conditions around industrial machinery, lumber, and production equipment.
  • Prolonged standing and walking throughout the shift, with frequent bending, reaching, twisting, and movement between assigned production areas.
  • Frequent lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling of lumber, slabs, materials, and equipment weighing up to 60 lbs.
  • Regularly bend, crouch, stoop, reach, twist, push, pull, and perform repetitive tasks associated with sawmill production and machine operation.
  • See, hear, communicate, and perform tasks requiring manual dexterity, visual acuity, and sustained alertness to safely operate equipment and identify product or equipment issues.
  • Required use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toed boots, and high-visibility vests, in designated production and yard areas.
  • Follow all lockout/tagout (LOTO) and required safety procedures before performing equipment clearance, jam removal, cleaning, or adjustment tasks.
  • Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Plain Dealing Lumber is committed to cultivating a workplace where diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences help drive our innovation and success. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Plain Dealing Lumber is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
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