Green End Superintendent- Allendale, South Carolina

Hampton Lumber is a thriving family-owned company aspiring to be North America's preferred source for responsibly-sourced wood solutions. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, we operate nine sawmills in Western Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. We also manage timberland and operate a wholesale and import/export division.  

Our mission is to grow, manufacture, and market renewable wood products and deliver innovative solutions for a more sustainable built environment. At Hampton Lumber, we accomplish this through our own operations as well as those of our affiliates—Trapa Forest Products, Idaho Timber, and RedBuilt. Our tagline, "Find a better way every day," encapsulates our commitment to innovation and improvement across all operations.
 

We are guided by our core values: 

• Safety – Prioritize safety across all operations.
• Integrity & Authenticity – Operate honestly and ethically while preserving our distinctive family-owned brand.
• Responsible Stewardship – Endeavor to balance and maintain economic, social, and environmental values in everything we do.
• Tenacity – Embrace challenges with grit, determination, and a can-do spirit. 
• Continuous Improvement – Strive to enhance our processes, products, and people.
• Customer Satisfaction – Be nimble, responsive, and solutions-oriented.
• Community Engagement – Be a responsive, supportive, and respected member of the community.

With over 80 years in the sawmill business, we are proud to have cultivated the knowledge and experience needed to grow and prosper, even in challenging times.  We always look to the future and invest in our people, new technologies, and continuous improvement processes and techniques. 

The Green End Superintendent is responsible for leading all activities related to startup, commissioning, and ongoing operation of the sawmill’s green end — including log merchandising, debarking, sawing, scanning, trimming, sorting, and stacking. This position plays a critical role in building the operations team, developing safe and efficient operating systems, and delivering a world-class startup that meets production, quality, and safety targets from day one.

• Substantial company-paid assistance for Medical and Dental insurance premiums; mental health coverage; cost effective co-pays and deductibles
• 401(k) with 5% annual company contribution and generous company matching contributions vested over three years
• Paid time off, including eight paid holidays
• Participation in the employee bonus program
• Employee wellness program that includes free counseling sessions, financial and legal guidance, and more
• Opportunities for paid training to support career advancement and personal development

Startup & Commissioning

• Partner with Engineering and Construction teams during mill buildout to ensure equipment layout, utilities, and access support safe and efficient operation.
• Participate in equipment installation checks, dry runs, and performance testing.
• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all green end processes.
• Lead operator training and certification ahead of commissioning.
• Establish production readiness plans — including staffing, maintenance schedules, and spare parts lists.

Operational Leadership

• Manage all green end production activities once the mill is operational.
• Oversee log flow, sawmill optimization, and lumber breakdown to maximize recovery and throughput.
• Maintain tight coordination with Maintenance, Quality, Kilns, and Planer operations to ensure smooth material flow and consistent grade output.
• Monitor performance data and use analytics to identify process improvements.

People Leadership

• Recruit, train, and develop supervisors, and machine operators.
• Build a strong, safety-focused culture of teamwork, accountability, and communication.
• Set clear expectations for performance, quality, and safety.
• Mentor future leaders and foster career growth within the mill.

Safety & Compliance

• Develop and enforce all safety standards and lockout/tagout procedures specific to the green end.
• Lead safety audits, near-miss reviews, and pre-startup hazard assessments.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, and DHEC environmental and safety regulations.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead startup optimization efforts to achieve target recovery and uptime within the first 90 days of production.
• Collaborate with engineering and process control teams to fine-tune scanners, optimizers, and saw lines.
• Drive ongoing process improvement initiatives to reduce downtime, waste, and cost.
• Participate in capital planning for future mill enhancements.

Education & Experience

Minimum 5 years of sawmill or wood products manufacturing experience, including 3+ years in a leadership role.
Strong technical knowledge of sawmill operations, optimization systems, saw filing, and lumber flow.
Experience with greenfield or major upgrade startups highly preferred.
Proven success in building and leading high-performing production teams.

Skills & Competencies

Strong leadership and communication skills; able to motivate and build trust with new teams.
Deep understanding of sawmill process control and optimization technology.
Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills under pressure.
Passion for safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
Proficient with production analytics and reporting tools.

Performance Metrics

Safe startup with zero recordable incidents.
Achievement of planned startup schedule and budget.
Production volume, recovery %, and uptime within 90 days of commissioning.
Employee engagement, retention, and training completion.
Cost per MBF and yield performance versus plan.
 

The timber and wood products industry is a vital part of many communities, and we’re excited to bring new opportunities to Allendale County, South Carolina. We are committed to supporting the local workforce, investing in training and development, and being active members of the communities where we operate. Many of our employees have built long, rewarding careers with us, and we look forward to welcoming new team members to our family.

Learn more at Hamptonlumber.com, follow us on Facebook & Instagram: @hamptonlumber

Hampton Lumber is an equal opportunity employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other status protected by law. 

Disability accommodation available: If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Office for the location that you are applying.

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see these government posters: EEO is the Law and its accompanying temporary supplement.