Plant Manager

Summary The Plant Manager is responsible for overall leadership, safety, operation, and performance of a chemical (rubber, dispersants) manufacturing facility. Ensures safe, efficient, and cost‑effective production while maintaining high standards of quality, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. Drives operational excellence, develops talent, and aligns plant performance with company objectives. Key Responsibilities Safety & Environmental Compliance Champion a strong safety culture with zero-incident mindset. Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and all applicable local, state, and federal regulations. Oversee safe handling of chemicals, raw materials, and hazardous substances typical in rubber and dispersant manufacturing. Ensure incident investigations and corrective actions are complete. Operational Leadership Lead all plant operations including EHS, production, maintenance, engineering, and quality functions. Ensure efficient manufacturing processes for rubber compounds & dispersant products. Develop/execute production plans to meet customer demand, quality standards & cost targets. Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as throughput, yield, downtime, and scrap/rework rates. Drive continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies). Quality Management Ensure consistent production of high-quality products that meet customer specifications and regulatory requirements. Collaborate with Quality Assurance to maintain & improve quality systems (ISO 9001 framework). Address customer complaints and implement root cause analysis and corrective actions. Financial & Business Performance Develop/manage plant budgets (labor, materials, maintenance, and capital expenditures). Optimize cost efficiency without compromising safety or quality. Support forecasting, inventory management, and supply chain optimization. Identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements. People Leadership & Development Lead, coach, develop department managers and plant employees. Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability, engagement, & continuous learning. Support workforce planning, hiring, training, and performance management. Maintenance & Reliability Oversee preventive and predictive maintenance programs. Ensure equipment reliability to minimize downtime and maximize operational efficiency. Support capital projects, process upgrades, and new equipment installations. Continuous Improvement & Innovation Promote Lean manufacturing, waste reduction, and process optimization. Identify and implement automation or process improvements specific to chemical/rubber production systems. Support new product introductions and process scalability. Requirements BS, MS Chemical Engineering required. Comparable engineering degree with experience in plant operations, refinery process, or biodiesel will be considered. Minimum 10 years of experience processing/engineering in chemicals, petroleum/refining, or petrochemicals. Minimum 3 years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment of operations personnel. Prior experience running plant trials and conducting process plant optimization preferred. Expert knowledge of chemical plant and/or refinery processes. Prior experience supporting execution of capital projects including planning spreadsheet and scope development, design, execution, and start-up/commissioning. Prior experience using process instrumentation and controls, in addition to simulation and modeling applications (e.g., Chemcad, ASPEN). Exposure to cost engineering and evaluating benefits. Familiarity with PSM, process safety tools and risk analysis. Ability to use computer software for planning, budgeting, inventory control and database management.

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