Lead Engineer, Project Engineering

The ASR Group® family of companies make up the world’s largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar. The companies produce a full line of grocery, industrial, foodservice and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group® companies operate five sugar refineries, located in California, Maryland, Louisiana, Canada and Mexico. In Europe, ASR Group® companies operate sugar refineries in the United Kingdom, Portugal, and, with a joint venture partner, Italy. The companies also farm sugarcane and own sugar mills in Mexico and Belize. The ASR Group® portfolio includes the leading brands Domino®, C&H®, Florida Crystals®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle®, Lyle's®, Sidul® and Whitworths®. ASR Group® companies also produce and market Tellus®, a single-use, compostable tableware and foodservice product made from plant fibers, including sugarcane.

OVERVIEW

The Lead Engineer, Project Engineering is a senior-to-advanced-level capital project engineering role responsible for developing and managing large-scale, highly complex capital programs across ASR operations. Programs may support plant safety, Process Safety Management (PSM), infrastructure, process improvement, capacity expansion, compliance, and operational efficiency and capability. The role leads cross-functional project teams; manages program scope, budgets, resources, risks, and stakeholder communications; provides technical oversight; and delivers programs safely, on time, within scope, and within budget. The position also serves as a subject-matter resource in the capital expenditure process and mentors and trains project engineers.

DETAILED ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan, execute, and close complex capital programs in alignment with company objectives.

• Develop program investment strategies, including scope, goals, deliverables, success criteria, and implementation plans, in collaboration with stakeholders.

• Lead cross-functional teams that may include Engineering, Procurement, Safety, Operations, and contract labor.

• Prepare and manage program budgets ranging from $2 million to $100 million, including forecasts, cash-flow projections, and cost controls.

• Secure and allocate internal and external resources to meet program timelines and objectives.

• Identify program and project risks, establish mitigation strategies, and monitor risk through execution and startup.

• Ensure compliance with applicable safety, health, environmental, PSM, regulatory, engineering, and company requirements throughout the project lifecycle.

• Serve as the primary liaison among project teams, executive leadership, external engineering partners, vendors, and other stakeholders.

• Provide regular updates to senior leadership on program progress, schedule, risks, challenges, and financial performance.

• Provide technical direction and oversight for process design, equipment selection, detailed engineering, construction, commissioning, qualification, validation, and startup activities.

• Own, contribute to, and develop design standards for ASR operations that are consistent with industry best practices.

• Review peer engineering designs for technical quality and compliance with industry standards, best practices, and company policies.

• Develop and implement best practices and innovative solutions that improve operational performance and reduce cost.

• Partner with Procurement to establish and manage relationships with key equipment, engineering, and construction service providers.

• Develop and execute commissioning plans and promote CQV and vertical-startup practices.

• Manage external engineering, construction-management, and other supplemental project resources.

• Oversee project delivery activities, including scope definition and control, cost control, schedules, construction management, training, coordination, and post-completion reviews.

• Lead and support process-safety and environmental compliance and implementation projects.

• Mentor and train project engineers and model disciplined application of the capital expenditure business process.

WORK EXPERIENCES

Required

• 15 or more years of experience in manufacturing process engineering and/or project-focused roles.

• 15 or more years of experience managing capital projects in manufacturing.

• Demonstrated knowledge of project management methodology, including experience managing multiple projects valued at $5 million or more.

• Demonstrated experience managing program budgets, forecasts, schedules, resources, risks, and stakeholder communications.

• Experience working with process equipment and implementing process changes in industrial manufacturing environments.

• Ability to communicate effectively across organizational levels and represent the company professionally with vendors and engineering partners.

• Ability to perform in a fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities, work under pressure, and meet deadlines.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Project, SAP, and comparable project-management applications.

• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% and work in industrial plant environments.

Preferred

• Experience with Focused Improvement methods, including DMAIC or Six Sigma.

• Experience across multiple capital disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, power distribution, control systems, civil, and environmental.

• Experience with both batch and continuous-flow manufacturing processes.

• Experience with the OSHA Process Safety Management standard and covered processes.

• People-management experience.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline from an ABET-accredited institution. Candidates with other degrees may be considered based on relevant process and project experience.

Preferred

• Advanced degree in engineering or project management.

• Master of Business Administration (MBA).

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

• Six Sigma certification

ESSENTIAL CAPABILITIES (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES)

• Expert knowledge of engineering principles, engineering standards, and industry best practices.

• Advanced capital-program and project-management capability across initiation, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, startup, and closeout.

• Strong financial acumen for capital budgeting, forecasting, cost control, cash-flow management, and financial performance reporting.

• Strong technical judgment in process design, equipment selection, construction, commissioning, and implementation of process changes.

• Working knowledge of safety, health, environmental, PSM, and regulatory requirements applicable to industrial capital projects.

• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders without relying solely on formal authority.

• Ability to identify, evaluate, communicate, and mitigate technical, financial, schedule, safety, and execution risks.

• Clear written and verbal communication, including concise reporting to senior leadership.

• Ability to coach, mentor, and develop project engineers.

• Commitment to safety, compliance, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Analytical Thinking & Decision on Making – Identifies and understands trends and/or issues; connects data points through analysis to arrive at a logical conclusion.

• Business & Financial Acumen – Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the financial, accounting, marketing and operational functions of our organization; interprets and applies key financial indicators to make better corporate decisions.

• Effective Communication – Expresses ideas and information clearly and concisely by tailoring the message to the interests and needs of the audience.

• Customer Orientation – Keeps internal and external customers in mind and proactively addresses their concerns and needs.

• Establishes Trust – Gains the confidence of others through honest, forthcoming, and reliable actions and words.

• Problem-Solving – Anticipates, evaluates, diagnoses, and resolves problems in a systematic and fact-based manner.

• Results Orientation & Accountability – Takes accountability and drives actions to consistently achieve desired results.

• Teamwork & Collaboration – Creates a climate that supports commitment to a common vision and promotes cooperation through trust and support of others.

LOCATION OF ROLE

Fully remote within the State of California, with travel of up to 50% to refinery, non-refinery, and potential greenfield operating locations as required. Work includes time in industrial plant environments.

Pay Range

The pay range for this position is below. The pay rate for the successful candidate will depend on the candidate’s qualifications and prior experience.

Range: $125,500 to 233,500

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.