Laurel Plant Senior Operations Manager

POSITION TITLE

Laurel Plant - Senior Operations Manager

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Operations Manager plays a critical leadership role in driving safety quality and operational excellence at Millikens Laurel Chemical Plant. This position oversees daily production operations ensuring compliance with environmental and regulatory standards while fostering a culture of continuous improvement associate development and process reliability.

This leader will partner cross-functionally with engineering maintenance quality and EHS teams to deliver measurable results in safety yield cost and productivity. The role also serves as Plant Manager designee in the managers absence and is a key successor role within the sites leadership pipeline.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Safety & Process Safety Management

• Champion a safety-first culture enforcing rules and ensuring participation of all associates.

• Oversee safety project identification reporting and timely completion.

• Ensure compliance with OSHA PSM regulations MOC (Management of Change) and PSSR requirements.

• Provide technical and leadership support during PHAs (Process Hazard Analyses) and reactive hazard evaluations.

• Drive continuous improvement in housekeeping and 5S programs across operations.

• Ensure safe design and introduction of new processes products and equipment.

Environmental & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure operations comply with RC-14001 environmental health safety and security systems.

• Partner with EHS teams to maintain compliance with all environmental permits and implement corrective actions for non-conformances.

• Allocate resources to drive improvements in waste reduction recycling and natural resource conservation.

• Maintain adherence to all federal state and local environmental regulations.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Lead quality performance improvement through root cause analysis and preventive/corrective action systems.

• Support and facilitate Continuous Improvement (CI) Teams targeting long-term process and quality enhancements.

• Promote the use of statistical tools and quality improvement methodologies (Six Sigma SPC DOE).

• Drive standardization documentation and data-based decision-making across operations.

Technical Leadership & Reliability

• Serve as the first line of technical troubleshooting for process issues; provide shift coverage as needed.

• Ensure thorough review and approval of MOCs related to operations.

• Direct loss analysis and corrective action for HSEQ productivity and reliability events.

• Partner with Engineering on process design small capital projects and optimization initiatives.

• Track and improve OEE yield and process reliability using data-driven metrics.

Cost & Productivity Management

• Lead efforts to meet or exceed Annual Operating Plan (AOP) cost targets (raw materials utilities overtime waste etc.).

• Monitor and analyze yield variances; drive continuous improvement toward 100% process reliability.

• Maintain financial control of departmental spending; prepare budgets forecasts and cost-reduction plans.

• Evaluate new materials equipment and procedures to improve manufacturing efficiency and cost performance.

• Support site profit improvement initiatives and loss accounting processes.

Associate Development & Engagement

• Lead and develop a team of Production Managers Shift Supervisors and Process Engineers.

• Create and maintain robust technical and leadership training programs.

• Conduct regular coaching feedback and performance reviews (minimum twice per year).

• Promote associate engagement through strong communication collaboration and recognition of success.

• Ensure adherence to Millikens people policies performance management and career development frameworks.

Delivery & Operational Planning

• Align with other departments to meet production schedules and customer requirements.

• Establish and monitor productivity standards cycle times and production plans.

• Support capital and expense projects ensuring timely execution and operational readiness.

• Ensure prompt response to reliability and supply disruptions through proactive problem-solving.

Leadership & Culture

• Model Millikens core values of ethics excellence and innovation in all leadership behaviors.

• Actively participate in and promote the Daily Management System (DMS) to drive accountability and communication.

• Serve as Plant Manager designee when required.

• Champion inclusion and associate well-being initiatives at the site.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering.

• 8 years of progressive leadership experience in chemical or closely related process manufacturing.

• Demonstrated success leading technical teams in production safety and process improvement environments.

• Strong analytical problem-solving and decision-making skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel Word and PowerPoint.

• Ability to lead with initiative accountability and a collaborative mindset.

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