Chemical Process Engineering Manager

Position Summary

Responsible for plant equipment and processes used in the manufacturing of chemicals and products: petrochemical, detergents, cement and paper, etc. Manages and leads a team of chemical engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Process Engineering & Technical Leadership

  • Lead process engineering initiatives to improve manufacturing efficiency, product quality, throughput, and operational reliability.
  • Serve as the site technical expert for Ion Exchange chemistry, resin processing, and related chemical manufacturing processes.
  • Troubleshoot complex chemistry and process issues impacting production, quality, and customer requirements.
  • Lead process scale-up initiatives for new products, process transfers, and production expansion projects.
  • Develop and optimize process parameters, standard work, and operating procedures.
  • Identify and implement opportunities to increase plant capacity, reduce waste, and improve process flow.
  • Partner with Operations, Quality, and R&D teams to support product development, process improvements, and technical investigations.

• Engineering & Capital Projects

  • Lead planning, justification, and execution of capital projects to support plant growth, modernization, and operational efficiency.
  • Manage engineering design, contractor coordination, equipment selection, installation, and commissioning activities.
  • Support facility infrastructure improvements, utilities optimization, and equipment upgrades.
  • Monitor capital budgets, project timelines, and expenditures to ensure successful project completion.

• Maintenance Oversight & Reliability

  • Provide strategic oversight for plant maintenance and reliability through the Engineering Supervisor/Plant Engineer.
  • Establish reliability improvement initiatives to minimize downtime and improve equipment performance.
  • Review preventative and predictive maintenance programs for effectiveness.
  • Support root cause analysis of equipment failures and implementation of corrective actions.
  • Ensure maintenance systems, spare parts management, and contractor support align with business needs.

• Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

  • Lead operational excellence initiatives to improve throughput, efficiency, yield, and overall manufacturing performance.
  • Identify process bottlenecks, reduce waste, and implement sustainable solutions to improve safety, quality, cost, and delivery metrics.
  • Drive process standardization, KPI development, and data-driven decision making across engineering and operations.
  • Evaluate and implement automation, process improvements, and technology upgrades to support plant growth and scalability.

• Safety & Compliance

  • Promote and lead a strong safety culture throughout engineering and operations.
  • Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and company safety/environmental standards.
  • Support Process Safety Management initiatives where applicable.
  • Participate in incident investigations, corrective actions, and risk reduction efforts.

Qualifications

• Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering required.
  • Master’s degree a plus.

• Experience

  • Minimum 8–12 years of engineering experience in chemical manufacturing, water treatment, or related industrial environment.
  • Minimum 5 years in engineering leadership or plant engineering management role.
  • Strong experience with Ion Exchange systems, water treatment processes, resin manufacturing, or chemical processing strongly preferred.
  • Experience scaling manufacturing processes and increasing plant capacity.
  • Demonstrated success managing capital projects and process improvement initiatives.
  • Leverage Manufacturing / Continuous Improvement experience required.

• Skills & Competencies

  • Strong technical troubleshooting and analytical skills.
  • Advanced understanding of chemistry, process engineering, and manufacturing systems.
  • Project management and capital planning experience.
  • Leadership and team development capabilities.
  • Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CMMS/ERP systems preferred.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to support a 24/7 manufacturing environment as needed.

• Availability for off-hours support during critical plant issues, shutdowns, or project implementations.