Engineering Manager
Position Summary
The Engineering Manager is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing all engineering and capital project activities at the Synthomer Jefferson Hills chemical manufacturing facility. This position leads a multidisciplinary team of engineers and project managers to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation of the plant while executing a portfolio of capital and improvement projects aligned with site and business objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineers and project managers, ensuring strong technical capability, engagement, and performance.
Establish clear goals and development plans; provide coaching, feedback, and succession planning.
Foster a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Oversee the planning, prioritization, budgeting, and execution of the site’s capital project portfolio.
Ensure projects follow Synthomer’s project management processes, engineering standards, and stage-gate requirements.
Allocate engineering and project management resources according to site priorities and project risks.
Monitor project performance (cost, schedule, scope) and implement corrective actions as needed.
Cook up with Corporate Engineering, Procurement, and Finance to align on strategic investments and reporting requirements.
Provide technical guidance and approvals for engineering work, design reviews, MOCs, and plant modifications.
Ensure compliance with PSM requirements, including Process Hazard Analyses (PHA), Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR), and mechanical integrity standards.
Drive reliability improvement initiatives, asset lifecycle management, and engineering best practices.
Maintain site engineering standards and ensure alignment with Synthomer global standards.
Support operations and maintenance with troubleshooting, root cause investigations, and reliability improvements.
Lead or sponsor continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, process efficiency, quality, and cost.
Participate in site leadership activities, including risk assessments, audits, and site-wide planning.
Develop and manage engineering department budgets (labor, contracts, and engineering services).
Steward capital budgets in collaboration with Finance and site leadership.
Manage third-party engineering, construction, and specialty service providers.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, or related discipline).
8+ years of experience in chemical manufacturing, refining, or related process industries.
3+ years of leadership experience (formal or informal), preferably in engineering or project management.
Demonstrated experience managing capital projects (small and large).
Strong knowledge of PSM, industrial safety practices, and chemical plant engineering.
Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
Preferred: Professional Engineer (PE) license or PMP certification.
Experience in polymer, latex, resins, or specialty chemical production.
Familiarity with stage-gate project systems and reliability methodologies (RCM, FMEA, RCA).
Experience with SAP, Aspen, AutoCAD, or similar engineering tools.