Operations Manager

About the role

Grace is seeking an Operations Manager to join our Plastics & Chemicals Catalyst business! This role reports directly to the Plant Manager located at our Pasadena, TX facility! The position has the principal purpose and responsibility for all production (batch-mixing, distillation, finished product packaging) activities for the site. As a member of Site Leadership, the Operations Manager will be people-focused and safety-minded. The role is a cornerstone of Operational Excellence, bringing multiple functions together to solve problems safely and effectively. Reporting directly to the Operations Manager are the Operations Lead, Shift Supervisors, Production Engineers and Operations Specialists/OMCs. The Pasadena, TX site has about 130 employees and is an important manufacturing and distribution site for polyolefin catalysts, which are used in the production of a wide variety of plastics that are part of our everyday lives. The site consists of three polyethylene/polypropylene catalyst manufacturing units and a pilot plant, which is used to develop new manufacturing processes. The site also operates a process technology laboratory, which provides plant support for product scale-up, process development and problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Manage the engagement, performance and development of direct reports and indirect reports
• Maintain a positive working environment, resolve personnel conflicts and serve as a sounding board
• Model and project a mindset and behavior of safe work practices and use of critical life safety guidelines
• Lead cross-functional team to safely operate the plant and meet EHSS, production, quality, and cost goals in a 24/7 environment while complying with Federal, State, Local, Grace policies
• Ensure resources and plans are in place to cover unit startups and shutdowns, anticipate scenarios which increase EHSS or production risks (such as winter weather or equipment failure)
• Oversee investigations and root cause analyses and ensure proper actions are completed
• Participate in the asset management process and provide key inputs such as: capacity, resources, shutdown schedules and plant trials
• Continuously review performance with respect to key metrics such as production, yields, and fixed costs… report on variances to meet targets
• Support site and business leadership in development of overall strategies, annual operating plan and other business plans (i.e. succession plan, CAPEX plan)
• Champion the continuous improvement methodology… justify capital needs for improving OEE and productivity