Pilot Plant Manufacturing Director

About the role

A global specialty chemicals manufacturer is seeking a Director, Pilot Plant Manufacturing to lead pilot plant operations and serve as the critical bridge between R&D and manufacturing. This individual will be responsible for safely scaling new technologies from laboratory development through commercialization while driving operational excellence, process safety, and continuous improvement initiatives. This is a highly visible leadership role offering the opportunity to influence new product development, support technology transfer efforts, and lead a multidisciplinary team in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead pilot plant operations to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable execution of development and production activities.
• Prioritize and coordinate pilot‑scale trials, experiments, and manufacturing campaigns.
• Oversee equipment reliability, preventative maintenance, and capital improvement initiatives.
• Establish and maintain operating procedures, process documentation, and technical standards.
• Drive compliance with applicable environmental, health, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead process hazard analyses, management of change activities, incident investigations, and risk mitigation programs.
• Partner with R&D and manufacturing teams to lead process scale‑up activities including process optimization, equipment evaluation, and operational readiness.
• Support technology transfer and commercialization efforts across manufacturing sites.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, and cost reduction.
• Facilitate root cause analysis and cross‑functional problem‑solving efforts.
• Evaluate alternative raw materials and support sourcing initiatives through pilot‑scale testing and validation.
• Provide technical expertise for process development, manufacturing support, and business case evaluations.
• Lead document control and standard operating procedure governance programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in operations for a chemical manufacturing facility.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing technical or manufacturing teams in a pilot plant setting.
• Hands‑on experience with process scale‑up, commercialization, and technology transfer.
• Strong understanding of process safety management, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience within specialty chemicals, industrial chemicals, materials manufacturing, or similar process industries.
• Lean Six Sigma experience strongly preferred.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance technical and operational priorities.