Director, Manufacturing Site Operations

Celanese; Utzenfeld; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Celanese is seeking a Manufacturing Site Operations Manager for our Utzenfeld facility in Germany. You will lead all manufacturing operations, driving safety, quality, productivity, and cost efficiency while managing a diverse team of supervisors, engineers and technical staff.

The role requires a strategic mindset with hands-on experience to advance continuous improvement and ensure Celanese maintains leadership in specialty materials manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical or comparable) or strong business/financial background.
• 15+ years of progressive manufacturing experience with at least 10 years in senior leadership roles.
• Deep understanding of chemical manufacturing processes, equipment and technologies relevant to specialty materials production.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement manufacturing strategies aligned with business objectives and site plans.
• Champion safety culture and ensure German regulations and Celanese standards.
• Oversee daily manufacturing operations, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Maintain quality systems to meet ISO 9001/ISO 14001 and industry standards.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing team across production, maintenance, quality, and technical functions.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and other continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and manage annual operating budgets and capex planning.
• Ensure compliance with German environmental regulations and EU directives (REACH, RoHS).
• Build relationships with local authorities, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
• Lead Industry 4.0 adoption and digital transformation initiatives.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Safety Management

Production Management

Quality Assurance

Team Leadership

Continuous Improvement

Budget Management

Regulatory Compliance

Stakeholder Management

Industry 4.0 / Digital Transformation

Education

Engineering degree (Chemical/Mechanical)

Business administration / strong business & financial understanding

Tools

SAP ERP

MES systems

Industrial IoT

Job description

Overview

As the Manufacturing Site Operations Manager for our Utzenfeld facility, you will be responsible for leading all manufacturing operations while ensuring safety, quality, productivity, and cost-effectiveness. You will report directly to the Senior Director Manufacturing Multi-Site Operations and will manage a diverse team of production supervisors, maintenance leaders, engineers, and technical staff. This role requires a strategic mindset combined with hands‑on operational expertise to drive continuous improvement initiatives and maintain Celanese's position as an industry leader in specialty materials manufacturing.

Overview

As the Manufacturing Site Operations Manager for our Utzenfeld facility, you will be responsible for leading all manufacturing operations while ensuring safety, quality, productivity, and cost-effectiveness. You will report directly to the Senior Director Manufacturing Multi-Site Operations and will manage a diverse team of production supervisors, maintenance leaders, engineers, and technical staff. This role requires a strategic mindset combined with hands‑on operational expertise to drive continuous improvement initiatives and maintain Celanese's position as an industry leader in specialty materials manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement manufacturing strategies aligned with business objectives and corporate vision. Translate corporate goals into actionable site‑level plans.
• Safety Management: Champion Celanese's "Zero Incidents" safety culture by implementing comprehensive safety programs, conducting regular audits, and ensuring compliance with German regulations and Celanese global standards.
• Production Management: Oversee daily manufacturing operations, production scheduling, and resource allocation to meet customer demands while optimizing efficiency and minimizing costs.
• Quality Assurance: Maintain rigorous quality control systems to ensure products meet or exceed customer specifications and comply with ISO 90001, ISO 14001, and industry-specific standards.
• Team Leadership: Lead, develop, and mentor a high‑performing team across production, maintenance, quality, and technical functions.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive operational excellence through Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma methodologies, and other continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and reduce waste.
• Budget Management: Develop and manage annual operating budgets, including capital expenditure planning and cost control measures.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure full compliance with German environmental regulations, EU chemical directives (REACH, RoHS), and other applicable laws and standards.
• Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain productive relationships with local authorities, community representatives, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
• Technology Implementation: Lead the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies and digital transformation initiatives to enhance manufacturing capabilities.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical or comparable), degree in business administration or strong business and financial understanding.
• Experience: Minimum 15+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations within the chemical, specialty materials, or related industries, with at least 10 years in senior leadership roles.
• Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of chemical manufacturing processes, equipment, and technologies relevant to specialty materials production (ideal)
• Leadership: Proven track record of successfully leading manufacturing teams, driving change initiatives, and developing talent.
• Operational Excellence: Demonstrated experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies to improve operational performance.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with German manufacturing regulations, EU chemical directives, and international standards relevant to chemical manufacturing.
• Financial Acumen: Strong business and financial understanding, with experience in budget management and cost optimization.
• Language Skills: Fluency in German and English is required; additional European languages are advantageous.
• Digital Literacy: Experience with ERP systems (preferably SAP), manufacturing execution systems, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Change Management: Proven ability to lead organizational change and implement new processes or technologies successfully.