Operations Manager Job

The Operations Manager position reports to the Alsip, IL Plant Manager and is a key member of the Alsip leadership team. Supervises (leads) all Alsip site operations hourly employees and a Production Superintendent. Has direct interaction with the site management team that includes production, logistics, engineering, maintenance, quality, HES, and HR.
The Operations Manager is responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the Alsip, IL facility to achieve business objectives and meet regulatory requirements. Provides leadership and coaching to operations and maintenance personnel; ensures the plant meets inventory requirements; operates within budget based upon forecasted plant volume demand; meets customer expectations through continual improvement in product and process quality and helps develop personnel to meet/exceed expectations and prepare for career advancement.

Responsibilities

1. Supervises (leads) all Arkema Alsip site operations personnel and one (1) Production Superintendent.
2. Serves as a coach and mentor to department personnel.
3. Motivates workforce through visibility and direct contact to ensure maximum safety and productivity.
4. Counsels on performance as appropriate.
5. Directs and leads the members of the Operations group to ensure the safe and efficient operation and maintenance of the plant and meet customer deliveries.
6. Works closely with Shift Team Leads to develop leadership skills to enhance overall team performance.
7. Identifies skills development and training needs to maintain a highly competent workforce.
8. Uses Kronos payroll system to review, process, and approve payroll for hourly employees on a bi-weekly basis. Has a backup trained on the process in case of absence.
9. Completes the requirements of the Performance Management Process for direct reports.
10. Encourages all team members to develop and utilize an employee development plan and to maintain information relative to their career goals.
11. Ensures implementation and ongoing effectiveness of work processes, operating discipline, management systems, enabling technologies, and roles.
12. Creates an environment that fosters team and individual empowerment. Ensures effective and sustained organizational culture for empowerment.
13. SMART Coordinator driving effective implementation and management of all elements throughout the Operations and Maintenance departments.

1. Coordinates resources to meet short- and long-term production forecasts through participation with the Business Team, ensuring goals and commitments are met safely and within budget.
2. Participates in monthly and weekly meetings with Supply Chain and Sales to determine plant production requirements as well as the impact of any changes in the 12-month forecast.
3. Coordinates Production with planned and unplanned maintenance activities and production turnarounds.
4. Prepares weekly and monthly reports to meet plant and Business requirements.
5. Drives continuous improvement in our processes.
6. Supports site OAU/OEE tracking and improvement efforts and serves as backup.

1. Ensures compliance with regulatory, plant safety, and environmental requirements with special emphasis on AIMS (Arkema Integrated Management System) compliance within the Operations and Maintenance groups.
2. Participates fully in plant safety initiatives and programs including the Behavioral Based Safety (BBS) program.
3. Ensures that all incidents are reported, appropriately investigated, and corrective actions implemented.
4. Ensures that all department members follow required HES training, standards, policies, and procedures.
5. Demonstrates commitment to HES (Health, Environmental, Safety) through high visibility and engagement.

1. Leads site Dashboard development and management efforts.
2. Supports compliance activities relative to the Plant Mechanical Integrity Program.
3. Manages the change process to implement a culture of world-class reliability expectations.
4. Establishes, coordinates, and monitors department-specific People Systems Operating Discipline and processes (Performance feedback, Reward and Recognition, Compensation process, Employee Development, Hiring Process, job postings, new employee integration, conflict resolution).
5. Supports the implementation of reliability improvement activities by following the recommendations of our Improvement Engineer for the Alsip plant to drive improved asset utilization and maintenance cost reduction as well as providing input for projects related to Six Sigma and other improvement activities.
6. Inputs into the development and monitors/maintains plant maintenance and operations budgets.

1. Participates in community outreach or Corporate Social Responsibility programs.
2. Builds cross-functional understanding and support of SMART and serves as the site SMART Champion.
3. Engages and supports site OPEX project execution.
4. Supports all AIMS (Arkema Integrated Management Systems) initiatives.
5. Co-Leads and Co-manages all components of AIMS Elements 4 & 5.
6. Serves as a backup to the Plant Manager as required. Acts as media contact as required.

Qualifications/Experience

1. 5+ Years of Experience in a Manufacturing Industry or Environment.
2. BS Engineering degree (Chem/Mech) preferred.
3. Process Safety Experience (PHA, LOPA, Safety Instrumented Systems).
4. Root Cause Investigation facilitation experience.
5. Solid understanding of both technical and financial impacts of process-related decisions.
6. Demonstrated personnel management and organizational skills, ability to shift priorities and meet deadlines.
7. Excellent verbal and written communications skills to communicate with hourly workforce, business leaders, customers, and business technical organization.
8. Excellent judgment and problem analysis skills are required as well as tolerance for stress.
9. Ability to understand and troubleshoot chemical processes.
10. Highly motivated team player able to work at a fast pace.
11. Previous supervisory experience is highly preferred.
12. A working knowledge of HSE regulations; Occupational Safety & Health, Process Safety Management; Environmental Regulations (particularly RCRA), Emergency Response and other relevant requirements.

Competencies

1. Demonstration of the ability to solve problems and take independent action.
2. Excellent interpersonal skills, including good coaching skills.
3. Strong initiative and able to work with very little oversight.
4. Self-motivated, capable decision-maker that can effectively influence others.
5. Good knowledge of PC applications (including Microsoft Office suite; and SAP) accounting systems and the ability to learn new system processes, preferably SAP experience.
6. Six Sigma experience preferred.