Chief Operations Officer - Industrial Solutions

Unifrax I LLC; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 450,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

Alkegen is seeking a COO to lead global Industrial Solutions operations, including manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and EH&S. The role focuses on safety, cost competitiveness, and operational excellence across multi-site production and diverse markets.

Travel 80–90% and in Dallas 2 weeks per month with IS leadership; strong background in Lean, S&OP, and CAPEX is required. Bachelor's in engineering or technical field; MBA a plus.

Qualifications

• 15+ years progressive leadership in industrial manufacturing, advanced materials, chemicals, or related sectors.
• Executive level experience as COO, VP of Operations, Supply Chain, or Quality in multi-site/global settings.
• Proven track record scaling new materials or process technologies into high-volume production.
• Expertise in Lean/Operational Excellence, S&OP, quality systems, and CAPEX project execution.
• Experience with diverse end markets (energy storage, automotive, industrial) and complex portfolios.
• Strong EHS leadership and sustainability orientation aligned with safety and efficiency.
• Exceptional cross-functional collaboration and change management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead global operations across manufacturing, supply chain (S&OP, planning, procurement, logistics), quality, and EH&S.
• Deploy Lean/OpEx and KPI management to improve OEE, yield, throughput, and delivery; manage budgets and P&L levers.
• Build, mentor, and retain a high-performing global team with a safety-first, data-driven culture.
• Develop the Annual Operating Plan and report performance, risks, and mitigations to Executives and Board.
• Establish and execute multi-year operations strategy; optimize footprint and asset utilization; deploy CAPEX.

Skills

Lean/OpEx

S&OP

CAPEX

Quality systems

EH&S leadership

Global operations

Budgeting & P&L

Change management

Cross-functional leadership

Supply chain resilience

Manufacturing excellence

Education

Bachelor Degree in Engineering or technical field

MBA or advanced degree (a plus)

Job description

Job Requirements Why work for us? Alkegen brings together two of the world’s leading specialty materials companies to create one new, innovation-driven leader focused on battery technologies, filtration media, and specialty insulation. Through global reach and breakthrough inventions, we’re delivering products that enable the world to breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before. With over 60 manufacturing facilities and a global workforce of over 9,000 of the industry’s most experienced talent, including insulation and filtration experts, Alkegen is uniquely positioned to help customers impact the environment in meaningful ways. The COO - Industrial Solutions will lead global operations across Alkegen Industrial Solutions’ diversified specialty materials portfolio with approximately $700M in revenue, driving operational excellence, safety, quality, supply chain resilience, manufacturing performance, and customer fulfilment. This executive will scale transformative innovation into robust, reliable production, ensuring Alkegen Industrial Solutions’ advanced materials reach customers with industry-leading quality, speed, and cost competitiveness.

Responsibilities

• Lead global operations across manufacturing, supply chain (S&OP, planning, procurement, logistics), quality, and EH&S to ensure safe, high quality, on-time, and cost competitive delivery.
• Deploy Lean/OpEx and KPI management (SQDC) to improve OEE, yield, throughput, and delivery; own budgets and P&L levers (conversion cost, productivity, scrap, freight, inventory) to expand margins and optimize cash flow.
• Build, mentor, and retain a high performing global team fostering a safety first, data driven, accountable culture and strong cross functional collaboration.
• Develop the Annual Operating Plan, execute against targets, and report performance, risks, and mitigations to the Executive suite and Board of Directors.
• Establish and execute multi-year operations strategy; optimize global footprint and asset utilization; prioritize and deploy CAPEX for capacity, technology, automation, safety, and environmental improvements, delivering on time and at/above ROI targets.

Qualifications / Experience

• 15+ years progressive leadership in industrial manufacturing, advanced materials, chemicals, or related sectors; multi-site/global operations experience required.
• Prior executive level experience as COO, VP of Operations, Supply Chain, or Quality supporting multi-site and global manufacturing company.
• Proven track record scaling new materials or process technologies into high-volume, high-quality production.
• Expertise in Lean/Operational Excellence, S&OP, quality systems, and CAPEX project execution.
• Experience supporting diversified end markets (e.g., energy storage, automotive, industrial, construction) and complex product portfolios
• Strong EHS leadership and sustainability orientation aligned with energy savings, pollution reduction, and fire safety outcomes
• Exceptional cross-functional collaboration, talent development, and change management skills.
• Bachelor Degree required, Engineering or technical degree preferred; MBA or advanced degree a plus.

Travel & Work Schedule

Travel: 80 - 90%
Work Schedule: This role requires working in Dallas 2 weeks/month with the IS leadership team and the additional travel is on the road visiting customers and plants.

At Alkegen, we strive every day to help people breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before. We believe that diversity and inclusion are central to this mission and to our impact. Our diverse and inclusive culture drives our growth and innovation, and we nurture it by actively embracing our differences and using our varied perspectives to solve the complex challenges facing our changing and diverse world. Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, color, gender identity and expression, age, disability, education, opinions, culture, languages spoken, veteran’s status, or any other protected class.

Alkegen is a specialty materials leader serving mission‑critical systems that the world is focused on for the future, including: battery technologies, electric vehicles, filtration media, and specialty insulation materials that enable customers to reduce fossil fuel consumption, save energy, and live greener. We help people breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before. Our experience speaks for itself. We are a vertically integrated manufacturer with the global reach and talent to solve your most demanding applications. With 60 manufacturing facilities and 9,000+ highly skilled employees located around the world, we can solve any challenge. Dedicated to sustainability and human health, we are uniquely positioned to help customers impact the environment in meaningful ways.