Downstream Account Manager

Sterling Multi-Chem; Port Arthur (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Multi-Chem is seeking an experienced Downstream Account Manager / Technical Lead to oversee refinery specialty chemical services at our Port Arthur, Texas site. This leadership role blends deep refinery process knowledge with customer relationship management and team leadership.

You will be accountable for safety, service quality, technical performance, and commercial results, building relationships with customer leadership and guiding field teams to deliver reliable, optimized chemical

Qualifications

• 20+ years of experience in refinery, petrochemical, or downstream chemical-treatment operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with customer leadership and operations teams.
• Ensure safe and reliable execution of chemical treatment and field-service activities.
• Understand refinery assets and programs to identify performance improvements.
• Monitor treatment programs, consumption, and service quality.
• Lead site staff, training, development, and performance management.
• Establish KPIs and communicate performance and risks to leadership.

Skills

Account management

Leadership

Refinery processes

Chemistry

Customer relationships

Troubleshooting

Safety mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Job description

Downstream Account Manager / Technical Lead – Refinery Specialty Chemical Services

Sterling Multi-Chem is looking for an experienced Account Manager to lead our chemical services operation supporting one of our key refinery customers in Port Arthur, Texas.

This is a hands‑on leadership position requiring a strong combination of refinery process knowledge, specialty chemical treatment experience, customer relationship management, and people leadership.

The Account Manager will be a SMC leader at the customer location and will be accountable for the performance of the account, including safety, service quality, technical performance, team development, customer satisfaction, and commercial results.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with customer leadership, operations, engineering, reliability, and procurement teams.
• Ensure safe and reliable execution of all chemical treatment and field-service activities.
• Understand the refinery assets, operating conditions, and chemical programs and identify opportunities to improve performance.
• Monitor chemical treatment programs, consumption, application performance, and service quality.
• Work closely with SMC technical resources to troubleshoot problems and implement technical solutions.
• Ensure appropriate staffing, training, development, and performance management of the site team.
• Maintain high standards for field execution, equipment reliability, chemical inventory, and product availability.
• Identify opportunities to improve the value SMC provides to the customer and expand our business.
• Manage site costs and resources while maintaining the required level of customer service.
• Establish clear KPIs and routinely communicate performance, risks, opportunities, and required actions to SMC leadership.

What We Are Looking For

• 20+ years of experience in refinery, petrochemical, or downstream chemical‑treatment operations.
• Strong working knowledge of refinery processes and assets.
• Experience with refinery process and water treatment chemical programs, such as corrosion control, fouling control, desalting, wastewater/water treatment, or related applications.
• Previous experience leading people and field‑service operations at a major refinery or petrochemical customer.
• Strong customer‑facing and relationship‑management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot operational and chemical‑treatment issues.
• Strong safety mindset and experience working within refinery safety systems and procedures.
• Ability to lead in a demanding, fast‑moving customer environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Engineering, or related technical discipline preferred.

The Profile We Want

We are looking for more than an account manager. We want a leader who understands the refinery, has a strong technical background, can lead people, can engage credibly with the customer, and takes ownership of the overall performance of the operation.

Experience with companies providing chemical and technical services to major refining and petrochemical customers is highly desirable.