Engineering Manager

The Shepherd Chemical Company; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Shepherd Chemical Company in Cincinnati is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead the engineering teams supporting our Norwood and Middletown plants. This senior operations role focuses on safe, reliable, and profitable performance while advancing the company's purpose and values.

You will build a strong engineering team, strengthen cross-functional partnerships, guide capital investments, and implement controls and maintenance practices to improve process capability and reduce risk.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline, engineering preferred.
• Five or more years of engineering experience.
• Demonstrated supervisory and team leadership skills.
• Proven ability to solve technical problems creatively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Model and teach Shepherd’s core purpose and core values.
• Hire, develop, and supervise the engineering team; hold regular one-on-one meetings that provide support, clarify expectations, and reinforce accountability.
• Continuously improve engineering processes at the Norwood and Middletown sites, ensuring work is performed safely and in alignment with Shepherd’s ISO and Responsible Care Management Systems.
• Build relationships of trust and mutual accountability with the Operations Manager and other members of the operations leadership team.
• Partner with Quality and Manufacturing leaders to establish clear priorities and help production teams operate effectively within a matrix organization.
• Support effective maintenance of batch sheets and standard operating procedures, completion of EHS and quality corrective actions, and disciplined use of management-of-change and training processes.
• Collaborate with Risk Management and Manufacturing to implement engineering controls that reduce operational risk and improve performance against Responsible Care objectives.
• Work with R&D and pilot plant teams to incorporate sound engineering and controls practices early in the new-product development cycle.
• Lead facilities and equipment capital budgeting and project execution, providing clear visibility into spending against the annual budget and improving the clarity and effectiveness of the capital‑expenditure approval process.
• Identify equipment and controls technologies that improve process capability, reduce production costs, expand capacity, and increase equipment reliability.
• Foster collaboration across R&D, EHS–Risk Management, Sales, Manufacturing, Maintenance, and Quality to identify, establish, and share best practices.
• Monitor and support activities required for compliance with applicable ISO, Responsible Care, regulatory, safety, and environmental requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Verbal communication

Written communication

Problem solving

Team supervision

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

Lean Six Sigma

Process Safety Management

Job description

At The Shepherd Chemical Company, we don’t just make chemicals—we create solutions that impact industries worldwide. Our metal-based chemicals power innovations in consumer safety, environmental sustainability, advanced product performance, and industrial efficiency. From fragrance and personal care to petrochemicals and polyurethanes, we partner with industry leaders to solve complex challenges through cutting-edge synthesis, scale-up, and commercialization of inorganic and organic metal compounds.

Here at Shepherd, you won’t just clock in and out—you’ll be part of something bigger. Our employees scale projects from concept to container, travel the globe to engage with customers, attend industry-leading conferences, and give back to their communities through initiatives in health, wellness, safety, and philanthropy. We believe that meaningful work and a collaborative team environment are the key ingredients to our success.

Shepherd is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead the engineering teams supporting our Norwood and Middletown plants. In this highly visible operations leadership role, you will help drive safe, reliable, and profitable performance while advancing Shepherd’s core purpose and core values. You will build a strong engineering team, strengthen cross-functional partnerships, guide capital investment, and champion practical solutions that reduce risk and improve process capability.

What You Will Do:

• Model and teach Shepherd’s core purpose and core values.
• Hire, develop, and supervise the engineering team; hold regular one-on-one meetings that provide support, clarify expectations, and reinforce accountability.
• Continuously improve engineering processes at the Norwood and Middletown sites, ensuring work is performed safely and in alignment with Shepherd’s ISO and Responsible Care Management Systems.
• Build relationships of trust and mutual accountability with the Operations Manager and other members of the operations leadership team.
• Partner with Quality and Manufacturing leaders to establish clear priorities and help production teams operate effectively within a matrix organization.
• Support effective maintenance of batch sheets and standard operating procedures, completion of EHS and quality corrective actions, and disciplined use of management-of-change and training processes.
• Collaborate with Risk Management and Manufacturing to implement engineering controls that reduce operational risk and improve performance against Responsible Care objectives.
• Work with R&D and pilot plant teams to incorporate sound engineering and controls practices early in the new-product development cycle.
• Lead facilities and equipment capital budgeting and project execution, providing clear visibility into spending against the annual budget and improving the clarity and effectiveness of the capital‑expenditure approval process.
• Identify equipment and controls technologies that improve process capability, reduce production costs, expand capacity, and increase equipment reliability.
• Foster collaboration across R&D, EHS–Risk Management, Sales, Manufacturing, Maintenance, and Quality to identify, establish, and share best practices.
• Monitor and support activities required for compliance with applicable ISO, Responsible Care, regulatory, safety, and environmental requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline, engineering preferred.
• Five or more years of engineering experience.
• Demonstrated supervisory and team leadership skills.
• Proven ability to solve technical problems creatively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean or Six Sigma training and experience.
• Process Safety Management or Total Productive Maintenance training or experience.
• Familiarity with automated control systems and instrumentation.

The Shepherd Material Science Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We make employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age (40 or over), disability, veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.