Operations Area Manager

DuPont; Midland (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

DuPont is seeking an Operations Area Manager for the Midland site to lead the Automotive Adhesives & Fluids unit. You will be the primary operational leader responsible for safe, reliable, and efficient production, guiding strategy, discipline, and people development in a high-hazard manufacturing environment.

You will lead a ~75-person team, partnering with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain, while translating business strategy into daily execution and upholding DuPont values

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in engineering and 5+ years in manufacturing operations.
• Experience in high-hazard or Process Safety Management (PSM) environments preferred.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills are essential.
• Ability to operate at both strategic and tactical levels to drive site performance.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end production performance across safety, quality, cost, and delivery.
• Lead daily operations to ensure execution to plan and address risks.
• Establish and reinforce high standards for operational discipline.
• Drive continuous improvement through data-driven decision-making.

Skills

Leadership

Problem solving

Communication

Strategic thinking

People development

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

At DuPont, our purpose is to empower the world with essential innovations to thrive. We work on things that matter. Whether it's providing clean water to more than a billion people on the planet, producing materials that are essential in everyday technology devices from smartphones to electric vehicles, or protecting workers around the world. Discover the many reasons the world’s most talented people are choosing to work at DuPont. Why Join Us | DuPont Careers

The Operations Area Manager serves as a key member of the site leadership team, acting as the primary operational leader for the Automotive Adhesives & Fluids unit at Midland. This role has full accountability for the safe, reliable, and efficient execution of production, while driving strategic direction, operational discipline, and people development across a high-hazard manufacturing environment.

The Area Manager leads a workforce of approximately 75 employees and operates as a critical second-in-command within the business, translating site and business strategy into daily execution while ensuring alignment to DuPont’s core values and performance expectations.

Operational Leadership & Execution

• Own end-to-end production performance across safety, quality, cost, and delivery.
• Lead daily operations to ensure execution to plan while proactively addressing risks and constraints.
• Establish and reinforce high standards for operational discipline.
• Drive continuous improvement through data-driven decision-making.

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

• Provide visible leadership in Environmental, Health & Safety performance.
• Ensure compliance with DuPont standards, PSM, OSHA, and environmental regulations.
• Lead incident investigations to root cause and closure.
• Champion a proactive safety culture.

People Leadership & Organization Development

• Lead, coach, and develop team members.
• Create an inclusive work environment aligned with DuPont core values.
• Drive engagement, capability building, and succession planning.
• Reinforce accountability across the organization.

Cross-Functional Integration

• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain.
• Collaborate with Commercial, R&D, and Technical teams.
• Work effectively with Labor Relations.

Strategic & Continuous Improvement

• Translate business strategy into execution plans.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Use KPIs to drive performance.
• Lead audits, contractor management, and emergency preparedness.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree in engineering
• 5-10+ years in manufacturing operations
• Experience in high-hazard or PSM environments
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to operate at both strategic and tactical levels

Preferred

• Chemical manufacturing experience
• Six Sigma Green Belt or higher
• Lean/Operational Excellence experience
• Background in quality systems

Leadership Profile

• Sets clear expectations and drives accountability
• Demonstrates strong operational ownership
• Builds trust across all levels
• Balances execution with long-term development
• Models DuPont core values

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