Operations Leader

Search Solution Group; Sumter (SC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Search Solution Group seeks an Operations Leader for a chemical manufacturing site in Sumter, SC. This senior role will oversee safety, reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness while meeting quality, production, service, and inventory requirements.

You will lead teams across manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, and site operations to drive accountability and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate has a bachelor’s degree in engineering with 8+ years of manufacturing leadership, a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required; preferred disciplines include Polymer, Chemical, Mechanical Engineering.
• Equivalent technical education and significant leadership experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the overall operation of the manufacturing site.
• Plan and control site operations to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient performance.
• Develop budgets, manage costs, and forecast capital expenditures.
• Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain qualified staff across functions.

Skills

Operational Leadership

Safety Focus

Strategic Thinking

Financial Acumen

Continuous Improvement

People Leadership

Collaboration

Communication

Execution

Reliability Mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Polymer/Chemical/Mechanical Engineering preferred

Equivalent technical education + leadership experience

Job description

Search Solution Group is seeking an Operations Leader on behalf of our client, a chemicals company. This senior leadership role is responsible for the overall management, operational performance, and strategic direction of a manufacturing site. The Operations Leader will ensure the facility operates safely, reliably, efficiently, and cost-effectively while meeting customer and business requirements for quality, production volume, service, and inventory. This position will lead multidisciplinary teams across manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, and site operations while driving a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, operational excellence, and employee development.

Job Overview:

Search Solution Group is seeking an Operations Leader on behalf of our client, a chemicals company. This senior leadership role is responsible for the overall management, operational performance, and strategic direction of a manufacturing site. The Operations Leader will ensure the facility operates safely, reliably, efficiently, and cost-effectively while meeting customer and business requirements for quality, production volume, service, and inventory. This position will lead multidisciplinary teams across manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, and site operations while driving a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, operational excellence, and employee development.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the overall operation of the manufacturing site.
• Plan, organize, direct, and control site operational activities to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient performance.
• Establish clear operational objectives and short- and long-term plans aligned with company strategy and business requirements.
• Develop and manage operating budgets, manufacturing costs, capital expenditures, and financial forecasts.
• Ensure optimal utilization of manufacturing capacity, equipment, personnel, and other site resources.
• Establish a culture of accountability, ownership, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Monitor and improve key manufacturing performance indicators, including production efficiency, capacity utilization, yield, downtime, quality, and overall productivity.
• Identify and implement opportunities to reduce manufacturing costs while maintaining product quality and customer requirements.
• Ensure effective production planning and coordination with Supply Chain and Commercial teams.
• Maintain safe, clean, environmentally responsible, and efficient working conditions throughout the facility.
• Ensure employees are properly qualified, trained, supervised, and empowered to perform their responsibilities safely and effectively.
• Lead Engineering and Maintenance activities to maximize equipment reliability, availability, and lifecycle performance.
• Establish and maintain effective preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Manage site infrastructure and utilities to ensure reliable and cost-effective operation.
• Establish priorities for maintenance, reliability, infrastructure, and capital improvements based on operational requirements and business priorities.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment performance, reduce downtime, and strengthen overall plant reliability.
• Recruit, develop, train, coach, and retain qualified employees.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability at all organizational levels.
• Empower employees to make decisions, solve problems, and continuously improve operations.
• Develop succession plans and strengthen the technical and leadership capabilities of the organization.
• Promote strong cross-functional collaboration among Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Commercial, and other business functions.
• Support capital investment planning and execution to improve site capabilities, reliability, capacity, and efficiency.
• Monitor operational performance and communicate results, challenges, and opportunities to senior leadership.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives designed to strengthen safety, quality, productivity, reliability, and cost performance.
• Ensure compliance with applicable company standards, safety requirements, environmental expectations, and regulatory requirements.
• Perform additional leadership and operational responsibilities as needed to support the success of the facility.

Requirements Include: Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline required.
• Preferred engineering disciplines include:
  
  • Polymer Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
• Equivalent technical education and significant relevant manufacturing leadership experience may be considered.

Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of progressive management and leadership experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex manufacturing operations with responsibility for multiple functional areas.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing operating budgets, manufacturing costs, capital expenditures, and financial plans.
• Proven experience managing capital investments, infrastructure improvements, and maintenance projects.
• Experience leading engineering, maintenance, reliability, or related technical functions preferred.
• Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, or Continuous Improvement methodologies preferred.
• Experience with polymerization and/or melt compounding processes strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing short- and long-term operational strategies.
• Proven experience developing employees, building leadership capabilities, and creating succession plans.

Skills:

• Strong manufacturing and plant operations leadership skills.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment, maintenance, engineering, and supply chain operations.
• Strong financial and business acumen with the ability to connect operational performance to financial results.
• Strong strategic planning and execution capabilities.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and make sound decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong safety leadership and risk-management capabilities.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees at all organizational levels, customers, suppliers, and senior management.
• Strong coaching, mentoring, and employee development skills.
• Ability to analyze operational data and manufacturing KPIs to identify trends and opportunities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Certifications:

• No specific certification is required.
• Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or other manufacturing-related certifications are preferred.

Knowledge:

• Comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing and plant operations.
• Strong understanding of equipment reliability, maintenance, engineering, and infrastructure management.
• Knowledge of production planning, capacity utilization, inventory performance, and supply chain coordination.
• Understanding of manufacturing cost structures, operating budgets, capital expenditures, and financial forecasting.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, and Operational Excellence principles preferred.
• Understanding of preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Knowledge of safety-first manufacturing practices and environmental standards.
• Familiarity with polymerization and/or melt compounding processes strongly preferred.
• Understanding of manufacturing KPIs, including efficiency, yield, downtime, capacity, quality, and productivity.
• Knowledge of employee development, performance management, succession planning, and organizational development.

Key Competencies:

• Operational Leadership: Provides strong direction and oversight across all aspects of manufacturing site operations.
• Safety Focus: Establishes and maintains a safety-first culture while ensuring employees and operations meet required standards.
• Strategic Thinking: Develops both short- and long-term strategies aligned with company objectives and changing business conditions.
• Financial Acumen: Understands the financial impact of operational decisions and effectively manages budgets, costs, and capital investments.
• Continuous Improvement: Consistently identifies opportunities to improve productivity, quality, reliability, efficiency, and cost performance.
• Accountability: Establishes clear expectations and ensures individuals and teams take ownership of results.
• Decision Making: Makes timely, thoughtful, and data-driven decisions in complex operational environments.
• Problem Solving: Identifies root causes and develops practical, sustainable solutions to operational challenges.
• People Leadership: Recruits, develops, coaches, and retains high-performing teams while building future leadership capabilities.
• Collaboration: Builds strong relationships across functions and works effectively with employees, customers, suppliers, and senior leadership.
• Communication: Clearly communicates operational priorities, performance expectations, challenges, and results to stakeholders at all levels.
• Adaptability: Responds effectively to changing production requirements, business conditions, and organizational priorities.
• Execution: Translates strategy into clear priorities and ensures initiatives are effectively implemented and completed.
• Reliability Mindset: Maintains a strong focus on equipment reliability, operational consistency, and long-term asset performance.

Company Overview:

Company Industry: Chemicals
Location: Sumter, South Carolina

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Search Solution Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued and respected. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status in our hiring process or employment practices. We believe that a diverse workforce brings unique perspectives and strengths, driving innovation and growth. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and contribute to our team.

Disclaimer:

Please note that the job description provided is not exhaustive and is subject to change. Additional duties may be assigned as needed to meet the evolving needs of the organization and to ensure the successful completion of projects and objectives.