Operations Manager

W.R. Grace & Co.; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Grace is seeking a Manufacturing Operations Manager for the Baton Rouge, LA site. You will report to the Plant Manager and lead the Production Engineering team, plus oversee Shift Supervisors, driving high-performance culture with union employees.

Responsibilities include overseeing EHS, quality, production volume, cost, and continuous improvement initiatives, leveraging Six Sigma and Lean tools to improve OEE and plant performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 10+ years of manufacturing experience with 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Experience leading teams in a unionized environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to drive continuous improvement and safety programs.
• Working knowledge of process safety management (PSM).

Responsibilities

• Lead all operational activities of the Production Engineering team and oversee shift supervisors.
• Drive EHS performance, product quality, production volume, and cost targets.
• Guide continuous improvement initiatives using Six Sigma and Lean tools.
• Coordinate with plant scheduler and ensure executable production schedules.
• Mentor operators and production engineers to develop a high-performance culture.

Skills

Team leadership

Operations management

Communication skills

Analytical problem-solving

Safety and compliance

PSM knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

PSM programs

Job description

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Grace, a Standard Industries company, is a leading global supplier of catalysts, engineered materials and fine chemicals. We provide innovative products, technologies and services which our customers use to manufacture everyday products like renewable fuels, pharmaceuticals, toothpaste, cosmetics, food packaging, beer, edible oils and more. Our thousands of employees help shape a better future at our global headquarters in Columbia, MD and locations worldwide.

Job Description

We’re hiring a Manufacturing Operations Manager for our Baton Rouge, LA site. Reporting to the Plant Managerand as a member of the site leadership team, you will lead all operational activities pertaining to the Production Engineering team, along with overseeing Shift Supervisors. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience actively engaging with employees, some of whom are union employees, to drive a positive, high performance culture while also working effectively with union personnel. You will oversee all operational, tactical and strategic initiatives for EHS performance, product quality, production volume, cost, customer satisfaction, employee and team development, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and continuous improvement. Additional responsibilities include:

Responsibilities

• Responsible for managing, monitoring and controlling quality and production of products in assigned operating areas
• Management of production direct labor for efficient plant schedule attainment through shift supervisors and scheduling of overtime if required. Assist and facilitate training of operators in all production areas.
• Lead and manage production engineers through engineer lead, incorporate new technologies and leads new product trials
• Schedules plant resources in the absence of the plant scheduler and work closely with plant scheduler for an executable production schedule.
• Manage or facilitate the implementation of continuous improvement projects and initiatives through Six Sigma, OEE.
• Interact with applicable departments as required to convey a timely and accurate estimate of a delivery date for orders.
• Manage the slow-moving inventory, document the sources and generation of all, and assure proper dispositions are obtained and executed.
• Enforce – in a constructive manner – all safety, quality, work, and productivity rules and standards with respect to the Production personnel, advise the Plant Manager of problems in these areas, and if necessary, issue approved disciplinary action.
• Communicate to the Maintenance Department – in an effective manner on equipment problems and correctable maintenance safety problems; follow-up to ensure that they are addressed in a timely manner.
• Keep the Plant Manager informed of any obstacles that prevent achieving the above goals.
• Promotes the development of a continuous improvement culture, including Six Sigma and Lean tools
• Participates in the development of the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), Updates and Forecasting and continuously review the plan compliance with respect to production, yields and fixed costs

Physical Requirements and Environment

• Must be willing to wear PPE (Personal Protective equipment) including but not limited to hard hat, protective eyewear, steel-toed boots, hearing protection, Level A suit, full face respirator
• Must be able to stand, walk, sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and climb stairs and ladders over 100 ft.
• Ability to work in a high hazard environment, including adverse weather conditions, elevated spaces, confined spaces, extreme temperatures, and noisy surroundings.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 10+ years of manufacturing, operations, with 5+ years in a leadership role
• Team leadership and coordination skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong ownership to drive organization results and improvement
• Assist site in achieving world class safety and environmental compliance
• Working knowledge of PSM programs - Must have chemical plant experience