Operations (Plant) Manager - Lake Charles, Louisiana

Alcoa; Lake Charles (LA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Alcoa is seeking a Lake Charles site leader to drive end-to-end operations with a strong safety culture and continuous improvement mindset.

You will lead site-wide EHS strategy, set mid- to long-term plans, and ensure production, quality, and customer commitments while optimizing costs and asset reliability. relocation for broader opportunities within Alcoa is encouraged.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated safety leadership in comparable industrial operations with site-wide systems and accountability.
• Experience developing leaders' safety capability and translating learning into safer work practices.
• University degree in engineering, business or a related field.
• Experience managing operations, business priorities and people with continuous improvement results.
• Strong coaching, listening, communication and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead site-wide EHS strategy with systems, resources, and accountability for critical risks and legal/environmental requirements.
• Set and execute the site's mid- to long-term strategy aligning resources with company direction.
• Deliver production, quality and customer commitments; improve efficiency, costs and asset reliability through lean and collaboration.
• Own sustaining and return-seeking capital investments and project execution.
• Represent Lake Charles with Alcoa, government and community stakeholders; maintain constructive relationships.
• Partner with HR to develop the team and plan succession; coach employees and build an inclusive environment.
• Strengthen site competitiveness by challenging established practices and driving organizational and process improvements.

Skills

Safety leadership

Leadership development

Lean principles

Coaching & communication

Strategic thinking

Influencing skills

Manufacturing experience

Relocation willingness

Education

University degree in engineering, business or related field

Job description

Shape Your World

At Alcoa, you will become an essential part of our purpose: to turn raw potential into real progress. The way we see it, every Alcoan is a work-shaper, team-shaper, idea-shaper & world-shaper.

Shape your team and your career

Lead Alcoa's Lake Charles operation with end-to-end responsibility for the site, advancing safety as a core value and leadership imperative, developing an experienced team and shaping the site's continued competitiveness. You will also be a member of the North America Lead Team. This role offers the opportunity to further build your site-leadership experience through the breadth of your responsibilities and collaboration across Alcoa's wider network.

About the role

Reporting to the Vice-President of Operations, North America, you will:

• Lead site-wide EHS strategy, ensuring effective systems, resources and accountability to manage critical risks and uphold legal and environmental requirements. Develop leaders, support employees in raising concerns and stopping unsafe work, turn learning into continuous improvement and embed safety as a core value.
• Set and execute the site's mid- to long-term strategy, aligning resources and priorities with Alcoa's direction and values.
• Deliver production, quality and customer commitments; improve efficiency, costs and asset reliability through technology, ABS/lean and collaboration with the Continuous Improvement and Asset Management Centers of Excellence.
• Own sustaining and return-seeking capital investments and project execution, balancing costs, returns and risks.
• Represent Lake Charles with Alcoa, government and community stakeholders; maintain constructive relationships and ensure compliance with corporate standards.
• Partner with HR to develop the team and plan succession; coach employees, set clear accountability and build an inclusive, collaborative environment.
• Strengthen site competitiveness by challenging established practices, exploring new ways of working and engaging the team in practical organizational and process improvements.

What you bring to the role

• Demonstrated safety leadership in comparable industrial operations, including site-wide systems and accountability, fatal and critical-risk control verification, and sound risk-based decisions; knowledge of EHS principles and legislation.
• Experience developing leaders' safety capability, responding to workforce concerns and supporting speak-up and stop-work; evidence of translating incident and audit learning into stronger work practices and controls.
• University degree in engineering, business or a related field.
• Experience managing operations, business priorities and people, with demonstrated continuous improvement and change leadership results, knowledge of lean principles and project delivery experience.
• Strong coaching, listening, communication and influencing skills to develop leaders, build credibility and engage teams and stakeholders.
• Strategic, business, financial and analytical skills to balance short-term execution with long-term priorities, manage risks and make sound operating cost and capital investment decisions.
• Interest in growing into larger operational leadership responsibilities and willingness to relocate for future opportunities at other Alcoa sites, including in the United States and Canada.
• It would be particularly beneficial if you bring manufacturing experience and examples of improving competitiveness while engaging an experienced workforce. Site-specific process expertise is not required.

About the Location

Just about halfway from Houston and New Orleans Alcoa's Lake Charles Carbon Plant is located in historic Lake Charles, LA. The city of Lake Charles is a growing city with a vibrant art, cultural and dining scene. Parks scattered throughout the city, and easy access to shimmering Lake Charles, via our beautiful Lakefront Promenade, call to outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. One of the most prominent aspects of Cajun culture and Southern charm is the natural willingness for people to go out of their way to treat company or complete strangers like family.

Why join us

We are values led, vision driven and united by our purpose of transforming raw potential into real progress. Our commitments to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity include providing trusting workplaces that are safe, respectful and inclusive of all individuals, free from discrimination, bullying and harassment and that our workplaces reflect the diversity of the communities in which we operate.

As a proud equal opportunity workplace and affirmative action employer, Alcoa is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of a person's gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, nation of origin, disability, veteran status, language spoken or any other characteristic or status protected by the laws or regulations in the places where we operate.

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