Production Manager

Evonik group; Reserve, Northern (LA, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Evonik is seeking a Production Manager to lead the 24/7 operation at the Reserve site, ensuring safe, efficient production and compliant performance. You will drive continuous improvement, oversee scheduling, and coordinate with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Supply Chain to meet customer requirements and optimize reliability.

You will develop a high-performing team, foster a safety culture, and lead investigations with corrective actions while aligning with site leadership to achieve

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5–8 years of experience in chemical manufacturing, production, or process operations.
• 3–5 years of supervisory or leadership experience in production/operations.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and RCA.
• Strong knowledge of chemical manufacturing processes and safety/compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead 24/7 production and logistics operations to meet requirements.
• Promote safety-first culture and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Lead incident investigations and RCA with corrective actions.
• Manage production scheduling, resources, and priorities in coordination with Supply Chain.
• Oversee warehousing, inventory, and shipment activities.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Maintenance to improve reliability and reduce downtime.
• Maintain SOPs for process changes, new products, and equipment mods.
• Drive continuous improvement and OEE, cycle-time reductions, and process optimization.
• Support NPD, scale-up, and capital projects for readiness.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Root Cause Analysis

Cross-functional teamwork

Team development

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemical/Mechanical engineering or related field

Job description

What we offer At Evonik, you’re part of a global chemical company working in many sectors that go beyond chemistry. From lipids for tomorrow’s medicines, biosurfactants for green detergents, additives for plastics recycling or membranes to help drive forward the energy transition, you’ll play an essential part in helping the world’s most essential industries succeed. Our success hinges on a diversity of ideas powered by people, not egos. Whether you’re a scientist or engineer, new to the team or established, in business, production, or anything in between – we cheer each other on. Because we believe we can do anything. Explore everything. And Be Part of Something Special! Find out more about the many benefits we offer: https://www.evonik.com/en/careers/why.html Meet the team and get to know the people behind Evonik: https://www.evonik.com/en/news/meet-the-team.html

The Production Manager ensures the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of the production department at the Evonik Reserve site. This role provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all aspects of production, including safety, environmental, and health compliance in collaboration with the Site EHSS Manager. The Production Manager is responsible for delivering high-quality products that meet customer requirements while optimizing production processes and maintaining compliance with company policies and federal, state, and local regulations. This position drives operational excellence by fostering a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement across production and logistics functions. The Production Manager leads and develops a high-performing team, including the Production Supervisor, Logistics Supervisor, and Production Engineer, while ensuring effective coordination with site support functions such as Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and R&D. As a key member of the site leadership team, the Production Manager contributes to organizational development, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure the long-term success of the site.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead safe, efficient, and reliable 24/7 production and logistics operations while meeting production, quality, and customer requirements.
• Promote a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with company EHS policies and applicable OSHA, EPA, DOT, PSM, RMP, RCRA, and other regulatory requirements.
• Lead incident investigations and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and ensure timely implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Manage and optimize production scheduling, resources, workflows, and operational priorities in coordination with Supply Chain and Production Planning.
• Oversee logistics, warehousing, material handling, packaging, loading/unloading, inventory, and shipment activities.
• Partner with Engineering and Maintenance to improve equipment reliability, minimize downtime, and coordinate planned and emergency maintenance.
• Ensure standard operating procedures (SOPs) are maintained and followed for process changes, new products, and equipment modifications.
• Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence through OEE, yield improvement, cycle-time reduction, process optimization, and performance analysis.
• Support New Product Development (NPD), scale-up, trial production, process optimization, and capital improvement projects to ensure operational readiness.
• Develop and lead production teams while fostering accountability, teamwork, quality, environmental stewardship, and continuous improvement across the operation.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5–8 years of progressively responsible experience in chemical manufacturing, production, or process operations, preferably within a complex chemical processing environment.
• 3–5 years of supervisory or leadership experience in a production or operations environment, with direct responsibility for personnel and day-to-day operating activities.
• Demonstrated success in departmental management and leadership roles, including experience managing cross-functional teams.
• Comprehensive knowledge of chemical manufacturing processes, including troubleshooting, optimization, and operational improvements.
• Proven ability to lead and participate in Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to identify and resolve operational issues.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to drive initiatives from concept to completion.
• Demonstrated teamwork and team-building skills, with the ability to foster collaboration and alignment across diverse teams.
• Superior interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively across cultural boundaries and communicate with individuals from a broad range of backgrounds and experience levels.
• Effective leadership skills, including the ability to motivate a team and create a positive work environment characterized by mutual respect, trust, accountability, and open communication.

The Evonik Group adopts an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) approach. Candidates are assessed based on their educational qualifications, experience, job competencies and potential and shall not be discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, nationality, disability or sexual orientation or other classifications protected by local, state, or provincial regulations.

Your Talent Acquisition Manager: Mary Shang [C] Company is Evonik Corporation

This is your opportunity to join a thriving global organization that combines cutting-edge science, technology and engineering with world-class business services to create solutions that answer real-world problems. If you join us, we’ll expect you to take ownership of your work, team up with other great minds, and add your name to creations that make a positive difference for generations. As one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals operating in more than 100 countries with over 32,000 employees, we need your diversity of thought to make us better. In return for your passion, initiative and creativity, you’ll enjoy opportunities to improve and to be respected for your contribution.