Site Director

Ecovyst Catalyst Technologies; Martinez (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Ecovyst Catalyst Technologies is seeking a Site Director in Martinez, CA. You will be accountable for plant safety, reliability, and achieving site and corporate goals, leading a team across engineering, maintenance, and operations to secure high performance and safe operations.

The role emphasizes HSES leadership, financial acumen, and continuous improvement, with a focus on building a culture of accountability and operational excellence in a competitive chemical processing environment.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of experience in a chemical processing plant or refinery.
• Proven track record in progressively responsible leadership roles.
• Demonstrated ability to build a safety culture and reduce accidents.
• Experience leading maintenance to improve reliability and on-stream time.
• Willingness to be visible on the plant floor and engage with staff.
• Working knowledge of truck and rail logistics.

Responsibilities

• Lead HSES and reliability initiatives to meet safety, regulatory, and sustainability goals.
• Set vision and drive operational excellence and management systems.
• Collaborate with HSSE, Commercial, Logistics, Finance and other functions to align objectives.
• Drive profitability and asset value through strategic planning and risk management.
• Ensure performance management, discipline, and development processes are in place.
• Oversee Union relations and ensure proper implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• Foster a safe, efficient, and highly reliable operation.

Skills

Safety leadership

People leadership

Financial acumen

Continuous improvement

LEAN

Six Sigma

Change management

Operational excellence

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Site Director

SALARY FT EXEMPT Martinez, CA, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1460

Site Director Role

Ecoservices Site Directors have overall responsibility and accountability for plant personnel, assets, and achievement of plant and corporate goals. This position generates tremendous value to Ecoservices through:

HSES / Reliability Leadership

• Drive a strong personal safety, process safety, environmental, and sustainability improvement plan to achieve HSES goals and ensure compliance with regulatory and permit requirements.
• Relentlessly pursues maximum plant reliability to reduce unplanned events and support safe operations.
• Know and champion Life Saving Behaviors. Demonstrates priority and commitment through personal behavior.
• Develop metrics and management systems to drive continuous improvement in HSE and Reliability.
• Prioritize capital requests to ensure that capital is allocated to design out industrial hygiene hazards, improve environmental compliance, and reduce personal/process safety hazards.
• Show courageous leadership by coaching, asking questions, and intervening when needed. Challenges the status quo and past norms to make the operation safer and more effective.
• Lead implementation of the Process Safety Management (PSM) program and support effective risk assessment and control.
• Ensure the Mechanical Integrity program is robust for safe operation. The Plant Manager is responsible for risk management decisions regarding any potential deferrals/extensions.
• Drive a strong MOC process in their organization to ensure that reviews are completed thoroughly, risks are adequately assessed, and personnel are properly trained prior to implementing changes in the facility.

Organizational Effectiveness / People Leadership

• Set vision and ensures goals are established and executed in alignment with corporate objectives, while adapting to changing conditions.
• This person must earn and retain the credibility of the organization to be effective. Must be decisive, honest, and empathetic. A leader by example that will inspire the organization to follow them.
• Drive Operational Excellence by developing/implementing effective Management Systems that will deliver quality products on time in a safe and most efficient manner.
• Ensure common sense implementation and ongoing effectiveness of work processes, operating discipline, management systems, enabling technologies, and roles to become a Highly Reliable Organization.
• Must have a flexible mindset as priorities change and be able move the organization quickly and effectively toward the change in a safe and efficient manner.
• Work closely with Human Resources to hire a plant team with strong skills.
• Address discipline issues in a timely manner. Must be able to have the hard conversation with problem employees and clearly communicate expectations while being able to acknowledge and communicate where employees performed well.
• Inspire and motivate the organization. Continuously shows appreciation and maintains a servant-leader mindset.
• Champion career success and development of each employee via goal setting, performance management, promotion, and employee development processes.
• Must have working knowledge of Collective Bargaining Agreement and ensure it is effectively implemented to support both the Union and Company interests while keeping the employee’s needs at the forefront.

Financial Acumen / Business Owner Mindset

• Develop financial acumen skills across the organization to accelerate profitability and productivity. Understands business model and strategy for facility and helps to plant team to understand how they fit into the company. Uses knowledge of assets, products, and customers to ensure the business strategy maximizes value from the assets.
• Develop metrics and management system to maximize profitability, margin, and EBITDA within the facility.
• Provide strategic planning and risk management to ensure safe, efficient, and profitable operation.
• Hold themselves and others accountable for return on investment of projects and ensure compliance with financial reporting rules/practices.
• Understand customer needs and drives high levels of quality, responsiveness, and reliability for the customer.
• Develop strong partnerships with support functions such as HSSE, Commercial, Logistics, Finance, and others to drive improvement in the organization and ensure alignment.

Quality / Continuous Improvement

• Understand product specifications and key performance variables and their impact on customers.
• Continuously drives reductions in process variability.
• Ensure the organization delivers against key process indicators.
• Exhibit accountability for optimizing the relationship between quality, productivity, and profitability.
• Drive continuous improvement mindset and actions across the organization using LEAN and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Strive to leave a legacy of process improvements to drive competitiveness and profitability of the facility while improving operability for the plant team.
• Partners with Tech Group and other departments to reach agreement on the proposed facility improvement plan and ensure resources are available to achieve the plan.

Specific Job Requirements

• Must have at least 10-15 years of experience in a chemical processing plant or refinery.
• Must have a track record of progressively responsible leadership positions.
• Must have a demonstrated record of accomplishment on building a safety culture and accident reduction.
• Must have experience leading a Maintenance organization towards driving Reliability culture and increasing on-stream time of facilities.
• Must be willing to be seen in the plant and approachable by employees.
• Working knowledge of truck and rail logistics.