Sr. Director, Manufacturing

Sterling Specialty Chemicals US LLC; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Specialty Chemicals US LLC in Houston seeks a Sr. Director of Manufacturing to lead eight chemical manufacturing facilities, including seven domestic and one international site.

The role requires deep technical knowledge of polymers, surfactants, and specialty formulations, plus a hands-on leadership style to drive safety and performance. The ideal candidate will have 15+ years of manufacturing leadership, a chemical engineering or related degree, and a proven track record of building

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive chemical manufacturing experience; 15+ years strongly preferred.
• Strong technical proficiency in polymers, surfactants, specialty chemical formulations, and processing operations.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with chemists, chemical engineers, and technical teams.
• Significant manufacturing leadership experience overseeing plant operations and multiple facilities.
• Proven success in driving operational improvements, building high-performing teams, and delivering measurable results.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing safety, environmental compliance, and cost management.
• Excellent leadership, communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively, domestically and internationally, including Saudi Arabia.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across eight chemical manufacturing facilities, ensuring consistent performance and excellence.
• Lead, mentor, and develop plant managers and manufacturing leadership teams.
• Apply strong technical knowledge of polymers, surfactants, chemical formulations, and processes to support operations and resolve complex challenges.
• Drive improvements in safety, quality, productivity, equipment reliability, manufacturing efficiency, and cost management.
• Establish and monitor operational KPIs, budgets, and performance objectives across all facilities.
• Partner with Engineering, R&D, Quality, and EH&S to optimize processes, troubleshoot issues, and ensure compliance.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, standardization, and efficiency gains.
• Maintain a strong hands-on presence at facilities, engaging with employees and leadership.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Operations management

Communication

Problem-solving

Travel readiness

Team development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry

Job description

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Full Time Management Houston Office, Houston, TX, US

Sr. Director of Manufacturing

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced, energetic, and technically proficient Director of Manufacturing to provide leadership and operational oversight across eight chemical manufacturing facilities, including four plants under Sterling Specialty Chemicals (SSC) and four under Sterling Multi-Chem (SMC), one of which is located in Saudi Arabia.

Theidealcandidatewillhaveextensiveexperienceinchemicalmanufacturing,particularlypolymers,surfactants,specialtychemicals,andchemicalformulations.Thisindividualmustcombinestrongtechnicalknowledgewithexceptionalleadershipskillsandahands-onapproachtomanagingmulti-sitemanufacturingoperations.

This is a highly visible leadership role requiring significant domestic and international travel, strong engagement with plant leadership, and a demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Providestrategicandoperationalleadershipacrosseightchemicalmanufacturingfacilities,ensuringconsistentperformance,accountability,andoperationalexcellence.
• Lead,mentor,anddevelopplantmanagersandmanufacturingleadershipteams.
• Applystrongtechnicalknowledgeofpolymers,surfactants,chemicalformulations,andmanufacturingprocessestosupportoperationsandresolvecomplexproductionchallenges.
• Driveimprovementsinsafety,quality,productivity,equipmentreliability,manufacturingefficiency,andcostmanagement.
• EstablishandmonitoroperationalKPIs,budgets,andperformanceobjectivesacrossallfacilities.
• PartnerwithEngineering,R&D,Quality,andEHStooptimizechemicalmanufacturingprocesses,troubleshoottechnicalissues,andensureregulatorycompliance.
• Identifyopportunitiesforcontinuousimprovement,processstandardization,andoperationalefficiencies.
• Maintainastrong,hands-onpresenceatmanufacturingfacilities,activelyengagingwithemployeesandplantleadership.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, and continuous improvement.

Education, Qualifications & Experience

Required:

• Bachelor'sdegreeinChemicalEngineering,Chemistry,oracloselyrelatedtechnicaldiscipline.Otherengineeringdegreesmaybeconsideredwithextensivespecialtychemicalmanufacturingexperience.
• Minimum10yearsofprogressivechemicalmanufacturingexperience;15+yearsstronglypreferred.
• Strongtechnicalproficiencyinpolymers,surfactants,specialtychemicalformulations,andchemicalprocessingoperations.
• Demonstratedabilitytocommunicateeffectivelywithchemists,chemicalengineers,andtechnicalteamsregardingcomplexchemicalmanufacturingprocesses.
• Significantmanufacturingleadershipexperience,includingoversightofplantoperations,plantmanagers,ormultiplemanufacturingfacilities.
• Provensuccessindrivingoperationalimprovements,developinghigh-performingteams,anddeliveringmeasurableresults.
• Strongunderstandingofmanufacturingsafety,environmentalcompliance,processoptimization,andcostmanagement.
• Excellentleadership,communication,decision-making,andproblem-solvingskills.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively, both domestically and internationally, including Saudi Arabia.

Preferred:

• 15+yearsofchemicalmanufacturingexperiencewithatleastfiveyearsinseniorplantormulti-sitemanufacturingleadership.
• Directexperienceinpolymermanufacturing,surfactants,specialtychemicals,batchprocessing,orchemicalblending.
• ExperiencewithLeanManufacturing,SixSigma,orothercontinuousimprovementmethodologies.

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a high-energy, hands-on leader who understands the chemistry behind the manufacturing process. This individual must be technically credible, comfortable discussing complex chemical processes with chemists and engineers, and capable of leading plant managers across multiple locations.

The successful candidate will be proactive, results-driven, and willing to spend significant time in our manufacturing facilities, building relationships, developing teams, and driving operational improvements.

This is not simply an operational oversight role. We need a leader who brings deep chemical manufacturing expertise, strong leadership capabilities, and the energy and commitment to drive results across all eight facilities.