Production Manager

POSITION OVERVIEW

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high-quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities, we are able to develop new products from our core technologies and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Europe and China. As a privately held company, our people do big things and make big decisions, often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big, meaningful ways—all within a stable and growing business.

The successful candidate must have a high level of leadership and communication skills to create alignment and a positive teamwork environment. Additionally, the successful candidate will have the ability to apply critical thinking and scientific principles to be a creative problem solver. This individual will demonstrate understanding and practical execution of Ascend to Excellence (A2E) concepts and provide the direction to implement these principles in the work place to eliminate waste and create superior value for the company and meet our customer’s needs. This leader must challenge the status quo, have a high sense of urgency, be innovative, and use measures to drive results.

TARGETED OUTCOMES

Lead a safe operations area utilizing Absolute Zero safety principles

Implement a robust pipeline of productivity projects to ensure year-over-year productivity improvement by closing the gap to entitlement

Design, put into practice, and lead as an advocate the use of best-in-class work processes for all aspects of operations, quality control and logistics

Set high expectations with clear accountabilities for operations excellence within the operating unit at the floor level

Develop and drive measures to ensure best in class quality and delivery of our products to all customers.

REPORTS TO

Sr. Operations Manager

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership & People Development

Grow and develop capable teams and leaders who are able to drive execution of plans and deliver targeted results.

Lead to ensure employees have the resources and direction to do their jobs.

Establish clear objectives for each position, communicate them to the employees and provide feedback on performance.

Encourage team work to drive department metrics and maintain a respective work place. Communicate overall direction and plant initiatives using effective communication tools.

Provide employee development opportunities for their staff, including manufacturing engineers, supervision and operations. Hold themselves and everyone on the team accountable.

ESSH

Pursue excellence in all safety and environmental areas. Ensure all regulatory and corporate requirements – this includes, but is not limited to ESSH core practices, environmental compliance, Process Safety Management (PSM), ISO 9001 and RC 14000 compliance.

Responsible for delivering and maintaining superior safety and environmental performance measured by lagging indicators (first aids, recordable injuries, near misses) and leading indicators (leadership audits, permit compliance, hazard recognitions, etc.) within the manufacturing units.

Productivity & Quality Control

Provide necessary resources to ensure a productive and consistent operation by continuously improving productivity, reduce waste and energy as well as utilize lean manufacturing concepts and processes across the organization.

Lead the development of our manufacturing engineering capabilities and ensure that we meet Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) targets by ensuring the organization clearly understands the goals and priorities accordingly.

Implement the standards where Quality Controls are concerned – by measuring and ensuring that products are released within specs; and gauges are properly maintained, as it pertains to the relevant procedures.

Meet business commitments and coordinate changes and impact through the Business Operations Planner (BOP). This role has oversight of site logistics capability including payload efficiency/quality management, DOT requirements, and intra-plant movements. As well, act as a key interface with the business SIOP process and external logistics function to optimize the total logistics chain.

Financial Controls

Develop complete knowledge of the cost drivers for the manufacturing units and be responsible for meeting budgeted and forecasted cost targets.

Use A2E process to drive performance and achieve best available cost position in the areas of materials usage (yield) and conversion costs.

Team

Responsible for one of the area manufacturing units at the Decatur site which may include HMD, ADN, BHU, or Logistics and include direct and indirect reports to support the unit.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering preferred. Advanced degree is a plus.

8 to 10 years of experience in Chemical Manufacturing in a PSM covered plant with a proven track record of five years in a leadership capacity.

Minimum eight years of demonstrated knowledge in chemical processing fundamentals. Experience with electro-chemical processes is highly preferred.

Trained in Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing processes.

DESIRED CERTIFICATION

Six Sigma/Lean Certification is highly preferred, not a requirement.

REQUIRED SKILLS

Proactive leadership and team-building skills with the ability to create alignment and work effectively throughout the organization in a team based, fast paced environment.

Proven leadership experience and has the ability to effectively influence, motivate and mentor all levels of employees.

Strong sense of ownership and a drive to improve existing systems and processes. This position is expected to challenge the status quo, have a high sense of urgency, be innovative, and use measures to drive results.

In-depth knowledge and understanding of Environmental, Safety and Health policies, procedures, and regulations.

Sound knowledge and expertise in finance management, i.e. cost accounting principles & practices, reports and budgets.

Proficiency in the use of DMAIC process to drive sustainable results and exhibited competency to use.

Lean/Six Sigma principles to drive out waste and meet customer’s needs.

Excellent customer service capabilities with the aptitude to apply sound, logic and scientific principles to creative problem solving.

Solid knowledge and understanding of hazardous chemical logistics such as barge, rail, intermodal, truck, and small containers; as well as DOT requirements for shipment of hazardous chemicals.

Solid interpersonal, coaching, facilitation and organizational skills with excellent verbal and written communication capabilities.

Strong quantitative, analytical and excellent computer skills are required. This includes sound proficiency in MS Office.

Skills Summary:

About Us:

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities we are able to develop new products from our core technologies, and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and six manufacturing facilities globally. As a privately-held company, our people do big things and make big decisions, often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big, meaningful ways—all within a stable and growing business.

Why work at Ascend?

Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 6,6 value chain, creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone, everywhere, every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values.

We care. We operate safely with high integrity for our employees, our customers and our communities. Our people are our greatest assets, and our Total Rewards Program extends beyond traditional benefits to include access to on-site medical clinics at our U.S. facilities, a global wellness rewards program and Performance Matters, an employee-driven recognition plan. Our Commitment to Zero demonstrates our belief that is it possible to operate with zero personal injuries, zero process safety incidents and zero environmental releases. And the Ascend Cares Foundation, led by Ascend employees, supports Ascend families in times of need, provides inspiring opportunities for community engagement and facilitates community leadership.

Customer-focused. We exist for our customers; they drive our actions. Their success is our success. Our plastics and chemicals are building blocks that help make everyday essentials safer and more sustainable, and we constantly strive to develop new and innovative products to meet the future needs of our customers. And that customer focus doesn’t only apply to the marketplace – it also applies to how we treat our colleagues and our fellow community members.

Better every day. We invest in our people and our processes to improve every day. A2E, our continuous improvement program, guides the way we do business. And this way of problem solving applies not only to our manufacturing practices but also to our commitment to developing our people. You’ll see it during your career at Ascend in our leadership development, skills training and mentoring programs

Agile. We think broadly and lead proactively in a constantly evolving organization and industry. Agility doesn’t mean simply working quickly – it means critical thinking, creative problem solving and novel approaches to everyday challenges.

One Ascend. All together, with a common set of goals and an eye toward the future. We don’t accept silos. We look for ways to share across departments, sites and geography. This means you won’t be boxed into a single role at Ascend – you could get the chance to work with teams across the globe to improve the way we serve our people, our customers and our communities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information or other protected status under federal, state or local laws.

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