Job Details
Ecovyst's subsidiary, Ecoservices is hunting for a Plant Manager based at our Chem32 plant in Orange, TX
Chem32 sulfides and activates catalysts and absorbents used in refining, petrochemical and environmental processes, using its proprietary THIOCAT fixed-bed sulfiding technology. Chem-32 provides the following additional services: toll manufacturing, logistics and warehousing services including long-term storage of sulfided catalysts, pilot studies and scale up of new processes, analytical and testing services, and custom processing using equipment and methods provided by our customers. The Business Unit headquarters is in The Woodlands, TX.
The Company is searching to fill the Plant Manager role at the Orange, TX plant. It has 36 non-bargained for employees 11 Salaried, and 25 Hourly. This plant is key to many of the top catalyst production companies who serve industry customers both domestically and internationally. This site has four reactors used to Sulfide customer supplied catalyst, and a fifth reactor used for air passivation based on customer requirements. This site is key to the growth strategy for Ecovyst and has a capital investment strategy to expand the capacity of the site in the future.
The Plant manager position at the Orange, TX Plant is a key position in Ecoservices Corp. Being the only current facility within Ecoservices capable of ex-situ sulfiding of catalyst, the site must operate safely and reliably to supply all global customers. Key attributes for this position include strong safety leadership with a demonstrated record in accident reduction and emergency preparedness. Multi-tasking is another key attribute as this is a 24-7 batch operation with complex chemical and logistics processes where products are shipped in drums and bins via trucks. This position will require strong leadership as there will be competing priorities. Details of the job requirements follow.
Plant Manager Role Expectations
Ecoservices Plant Managers 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
- Drives 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.
- Knows and champions Life Saving Behaviors. Demonstrates priority and commitment through personal behavior. Keeps a strong field presence and routinely assesses work activities to maintain awareness of plant needs and influence behaviors. Sets the expectations in words and actions such that employees know that all work is completed in accordance with Ecoservices HSE policies at all times (24/7).
- Develops metrics and management systems to drive continuous improvement in HSE and Reliability.
- Prioritizes capital requests to ensure that capital is allocated to design out industrial hygiene hazards, improve environmental compliance, and reduce personal/process safety hazards.
- Implements proper engineering, process, and administrative controls for safe and reliable operations.
- Shows courageous leadership by coaching, asking questions, and intervening when needed. Challenges the status quo and past norms to make the operation safer and more efficient.
- Ensures the Mechanical Integrity program is robust for safe operation. The Plant Manager is responsible for risk management decisions regarding any potential deferrals/extensions.
- Drives 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.
- Ensures timely and effective investigations are conducted with appropriate corrective and preventative actions to prevent recurrence. Leverages lessons to other facilities and ensures timely completion of all Action Items.
- Stewards and supports employee health through practices associated with a Healthy Workplace and employee fitness for duty.
Organizational Effectiveness / People Leadership
- Sets vision and ensures goals are established and executed in alignment with corporate objectives, while adapting to changing conditions. Provides motivation, context, and purpose to the team through frequent communications.
- 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. Effective communicator capable of changing the organization to a best-in-class operation over time through incremental improvements.
- Drives Operational Excellence by developing/implementing effective Management Systems that will deliver quality products on time in a safe and most efficient manner. This will require development of the Chem-32 Team (hourly and salaried) as well as delegation and follow-up. This will be ongoing as business conditions and priorities change.
- Quickly address operational issues to ensure peak performance of the assets with low risk to employee safety.
- Ensures common sense implementation and ongoing effectiveness of work processes, operating discipline, management systems, enabling technologies, and roles to become a Highly Reliable Organization. Challenges inefficiencies and says no when needed.
- 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. Must develop the organization to embrace change as part of their business model. Strong Leadership, effective communications, and strong change management skills will be required.
- Works closely with Human Resources to hire a plant team with strong skills. Ensures team members are on-boarded and trained via a comprehensive training program to maximize their opportunity for success and increase plant expertise.
- Addresses 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. Must have employee empathy while upholding the Company standards and values. Escalates to proper channels when needed.
- Inspires and motivates the organization. Continuously shows appreciation and maintains a servant-leader mindset. Models Ecoservices core values and behaviors and understand that his/her behavior shapes plant culture.
- Champions career success and development of each employee via goal setting, performance management, promotion, and employee development processes. Establishes resourcing and succession plans to achieve objectives and maintain expertise.
Financial Acumen / Business Owner Mindset
- Develops financial acumen skills across the organization to accelerate profitability and productivity. Understands business model and strategy for facility and helps the 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.
- Develops metrics and management system to maximize profitability, margin, and EBITDA within the facility. Knows the total Cost Per Ton (CPT) and continuously optimizes plant cost position through productivity and Variable Manufacturing Cost (VMC) improvements.
- Holds themselves and others accountable for return on investment of projects and ensures compliance with financial reporting rules/practices.
- Understands customer needs and drives high levels of quality, responsiveness, and reliability for the customer. Interfaces with the customers as needed.
- Develops 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
- Understands product specifications and key performance variables and their impact on customers.
- Continuously drives reductions in process variability.
- Ensures the organization delivers against key process indicators.
- Exhibits accountability for optimizing the relationship between quality, productivity, and profitability.
- Drives continuous improvement mindset and actions across the organization using LEAN and Six Sigma methodologies.
- Strives 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 Services and other departments to reach agreement on the proposed facility Capital improvement plan and ensure resources are available to achieve the plan.
Specific Job Requirements
- B.S. in an Engineering discipline, preferably Chemical or Mechanical.
- Must have at least 10-15 years of experience in a chemical processing plant or refinery.
- Must have a demonstrated record of accomplishment on building a safety culture and accident reduction.
- Experience leading a Maintenance organization towards driving Reliability culture and increasing on-stream time of facilities is preferred.
- Must have a minimum of 5 years of experience as either an Operations or Plant Manager.
- Must be willing to be seen in the plant and approachable by employees.
- Working knowledge of warehouse and truck logistics operations is preferred.