Operations Manager

Are you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious?

Are you always solving?

Then we’d like to meet you and bet you’d like to meet us.

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for an Operations Manager to join our Intermediates business at our Lima, OH location. This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the operations department. This position will report to the plant manager.

The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Responsible for safe and environmentally responsible operation of plant through behavioral coaching, site observations, and permit and procedure compliance.
• Supervision of 5 Team leaders and 18 operators.
• Key participant in MOC reviews
• Develops team leader and operator skills and mentors personnel
• Prepares nightly orders and prepares yield and forecasts on a monthly, annual and 5-year basis using history and projected performance
• Leads troubleshooting efforts of operational problems
• Active participation in maintenance planning.
• Active participant in Safe Out Planning.
• Provides technical input and mentoring to plant engineers.
• Reviews and updates plant operating procedures per the designated schedule.
• Participates in plant HAZOPs as required.
• Fills in for plant manager during absence
• Monitors product quality and adjusts operating instruction to maintain on spec production
• Actively contribute to the organizational goals by taking initiative, executing on goals and focusing on performance and safety
• Improve the organization capacity and capabilities through building collaborative relationships, optimizing diverse talent and utilizing positive communications and influence with others

What This Role Is Not:

• Not an individual contributor position –you must collaborate with other team members and manage the operating teams
• Not a solely office-based role – You will spend time out in the plant, in the control house, working with the operating teams
• Not an entry level position – we need a candidate to hit the ground running with solid experience and a background to prove it

In order to be qualified for this role, you must possess the following:

• 10 years + of experience in a chemical plant or refining facility required. Line experience is preferred
• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering required (can be substituted with 5 years demonstrated leadership and process understanding)
• Experience troubleshooting complex issues
• Continuous process background
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrate responsible and ethical behavior at all times
• The ability to help the company drive greater value through understanding the business, making complex decisions and creating the new and different

The following skill sets are preferred by the business unit:

• Experience with liquid and vapor phase reactions at high temperatures and pressures.
• PSM experience.
• Experience in a team based, participative plant environment.
• Demonstrated performance as an innovator.
• Understanding of risk assessment techniques and communication.
• Experience working in cross functional teams.

Perks of working at Ashland:

• Team recognition rewards, sponsored lunches and monetary incentives based on performance
• Comprehensive Benefit package, Medical, Dental and Vision starting on Day 1 for you AND your family
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Referral bonus plan – get a job with us and get paid to refer your friends

*Third party recruiters and agencies (“Agency”) should not contact employees of Ashland or its subsidiaries directly. Any resumes sent by an Agency to a hiring manager, recruiter or submitted to Ashland’s career portal are considered unsolicited and property of Ashland. Ashland will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume, unless the Agency has a signed contract with Ashland’s Human Resources/Procurement department in advance of submitting a candidate for consideration. Verbal and written approvals will not be considered a valid contract for service.