Plant Operations Manager - Ashland

Ashland Specialty Ingredients, GP

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 a Plant Manager to join our Life Sciences business at our Wilmington, DE site. This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the manufacturing function.

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

• Maintaining a safe work environment for all site employees and visitors while complying with all local, state and federal safety and environmental regulations and company guidelines
• Work closely with internal and external resources to efficiently produce high quality products, ensure equipment is properly maintained, and projects installed on time while consistently seeking ways to improve outcomes and enhance service for $20+m business
• Plan, direct and coordinate the manufacturing of products in accordance with company goals and objectives.
• Optimize unit performance, including yields, throughput and quality.
• Develop and implement a solid strategic manufacturing plan for the plant aligned with Ashland’s globalization priority for film coatings
• Direct Plant Staff of approximately 20 employees in operating strategies and process improvement efforts and quality improvements
• Establish and control conditions of production to satisfy customer and quality specifications
• Lead the new product development process by interacting with corporate R&D, pilot plant, and quality resources.
• Modeling positive leadership through open and effective communication, motivation, example setting and best practices
• Perform other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the entire plant.

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

• B.S. Degree in Chemical Engineering or a related discipline
• A minimum of two to five years supervisory experience leading, influencing, building and developing a diverse and cross-functional team across various levels and skill sets
• Experience in effectively developing and managing an annual production plan and cost budget in a cost conscience environment with financial controls
• Experience working within and complying with all governmental regulations (OSHA, EPA, FDA, SOX, etc.) and reporting requirements globally as required
• Project & capital management, lean manufacturing practices, good manufacturing practices (GMP) and SAP experience preferred
• Food and/or pharmaceutical experience preferred

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.

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland LLC. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care and pharmaceutical. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer.

At Ashland our vision is to be a leading, global specialty chemicals company whose inspired and engaged employees add value to all we touch. In fact our people, employees, customers and vendors define who we are. They are the driving force behind everything we do.

Not only do we value our customers but we value our employees, and we work to offer them a dynamic and challenging environment. We hold ourselves to high standards at Ashland, and we value integrity and honesty.

Ashland has a history of attracting the best people and keeping them. The reasons are simple: industry competitive salary and benefits, pay-for-performance incentive plans and a diverse work environment where employees feel challenged and valued. People come to Ashland and stay. As a growing Fortune 500 specialty chemicals company, we offer opportunities for development and advancement throughout our global organization. Our values define who we are and what we care about as a company. If you are looking for a relationship with a company instead of simply a job, this may be a great fit.

Ashland is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. NOTE: We do not accept resumes from external staffing agencies or independent recruiters for any of our openings unless we have a signed recruiting agreement in place to fill a specific position.