Operations Manager

Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including consumer, industrial, institutional, food and beverage, and pool and spa water markets. Owned by Platinum Equity, the company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids, functional additives, and cleaners and disinfectants, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact, and create cleaner and safer environments.  

  

Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 69 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 16,500 professionals in 160 countries across six continents. Solenis is a 2025 US Best Managed Company, recognized five years in a row. For more information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Operations Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing all production, manufacturing, and operational activities within a chemical plant. This role ensures safe, efficient, and compliant operations while meeting production goals, quality specifications, and cost targets. The Operations Manager provides strategic leadership to production supervisors, operators, maintenance, and cross‑functional teams, driving continuous improvement and operational excellence across the facility. To be successful in the role, an Operations Manager needs to be committed to employee development, results-driven, safety-focused, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a fast paced, process-driven environment. Located at our London, Ontario site, this role reports to the Plant Manager.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

An Operations Manager is responsible for but not limited to the following:

Operational Leadership & Production Management

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient production of chemical products.
• Oversee production planning, scheduling, and resource allocation to meet customer demand and site goals.
• Ensure equipment uptime and production throughput targets are met or exceeded.
• Monitor key operating parameters and adjust processes as needed to maintain product quality and consistency.
• Maintain strong coordination between Production, QA/QC, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and EHS.

Safety, Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Champion a strong safety culture across all operations; ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, DOT, and company safety standards.
• Ensure employees follow safe work practices, hazard recognition, chemical handling protocols, and PPE requirements.
• Support Process Safety Management (PSM), Risk Management Plans (RMP), and related chemical safety programs where applicable.
• Conduct or support incident investigations, root‑cause analysis, and corrective action implementation.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Partner closely with Quality Assurance and Quality Control to ensure products meet all specifications and customer expectations.
• Reduce scrap, rework, and variability through process optimization and engineering support.
• Lead Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, waste reduction, cost control, and operational reliability.
• Ensure adherence to GMP/GLP, ISO standards, and internal quality procedures.

People Leadership & Development

• Manage, coach, and develop production supervisors, leads, and operators.
• Establish clear performance expectations and conduct evaluations and talent development planning.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, engagement, and open communication at all levels of the operation.
• Lead staffing decisions, onboarding, training, and skill‑building for production personnel.

Maintenance & Asset Management

• Collaborate with Maintenance and Engineering to ensure equipment reliability, preventive maintenance, and timely repair activities.
• Support capital projects, equipment upgrades, and process improvements.
• Ensure proper operation and upkeep of critical production and material‑handling systems.

Cost Control & Performance Metrics

• Manage production budgets, cost performance, labor planning, and resource utilization.
• Track and analyze KPIs such as throughput, yield, downtime, OEE, cost of goods, safety performance, and quality indices.
• Identify and implement cost‑saving opportunities without compromising safety or quality.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with Supply Chain on material planning, inventory management, logistics, and vendor coordination.
• Partner with EHS on safety programs, audits, inspections, and regulatory compliance.
• Support customer audits, technical inquiries, and manufacturing support activities.
• Communicate operational performance and priorities to site leadership and corporate teams.

POSITION BASED COMPETENCIES

• Business Planning and Analysis: Assesses business needs and goals, get consensus on planning and projections
• Sponsorship: Communicates business needs and desired outcomes to the organization   
• Collaboration:  Collaborates effectively up and down the organization in an open, transparent and fact-based manner
• Initiative:  Takes initiative with confidence, knows when to ask for guidance 
• Communication:  Possesses strong written and verbal communications skills to effectively work with stakeholders across the company
• Results driven: Delivers sustainable results in sales and marketing
• Customer Focus: Understands the importance of winning over the customer and building a strong relationship to achieve long term success
• Leadership:  Leads and motivates people to achieve the desired objectives of the organization

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in in Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Chemistry, or related technical field or equivalent work experience
• At least 7 years of work experience in chemical, pharmaceutical, coatings, or regulated manufacturing with direct plant leadership
• At least 3 years in a leadership or supervisory role overseeing production, operations, or manufacturing teams.
• Strong understanding of chemical processes, batch/continuous operations, and hazardous materials.
• Experience with PSM‑regulated processes.
• Solid understanding of OSHA/EPA/DOT, PSM/RMP, GMP/GLP, and ISO requirements.
• Proficiency in Lean, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to interpret production data, KPIs, and engineering/technical documentation.
  • Preferred
    • Advanced degree and/or quality certifications (ASQ CQA, CQE, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt)

We understand that candidates will not meet every single desired qualification.  If your experience looks a little different from what we’ve identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we’d love to learn more about you. 

At Solenis, we understand that our greatest asset is our people. That is why we offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits which include health, dental, vision and a defined contribution pension plan, and numerous opportunities for professional growth and development. So, if you are interested in working for a world-class company and enjoy solving complex challenges, whether in the lab or the field, consider joining our team.

Solenis is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applications from all qualified individuals are welcome, and will be considered without regard to any ground protected by human rights legislation, including race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences, marital status, family status, and disability. Solenis provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities in the recruitment process, and invites candidates to let us know about their accommodation needs.

Should you require assistance in applying to this opportunity, please reach out to Solenis Talent Acquisition at talentacquisition@solenis.com .

The expected compensation range for this position is between $101,980.00 and 135,970.00 plus discretionary bonuses. The exact compensation may vary based on your skills, experience and other factors permitted by law.

Regulatory Disclosure

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

We do not use artificial intelligence or automated decision-making tools to screen, assess, or select applicants.