Plant Manager, Chemicals

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples' lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate.​

SUMMARY

The Plant Manager is responsible for planning, directing, and controlling facility operations at the Longview, Washington site to meet production and product quality goals in a safe, cost effective and environmentally sound manner.  The Plant Manager also ensures that company policies are followed and all activities comply with all governmental regulations.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

May include, but are not limited to, the following:

Directs the management of the following:

• Comply with Environmental, Safety and Regulatory Responsibilities
• Actively demonstrates and supports strong commitment to the company cultural beliefs throughout the site.
• Ensures that programs for safety, health, and environmental protection are implemented to protect employees and facilities. 
• Ensures that annual, credible HSE goals for the site are developed, established and responsible parties are accountable.  Ensures communication of said goals and status updates are done at least annually.
• Ensures HSE Key Performance Indicators are in compliance with corporate HSE goals. 
• Ensures that programs for reducing environmental emissions and unpermitted environmental releases are ongoing and that new installations are designed, installed, and operated in a manner that minimizes environmental emissions and supports all corporate and regulatory requirements.

Optimizing Businesses

• Ensures the production of quality products to meet sales demand at projected or lower cost, while maintaining environmental and safety standards.

Create a Positive Environment for Employees

• Communicates and interacts with departments to ensure consistent application of policies and procedures.
• Serves as a company representative in union-related meetings and matters, and maintains a positive relationship with the union at the Longview WA site.
• Ensures that performance management is embraced to establish goals for work proficiency, attendance, advancement, and to correct deficiencies.
• Supports the continued implementation of the Westlake Continuous Improvement Process.
• Utilizes shift meetings to keep employees informed on core aims, status of projects, and issues affecting the employees, the community and Westlake.

Optimizing Resources

• Ensures technicians and supervisors are trained to operate the plants safely, environmentally sound, and efficiently.
• Ensures plant equipment and facilities are maintained to provide reliable operations at the lowest cost.
• Ensures utilization of support groups to help solve operating, personnel, and maintenance problems and to acquire materials, supplies, and services to minimize operating cost.
• Ensures a reporting system is established and maintained to allow identification, analysis, and deviation of critical operating parameters.  Establish method to correct deviations and process deficiency within the system.
• Ensures raw material efficiencies and utility (steam, water, etc.) Consumptions are optimized to maximize operating profit.

Improving Financial Performance

• Communicates with Business Teams on production issues to insure sound production / sales related decisions.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Chemical Engineering preferred
• Minimum of 10 years operations or related experience with responsibility for unit operation and P&L
• Proven previous management experience is required
• Knowledge of specific production processes is required
• Strong interpersonal, organizational and communication skills, both verbal and written
• Good computer skills with the ability to use standard company software applications

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Additionally, this position must make general decisions requiring judgement and perform activities requiring sustained concentration.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate as normally based in an office.  Some of the work may be required in the operating units which mandates usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, etc.  May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs and elevators.  Travel including air travel or auto travel is required.

Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.

If you are an active Westlake employee (or an employee of any Westlake affiliates), please do not apply here. You will apply via the Jobs Hub application in Workday.