Sr. Reliability Manager

POSITION OVERVIEW

Ascend Performance Materials is a global leader in high-performance chemicals, fibers and plastics, committed to enhancing quality of life through innovation. With fully integrated manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia, we develop essential solutions that drive safer vehicles, cleaner energy, advanced medical devices, and durable consumer goods. Guided by a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and customer success, we operate responsibly while delivering value through cutting-edge technologies and industry expertise. Join our team and be part of a collaborative environment where your work drives meaningful global impact.

The Sr. Reliability Manager is responsible for leading site-wide reliability strategy and execution across fixed, rotating, and instrumentation and electrical (I&E) assets. This role drives improvements in asset performance, reduces unplanned downtime, and advances predictive and reliability-centered maintenance practices. As a key member of the site leadership team, this position partners closely with Maintenance and Operations to deliver safe, reliable, and cost-effective plant performance.

TARGETED OUTCOMES

• Improve asset reliability and availability across all units, reducing unplanned downtime and production losses
• Establish and sustain a predictive, data-driven reliability program across fixed, rotating, and I&E equipment
• Deliver measurable improvements in maintenance cost, equipment lifecycle performance, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
• Build a high-performing reliability organization with strong technical capability and clear succession pipelines

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reliability Strategy & Program Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive site reliability strategy aligned with business, safety, and operational goals
• Establish and continuously improve reliability programs, including predictive maintenance, inspection, and asset integrity management
• Define critical asset strategies and lifecycle plans to optimize performance and total cost of ownership
• Partner with corporate reliability teams to align standards, tools, and best practices

Asset Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Lead efforts to improve equipment reliability using root cause analysis, failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), and data analytics
• Identify and prioritize reliability improvement opportunities to reduce failures and increase uptime
• Drive implementation of predictive and condition-based monitoring technologies
• Ensure corrective actions are sustainable and address true root causes

Execution & Integration

• Partner with Maintenance and Operations to ensure reliability strategies are embedded into daily execution and planning processes
• Provide reliability input into turnaround (TAR) scope development and capital project design
• Ensure reliability considerations are incorporated into new equipment design, installation, and commissioning
• Support optimization of maintenance strategies, including preventive maintenance (PM) and spare parts strategies

Performance Management & Analytics

• Establish and monitor key reliability metrics and dashboards to drive performance visibility and accountability
• Maintain critical asset health reporting and proactively identify risks to production
• Use data and analytics to guide decision-making and prioritize improvement initiatives
• Provide regular updates and recommendations to site leadership on reliability performance and risks

People Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead and develop a team of reliability engineers and inspection professionals
• Build technical capability in reliability tools, methodologies, and engineering practices
• Provide coaching, feedback, and development planning to strengthen organizational capability
• Drive a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning

Risk Management & Compliance

• Ensure asset integrity programs comply with regulatory, safety, and corporate standards
• Support risk identification and mitigation related to equipment reliability and process safety
• Partner with environmental, safety, security and health (ESSH) and engineering teams on compliance and risk initiatives

TEAM AND INTERACTIONS

• Reports to: Senior Site Director
• Direct reports include instrumentation and electrical (I&E) reliability leadership, rotating and fixed equipment engineers, and inspection personnel
• This role works closely with maintenance, operations, engineering, capital projects, and corporate reliability teams to ensure alignment on asset strategy, execution priorities, and performance improvement. Regular interaction with external vendors, inspection agencies, and technical specialists is required.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering or related discipline
• Minimum 10 years of experience in reliability, maintenance, or engineering within chemical, petrochemical, or refining industries
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in reliability or asset performance roles
• Demonstrated success improving equipment reliability and asset performance in a manufacturing environment
• Experience implementing predictive maintenance and reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) programs

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Deep technical expertise in fixed, rotating, and instrumentation and electrical (I&E) equipment reliability
• Strong understanding of reliability methodologies, including root cause analysis, FMEA, and condition-based monitoring
• Proven ability to use data and analytics to drive reliability improvements and decision-making
• Strong leadership and team development capability, with the ability to influence across functions
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills across all levels of the organization
• Project and program management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and initiatives
• Familiarity with enterprise systems and reliability tools; SAP experience preferred
• Continuous improvement mindset with experience applying Lean and Six Sigma principles

At Ascend Performance Materials, we value transparency and fairness in our hiring process. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters, search firms, or staffing agencies. Any resumes received from such entities will be considered the property of Ascend Performance Materials, and we will not be obligated to pay any fees for such submissions. Our Talent Acquisition Team actively engages with preferred recruitment partners who have established agreements with us. We encourage all interested candidates to apply directly through our official channels to be considered for any open positions.

Skills Summary:

About Us:

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities we are able to develop new products from our core technologies, and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and six manufacturing facilities globally. As a privately-held company, our people do big things and make big decisions, often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big, meaningful ways—all within a stable and growing business.

Why work at Ascend?

Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 6,6 value chain, creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone, everywhere, every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values.

We care. We operate safely with high integrity for our employees, our customers and our communities. Our people are our greatest assets, and our Total Rewards Program extends beyond traditional benefits to include access to on-site medical clinics at our U.S. facilities, a global wellness rewards program and Performance Matters, an employee-driven recognition plan. Our Commitment to Zero demonstrates our belief that is it possible to operate with zero personal injuries, zero process safety incidents and zero environmental releases. And the Ascend Cares Foundation, led by Ascend employees, supports Ascend families in times of need, provides inspiring opportunities ​​for community engagement and facilitates community leadership.

Customer-focused. We exist for our customers; they drive our actions. Their success is our success. Our plastics and chemicals are building blocks that help make everyday essentials safer and more sustainable, and we constantly strive to develop new and innovative products to meet the future needs of our customers. And that customer focus doesn’t only apply to the marketplace – it also applies to how we treat our colleagues and our fellow community members.

Better every day. We invest in our people and our processes to improve every day. A2E, our continuous improvement program, guides the way we do business. And this way of problem solving applies not only to our manufacturing practices but also to our commitment to developing our people. You’ll see it during your career at Ascend in our leadership development, skills training and mentoring programs

Agile. We think broadly and lead proactively in a constantly evolving organization and industry. Agility doesn’t mean simply working quickly – it means critical thinking, creative problem solving and novel approaches to everyday challenges.

One Ascend. All together, with a common set of goals and an eye toward the future. We don’t accept silos. We look for ways to share across departments, sites and geography. This means you won’t be boxed into a single role at Ascend – you could get the chance to work with teams across the globe to improve the way we serve our people, our customers and our communities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information or other protected status under federal, state or local laws.