Plant Manager

Position summary

The Plant Manager will have ownership to lead all elements of a continuously operated manufacturing facility including safety and environmental stewardship, quality, productivity, cost, and ongoing team development. This position combines site leadership with direct, day-to-day ownership of plant operations, and will be responsible for all aspects of the site, including developing relationships with third party service providers, leading development of behaviors and systems to support Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement cultures, and delivering the plant's safety, production, quality, and cost results that meet the business plan.

Essential functions

• Directs, manages, and optimizes the overall operational and financial performance of the manufacturing organization at the facility

• Works with Ostara resources to integrate Operational Excellence into the daily management practices of the facility

• Creates, develops, implements, and sustains all plant policies and procedures that guide plant operations' safety, productivity, quality, and cost efficiency

• Utilizes operational metrics to analyze productivity and set performance targets to achieve production goals

• Creates and supports the development and deployment of manufacturing practices focused on quality and continuous improvement

• Takes ownership of the plant safety program and ensures robust plant safety and security inspections, auditing, and training procedures are implemented, and best safety practices are followed to meet OSHA and other required regulations

• Maintains safe and environmentally sound operating conditions within equipment design parameters

• Conducts plant audits and inspections, and reviews and authorizes work permits

• Collaborates with multi-functional teams, including finance, sales, purchasing, logistics, quality control, and human resources

• Actively participates in setting and achieving corporate strategic objectives related to the St. Louis production facility

• Leads development of and delivering against operational budgets for the manufacturing facility in alignment with overall Company operational budgets

• Ensures the production facility meets key business goals

• Identifies improvement opportunities, provides solutions, and implements changes in the manufacturing process

• Works with maintenance to troubleshoot and address problems in the plant to maximize production, raw materials flow, and safety

• Facilitates ongoing communication between hourly employees and management to ensure proper and efficient rail operations, product quality, allocation of resources, safety, and environmental compliance

• Interacts with commercial team to ensure on time deliveries of finished goods for both the current and expected future business state

• Other duties as assigned

Supervisory responsibilities

• Hires, trains, and develops Ostara's manufacturing facility staff.

• Build and sustain a high-performing, accountable culture by coaching and developing supervisors and employees, addressing performance and employee-relations concerns promptly, monitoring team morale and retention trends, and partnering with Human Resources on actions that strengthen communication, teamwork, and employee engagement.

• Schedules, organizes, and assigns projects to members of the manufacturing facility management

• Conducts performance evaluations, coaching and documentation that are timely and constructive

• Handles discipline and termination of employees as needed and in accordance with company policy

Required skills/abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

• Ability to multitask while adapting to changing priorities

• A proven track record of handling a variety of management tasks

• Provide visible, hands-on leadership across the plant floor, regularly engaging with employees across shifts to understand team concerns, recognize contributions, reinforce expectations, and maintain a strong connection to employee morale, engagement, and the overall work environment.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or related software

• Ability to engage with stakeholders at all levels, within and outside the company

• Demonstrated experience in resolving gaps with human systems, management systems and equipment/facilities within the constraints of the business plan

• Demonstrated experience in financial leadership and expense management in a manufacturing facility environment

• Ability to safely move in and through work areas, including climbing stairs, maintaining good balance, being mentally alert, having good visual acuity and safety working at heights

• Ability to safety work in and around heavy industrial environment, including moving objects, concentrated chemicals, and transport vehicles

Education/experience

• Technical four-year degree, engineering degree preferred

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in continuous chemical manufacturing responsibilities, including a minimum of 10 years of production management/operations management experience.

• Well versed in Operational Excellence, lean manufacturing, and/or continuous improvement with a collaborative approach to problem solving.

Location and travel

This position is located in the St. Louis area and to meet travel requirements would need to be able to reach up to 30% including local travel and overnight travel. From time to time may require additional travel.