Manufacturing Specialist

Ascend Performance Materials•Alvin, TX

About The Position

The Operations Manufacturing Specialist is responsible for optimizing production and product quality and serves as the operational expert for an assigned area. The role supports technical, environmental, safety and health (ESSH), and maintenance activities. It coordinates unit operations to achieve OEE, quality, and maintenance budget targets, and works with the Turnaround group and Maintenance and Operations personnel to ensure shutdowns are completed safely, fully, and within budget. The specialist helps ensure compliant and environmentally responsible operations, leads or participates in shutdown planning, safety activities, audits, inspections, process hazard analyses, incident investigations, projects, and plant tests, and provides technical guidance on process changes, maintenance coordination, and unit performance. The role also supports training and qualification, participates in daily meetings, provides technical resources outside regular hours as needed, and supports hurricane and emergency preparedness and response.

Requirements

Five years of Processor and operations experience in a chemical plant (the posting states “Three (5) years”).
Working experience and knowledge of unit operations.
Working knowledge of ESSH guidelines and regulatory and compliance issues.
Working experience with unit control systems.
Working knowledge of the MOC process.
Past participation in walkthroughs.
Good process troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, including informal troubleshooting training or experience.
Computer skills with Windows-based programs, including email, MS Word, MS Excel, LIMS, KMS, and SAP.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Well-developed facilitation skills.
Strong leadership and teamwork skills.
Self-initiated learning, time-management skills, and ability to initiate corrective actions and follow through.
Ability to consistently meet commitments and translate business requirements into executable plans with clear ownership and timelines.
Ability to collaborate effectively and influence others without direct reporting relationships.
Results-oriented and customer-focused approach.
Willingness to seek input on key decisions, prioritize, and make decisions.
Exceptional attention to detail and ability to develop procedures and standard methods.
Adaptability, flexibility, and effectiveness in managing multiple priorities.

Nice To Haves

Alkylation experience.

Responsibilities

Coordinate unit operations to achieve OEE, quality, and maintenance budget targets.
Work with the Turnaround group and Maintenance and Operations personnel to execute shutdowns safely, completely, and within budget.
Ensure production activities are safe, environmentally responsible, and compliant with regulations, permits, and procedures.
Identify, address, and communicate ESSH issues to appropriate parties.
Participate in the development and revision of unit procedures.
Generate, review, implement, and close changes through the MOC process.
Lead shutdown activities, including scope and schedule development and review of shutdown job plans.
Develop and maintain production requirements and lockout/blind-out lists for maintenance jobs.
Analyze handheld data for successive exceptions and resolve them.
Coordinate production activities with maintenance plans so equipment is available and ready when scheduled.
Coordinate and communicate activities with other units as needed.
Implement assigned action items from J5, ESSH, housekeeping audits, and IAT.
Lead or participate in Job Safety Analyses for unusual operations or maintenance activities.
Lead or participate in audits and inspections and participate in PHAs.
Lead, participate in, or review incident investigations and identify and implement corrective actions.
Provide technical input and support to projects and plant tests.
Review daily sample analyses and trends during the Daily Unit Morning Meeting and direct process changes accordingly.
Support training and participate in qualification of Processors and PSM qualification where necessary within the unit.
Develop expert knowledge of unit operations, process hazards and safeguards, equipment, procedures, and corporate guidelines.
Develop working knowledge of instrumentation and controls, engineering standards, and piping specifications.
Provide technical resources for off-hours as needed and communicate promptly through channels such as Night Letters, email, and face-to-face conversations.
Work effectively with plant resources and seek their support.
Attend and participate in daily unit MOS and other meetings.
Support hurricane and emergency preparedness and response according to the ICP.