Operations Manager

Columbia River Nitrogen•Deer Island, OR

19d•Onsite

About The Position

The Operations Manager will lead and direct all plant manufacturing operations to achieve production, safety, quality, and cost objectives. This role involves developing and executing operational strategies aligned with facility and corporate goals, ensuring reliable and efficient operation of production units and support systems, and monitoring plant performance to implement corrective actions. The manager will oversee daily production activities, maximize equipment utilization, manage production resources, and identify and eliminate bottlenecks. A key aspect of this role is championing a strong safety culture and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations and standards, including leading incident investigations and supporting emergency response planning. The Operations Manager will also drive continuous improvement programs using methodologies like Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma, analyze production data for optimization, and support technology improvements. Additionally, the role involves providing leadership, coaching, and mentoring to direct reports, fostering employee engagement, and collaborating with various departments such as Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, EHS, and Human Resources. Financial management, including managing operational budgets and controlling costs, is also a critical responsibility. This position directly supervises Production/Shipping Supervisors, Engineers, and other operations personnel, and is responsible for performance management, disciplinary actions, hiring recommendations, and professional development, ensuring compliance with company policies and collective bargaining agreements.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering, Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, or a related field required.
8–15 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
Minimum of 5 years managing operations within a chemical, petrochemical, pulp and paper, industrial processing, or similar manufacturing environment.
Strong understanding of chemical manufacturing processes and industrial plant operations.
Knowledge of OSHA, EPA, environmental regulations, and process safety requirements.
Demonstrated leadership and team development capabilities.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Experience utilizing ERP systems and production management software.
Strong financial and business acumen.
Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to build effective relationships across all levels of the organization.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred.
Experience with Process Safety Management (PSM) programs strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and direct all plant manufacturing operations to achieve production, safety, quality, and cost objectives.
Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with facility and corporate goals.
Ensure reliable and efficient operation of production units and support systems.
Monitor plant performance and implement corrective actions to achieve key performance indicators (KPIs).
Oversee daily production activities and ensure adherence to established schedules.
Maximize equipment utilization and operational efficiency.
Manage production resources, staffing levels, and operational priorities.
Identify and eliminate bottlenecks impacting production output.
Champion a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, DEQ, PSM, RMP, and company standards.
Ensure all operations are conducted in accordance with applicable environmental permits and regulations.
Lead incident investigations and corrective action implementation.
Support emergency response planning and operational readiness initiatives.
Drive continuous improvement programs focused on safety, throughput, cost reduction, quality, and reliability.
Implement Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or similar methodologies.
Analyze production data to identify trends and opportunities for process optimization.
Support technology improvements and process modernization initiatives.
Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and performance management for engineers, supervisors and operational personnel.
Establish clear expectations and accountability throughout the organization.
Foster a culture of employee engagement, teamwork, and continuous learning.
Support workforce planning, succession planning, and talent development efforts.
Partner with Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, EHS, and Human Resources to achieve business objectives.
Support capital projects, plant expansions, and major maintenance shutdowns.
Participate in strategic planning and budget development activities.
Manage operational budgets and control manufacturing costs.
Monitor labor, utility, raw material, and maintenance expenditures.
Identify opportunities to improve profitability while maintaining safety and quality standards.
Prepare operational reports and present performance metrics to leadership.
Directly supervises Production/Shipping Supervisors, Engineers, and other operations personnel as assigned.
Responsible for employee performance management, disciplinary actions, hiring recommendations, and professional development.
Ensures compliance with company policies and collective bargaining agreements.