Operator, Mechanic

Celanese International Corporation•Richmond, VA

About The Position

The Process Expert performs operations and maintenance tasks to support safe and reliable process operations. The role monitors equipment and process conditions, identifies problems early, and takes action to prevent safety incidents, quality issues, or production losses. The Process Expert investigates unusual conditions, adjusts the process when needed, and raises concerns promptly. In partnership with the Team Captain and other support teams, the role helps keep the plant running reliably and continuously improve work practices. Starting pay is $34.85, with top pay of $51.71 based on a tiered system tied to verified skill development. The Process Expert owns process standards and demonstrates operational discipline, maintenance rigor, and technical rigor. Duties include safety and environmental stewardship, process monitoring and control, troubleshooting abnormal situations, continuous improvement, and effective shift handovers and collaboration.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Two or more years of industrial or manufacturing experience.
Willingness and ability to work a 12-hour rotating shift schedule.
Willingness and ability to work overtime, including holidays, weekends, and short-notice call-ins as required.
Willingness to train in multiple process areas, perform maintenance work, and carry out administrative functions.
Willingness and ability to wear required PPE, including steel-toed boots, a hardhat, protective eyewear, face shields, arc protective clothing, and an SCBA.
Ability to climb up and down several flights of stairs several times per shift, lift 55 pounds, and work indoors and outdoors for extended periods.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree or higher, 48 or more college credit hours, or technical education.
Experience as an industrial electrician, millwright, pipe fitter, welder, or machinist.
Demonstrated experience or competency in engineering, electrical, instrumentation or mechanical work, computer applications, accounting, planning and scheduling, training and development, manufacturing operations, control systems, ISO systems, or basic science.

Responsibilities

Conduct routine area patrols to identify and address process, equipment, or behavioral risks.
Stop unsafe acts and conditions; initiate hazard recognition, preliminary, and near-miss reporting.
Follow operating procedures, issue safe work permits, manage LOTO, and support safe return to service.
Participate in emergency response and plant upset management.
Monitor operating conditions using DCS, field instrumentation, and direct observation.
Adjust operating parameters within defined authority to maintain targets and in-spec production.
Identify patterns, anomalies, and early warning signals in process behavior.
Collect process samples and interpret results to guide actions.
Execute startups, shutdowns, and transitions safely and effectively.
Investigate deviations, alarms, and abnormal operations; troubleshoot and escalate issues that cannot be resolved locally.
Initiate a shutdown or delay a startup when conditions are not safe or reliable.
Support Root Cause Analysis (RCA), PHA, and MOC activities.
Identify and generate improvement ideas to reduce losses and improve performance.
Provide input to and own SOPs, checklists, and operating standards.
Share lessons learned and best practices across shifts.
Build process knowledge and technical capability, and take initiative for self-development and individual goal setting in alignment with site objectives.
Execute disciplined shift turnover and escalate emerging risks early to the 24/7 Team Captain.
Collaborate with Team Captains, Technology Experts, Maintenance, and peers, and provide technical input for effective decision-making.