Production Manager

Kraton • Panama City, FL

20d • Onsite

About The Position

The Production Manager effectively and safely manages operations output levels, product quality, production cost, and other company assets associated with manufacturing processes. The role ensures products meet or exceed key performance targets and customer expectations. The Production Manager is a member of the plant’s Lead Team and may serve as Acting Plant Manager in the Plant Manager’s absence.

Requirements

• 10 or more years of relevant work experience in chemical manufacturing or a related industry.
• Experience with unionized workforces.
• Strong functional expertise and people-management skills.
• Proficiency with personal computer applications and business information systems, including PI system, DCS, SAP, and Microsoft Office tools.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills between management and labor in Maintenance and Operations.
• Ability to build relationships among peers and across the organization and use influence to drive change.
• Ability to identify complex problems and organize teams to explore and resolve them.
• Knowledge of process technology and chemical engineering/manufacturing.
• Knowledge of Process Safety Management (PSM).
• Knowledge of quality and process improvement.
• Knowledge of environmental, health, and safety compliance.
• Knowledge of supply chain management and organizational effectiveness.
• Knowledge of information systems.
• Knowledge of chemical engineering processes, maintenance systems, and EJS systems.
• Knowledge of budget management and fiscal administration of daily operations and capital planning.
• Knowledge of union relations and collective bargaining.
• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or another related field from an accredited college or university.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Business or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and legal requirements related to workplace environmental, health, and safety/OSHA requirements and quality standards.
• Understand and implement actions to meet environmental targets and sustainability goals.
• Promote risk-reducing initiatives and mentor shift supervisors and hourly employees in risk assessment.
• Optimize production throughput, output, and product quality.
• Lead production activities and set priorities for personal safety, quality, Loss of Primary Containment reduction, process safety, customer satisfaction, productivity, cost control, and employee engagement.
• Coordinate Production with Operations, Business, and Supply Chain to achieve targets and continually improve operations.
• Ensure safe and effective plant shutdowns and operational startups.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using strategies and techniques such as Lean manufacturing, Managing Daily Improvement (MDI), Safety Gemba Walks, Core Problem Solving, coaching, and 5S.
• Improve root-cause analysis methodology and effectiveness.
• Set and achieve S.M.A.R.T. targets in HSE, Quality, Production, and Cost, aligned with business direction.
• Use and report key performance indicators that influence plant results.
• Manage department costs, spending, budgets, and financial activities; develop and lead cost-reduction initiatives.
• Lead, develop, coach, and evaluate process unit engineers, production supervisors, and other hourly and salaried production employees.
• Foster positive union-management relationships and coach front-line leaders on labor relations.
• Manage resource requirements, identify gaps, and implement corrective actions and solutions.
• Ensure team members are current on required job training and qualifications.
• Implement systems for cleanliness and housekeeping, operator rounds, Operator Basic Care as appropriate, and consistent shift-to-shift communication.
• Actively participate as a member of the plant’s Lead Team.

Benefits

• Medical insurance with multiple plans, including TeleDoc and Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account options.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• Health Advocate support to help employees understand coverage and answer questions.
• Life insurance, with base coverage paid for by Kraton and the option to purchase additional coverage.
• 401(k) with matching contributions based on enrollment level.
• Employee Assistance Program provided at no cost to employees.
• Accident, disability, and critical illness insurance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager