Project Manager – Specialty Chemicals Manufacturing

DuBois Chemicals•Sharonville, OH

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Manager plans, runs, and delivers projects across specialty chemical manufacturing operations. Projects include capital equipment installations, capacity expansions, new product scale-ups, process improvements, and site or network changes. The role coordinates engineering, manufacturing, EHS, quality, supply chain, procurement, and finance to deliver projects safely, on schedule, within budget, and with expected business results. This position is based at the company's Sharonville, Ohio headquarters and divides time between office and plant environments where chemicals are handled and stored. Travel to other sites and occasional off-hours support during startups or shutdowns may be required. The role requires following safety protocols and wearing personal protective equipment. The Project Manager owns projects from chartering, scope definition, planning, and execution through commissioning and closeout. The role manages schedules, budgets, resources, risks, contractors, engineering firms, and equipment vendors, and runs projects through a stage-gate process. Project work includes capital and plant improvements; process and product scale-ups; safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance; stakeholder communication and reporting; and continuous improvement. The position leads cross-functional teams without direct authority and tracks project benefits after completion. The company does not sponsor employment-based visas for this position. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without current or future visa sponsorship.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering, Chemistry, or a related technical field.
At least 5 years of experience in chemical, process, or manufacturing environments, including at least 3 years managing projects.
Proven record of delivering capital and/or operational improvement projects on time and on budget.
Working knowledge of chemical process safety, hazardous materials handling, and regulatory requirements.
Strong financial acumen, including cost estimating, budget management, and ROI analysis.
Proficiency with project management tools such as MS Project, Smartsheet, or similar; advanced Excel; and an ERP system such as SAP, Oracle, or similar.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without current or future visa sponsorship.
Ability to follow safety protocols and wear personal protective equipment in office and plant environments.

Nice To Haves

PMP certification and/or Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt.
Experience in specialty chemicals, coatings, cleaning and sanitation, or other batch process industries.
Familiarity with PSM/RMP, MOC, and HAZOP processes.
Experience with plant consolidations, acquisitions integration, or supply chain projects.
MBA or advanced technical degree.

Responsibilities

Own the full project lifecycle, including chartering, scope, planning, execution, commissioning, and closeout.
Build and maintain project schedules, budgets, resource plans, RACI charts, and risk and issue logs.
Run projects through a stage-gate process with clear deliverables and approvals at each phase.
Manage contractors, engineering firms, and equipment vendors, including scopes, bids, purchase orders, and change orders.
Lead capital projects such as new tanks, blending and filling lines, tank farms, utilities, automation, and building upgrades.
Support capital request business cases with cost estimates, ROI, and payback analysis.
Coordinate installation, mechanical completion, startup, and handover to operations while minimizing production disruption.
Manage scale-up and technology transfer of new formulations from R&D or the pilot plant to full production.
Coordinate raw material qualification, batch records, specifications, labeling, and SDS updates with Quality and Regulatory.
Lead efficiency projects targeting throughput, yield, batch cycle time, changeovers, and waste reduction.
Integrate EHS requirements into projects, including MOC, PHA/HAZOP reviews, PSSR, and permitting.
Comply with applicable OSHA, EPA, DOT hazmat, RCRA, fire code, and local requirements.
Promote a safety-first culture on job sites and oversee contractor safety.
Lead cross-functional teams without direct authority, from plant floor to executive leadership.
Provide status reports, dashboards, and executive updates on schedule, cost, risk, and benefits.
Manage communication and change plans for employees, customers, and suppliers affected by projects.
Track realized savings and benefits with Finance after project completion.
Apply Lean and Six Sigma tools, including value stream mapping, root cause analysis, and standard work, to identify and deliver improvements.
Capture lessons learned and help standardize project management practices and templates.