Senior Associate Operator, Production

Celanese International Corporation•Richmond, VA

13d•$35 - $52•Onsite

About The Position

The Process Expert is responsible for performing operations and maintenance tasks with the goal of safe and reliable process operations. The Process Expert monitors the equipment and process conditions, identifies problems early, and takes action to prevent safety incidents, quality issues, or production losses. When something doesn’t look right, the Process Expert investigates, adjusts the process if needed, and raises concerns quickly. Working closely with the Team Captain and other support teams, the Process Expert helps keep the plant running reliably while continuously looking for ways to improve how work is done.

Requirements

High School diploma or GED equivalent
Two or more years of industrial/manufacturing experience
Willing and able to work a 12-hr. rotating shift schedule
Willing and able to work overtime, including holidays, weekends, and on short notice, call-in as required
Willing to train in multiple process areas as well as do maintenance work and perform administrative functions
Willing and able to wear required PPE (personal protective equipment) such as steel-toed boots, hardhat, protective eyewear, face shields, arc protective clothing, and SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus)
Willing and able to climb up and down several flights of stairs several times per shift; able to lift 55 lbs.; work inside and outside for extended periods of time.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree or higher, or 48+ college credit hours, technical education
Experience as an industrial electrician, millwright, pipe fitter, welder, or machinist
Demonstrated experience/competency in any of the following: Engineering, Electrical, Instrumentation or Mechanical, Computer Applications, Accounting, Planning & Scheduling or Training & Development, Manufacturing Operations, Control Systems, ISO Systems or Basic Science

Responsibilities

Conduct routine area patrols to proactively identify and address process, equipment, or behavioral risks
Stop unsafe acts and conditions immediately; initiate hazard recognition, preliminary and near-miss reporting
Execute work per 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 via 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
Apply structured troubleshooting and escalation when issues cannot be resolved locally
Initiate shutdown or delay 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
Continuously build process knowledge and technical capability
Take initiative for self-development and individual goal setting in alignment with site objectives
Execute disciplined shift turnover
Escalate emerging risks early to the 24/7 Team Captain
Collaborate closely with Team Captains, Technology Experts, Maintenance, and peers
Provide technical input to enable effective decision-making