Technical Leader

Bakelite Synthetics•Grayling, MI

12h•Onsite

About The Position

Technical Leader – Chemical Manufacturing: The Impact You’ll Have On The Organization and World Lead and develop the technical team, optimizing chemical manufacturing processes, troubleshooting issues, and building capability through training, coaching, and collaboration. Ensure safety and compliance with OSHA, EPA, and environmental regulations, while promoting a strong safety culture across the site. Drive continuous improvement (OpEx) initiatives such as Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma to enhance quality, yield, and efficiency. Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, Quality, Production, and EHS to align processes with business and customer requirements. It's Better with Bakelite: Our Commitment Back to You You’ll Help Shape Our Future. As a Bakelite associate, you’re part of a diverse, global population creating the next generation of the company and we expect you to put your fingerprint on it. We Champion Our Associates. At Bakelite, you don’t just climb the career ladder – you pave your personal path through continued learning and development. Together, We Will Protect the Planet. From our processes to our products, we are focusing on the opportunities that both grow our profitability as a company, and improve and protect the planet. Safety is a Core Value. At Bakelite, safety is a 24/7 mindset. We are all safe today to ensure we are able to show up tomorrow – for our families and friends, for each other and for our communities. We Care. Plain and simple, we care about our associates. From the top on down, we place a high value on our culture and the associate experience. We offer competitive compensation, robust benefits and support our associates every step of their career. Life in Beaver Creek: Located in northern central Michigan, Grayling is just a few hours from the state’s largest cities, including Detroit, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Grayling is surrounded by scenic rivers, forests and state parks, with lots of opportunities for outdoor recreation, including fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, snow sports and more. Grayling is noted as the "Canoe Capital of the World” and is the starting point for the Au Sable River Canoe Marathon, one of three races that constitute canoe racing's Triple Crown. Grayling is just a day trip away from picturesque Traverse City or the Great Lakes that surround the state. Local educational institutions include Kirtland Community College, located just half a mile from the Bakelite plant, and Grayling High School, which is in the top five high schools in Michigan. Love to travel? You’ll be close to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, so you can hop a flight to anywhere in the world. Learn more about Grayling

Requirements

BS in Chemical Engineering or related field, OR 5+ years in chemical manufacturing (with at least 2 years in a leadership role).
Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills to manage teams and cross-functional projects.
Solid understanding of quality systems, SPC, and continuous improvement methods.
Knowledge of OSHA, EPA, and environmental regulations related to chemical operations.
Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills in complex processes.
Familiarity with lab instrumentation, analytical tools, and process monitoring equipment.

Nice To Haves

Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher).
Experience with process control systems (DCS, PLC, SCADA).
Advanced knowledge of chemistry (organic, inorganic, analytical, physical).
Hands-on experience with advanced lab techniques such as Gas Chromatography and titration.
Experience leading automation and digital transformation initiatives in manufacturing.

Responsibilities

Lead the technical team in troubleshooting, optimization, and continuous improvement of chemical manufacturing processes.
Monitor plant operations to ensure compliance with SOPs and proactively identify opportunities for efficiency and reliability improvements.
Oversee new equipment commissioning and technology upgrades.
Mentor, train, and develop engineers, technicians, and technical staff while fostering a collaborative, problem-solving team environment.
Facilitate root cause analyses and implement corrective and preventive actions.
Ensure product quality by coordinating efforts between R&D, Sales, Supply Chain, and Quality teams.
Champion Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma projects to enhance operations and reduce costs.
Promote a culture of safety and environmental stewardship, partnering with EHS to conduct risk assessments and audits.
Lead or support capital projects, managing resources, budgets, and timelines effectively.
Collect, analyze, and interpret plant performance data to drive actionable improvement plans and report on KPIs such as throughput, yield, downtime, and quality.