Director, Engineering

Director, Corporate Engineering

Vadnais Heights, MN (Corporate Headquarters)

What is IP Corporation?

IP Corporation is a privately held, family-owned chemical manufacturing leader with 60 years of stability, growth, and innovation. Through our operating companies—Interplastic Corporation, North American Composites (NAC), Molding Products, and HK Research—we manufacture gel coats, resins, colorants, compounds, and composite materials for marine, automotive, construction, and industrial customers across North America.

As a values-driven organization, we take pride in our culture, continuous modernization, and long-term commitment to our people. Our teams thrive in an environment that encourages innovation, development, collaboration, and operational excellence.

What you’ll do as the Director, Corporate Engineering:

As the Director of Corporate Engineering, you will serve as the senior leader responsible for engineering excellence across all IP Corporation business segments and multiple U.S. manufacturing plants. You will manage a corporate engineering team while partnering closely with plant leadership, operations, EHS, reliability, and executive teams to strengthen engineering processes, elevate reliability, advance process safety, and drive capital project performance across the enterprise.

What you can expect to do as the Director, Corporate Engineering:

Project Engineering

• Lead and manage the corporation’s portfolio of capital projects, directly and indirectly.
• Oversee planning and execution of strategic projects to ensure they are completed on-scope, on-time, and on-budget.
• Serve as the key subject matter expert for corporate CapEx budgeting, planning, and long-term capital strategy.
• Participate in the development of the annual operating plan, including project selection, prioritization, and performance reporting.
• Establish key metrics and provide regular updates to executive leadership on project performance.
  
  
  

Engineering Processes

• Develop, implement, audit, and enforce corporate engineering standards, policies, and procedures.
• Lead the adoption and effective use of industry-leading engineering tools and systems across all operating companies.
  
  
  

Reliability Excellence

• Provide leadership and vision for the corporation’s Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) system, including requirements, optimization, training, and performance auditing.
• Serve as the technical expert supporting manufacturing sites during critical equipment shutdowns (planned and unplanned).
  
  
  

Process Safety Management (PSM)

• Serve as the corporate element owner for key OSHA 1910.119 PSM elements: Mechanical Integrity, Contractor Management, and Process Hazard Analysis.
• Develop strategies and initiatives to ensure ongoing compliance and risk mitigation.
• Ensure alignment with all applicable codes, standards, and RAGAGEP requirements.
  
  
  

General Leadership & Management

• Partner closely with executive leadership to ensure alignment on engineering strategy, priorities, and resource planning.
• Assess organizational competencies and develop training programs to elevate engineering capability across all sites.
• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing corporate engineering team.
• Foster strong, collaborative relationships with senior leaders, plant teams, engineers, and cross-functional partners.
• Manage assigned corporate projects and support customer and agency inquiries as needed.
• Travel regularly to support plant operations, project work, and enterprise initiatives.
  
  
  

What we are looking for in a Director, Corporate Engineering:

Required Competencies

• Extensive knowledge and experience managing engineering activities within specialty chemical manufacturing.
• Proven track record as a change-agent leader with measurable improvements in engineering performance, processes, and project execution.
• Strong understanding of PSM, including RAGAGEP, Mechanical Integrity, and PHA methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and lead high-performing teams; holds self and others to a high standard of execution.
• Excellent relationship-building skills; able to collaborate effectively across multiple sites and business units.
• Strong communication skills—able to listen, synthesize information, and influence at all levels.
• Strong judgment, risk management, and prioritization skills.
• Hands-on plant experience with practical operations knowledge.
• Resourceful, persistent, and solutions-oriented with the ability to overcome obstacles.
  
  
  

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in engineering and operations.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in batch chemical processing manufacturing.
  
  
  

Why IP Corporation?

• A positive, challenging, and supportive work environment.
• Competitive salary and benefits—including medical, dental, vision, generous PTO, and 401(k) with company match.
• Stable, family-owned company with a strong 60 year history and culture.
• Freedom to innovate and influence engineering strategy across a growing enterprise.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on modernization, reliability, capital performance, and process safety.
  
  
  

IP Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and encourages diversity in the workplace.

Pay Transparency Range

$187,731.00 - $229,611.00