What are the responsibilities and job description for the Laurel Plant - Senior Operations Manager position at Milliken & Company?
Milliken & Company is a global manufacturing leaderwhose focus on materials science delivers tomorrow's breakthroughs today. Fromindustry-leading molecules to sustainable innovations, Milliken creates products thatenhance people's lives and deliver solutions for its customers and communities. Drawing on thousands of patents and a portfolio with applications across the textile, flooring, chemical and healthcare businesses, the company harnesses a shared sense of integrity and excellence to positively impact the world for generations. Discover more about Milliken's curious minds and inspired solutions at Milliken.com and on Facebook, Instagramand LinkedIn.
POSITION TITLE
Laurel Plant - Senior Operations Manager
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Senior Operations Manager plays a critical leadership role in driving safety, quality, and operational excellence at Milliken's Laurel Chemical Plant. This position oversees daily production operations, ensuring compliance with environmental and regulatory standards while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, associate development, and process reliability.
This leader will partner cross-functionally with engineering, maintenance, quality, and EHS teams to deliver measurable results in safety, yield, cost, and productivity. The role also serves as Plant Manager designee in the manager's absence and is a key successor role within the site's leadership pipeline.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Safety & Process Safety Management
Champion a safety-first culture, enforcing rules and ensuring participation of all associates.
Oversee safety project identification, reporting, and timely completion.
Ensure compliance with OSHA PSM regulations, MOC (Management of Change), and PSSR requirements.
Provide technical and leadership support during PHAs (Process Hazard Analyses) and reactive hazard evaluations.
Drive continuous improvement in housekeeping and 5S programs across operations.
Ensure safe design and introduction of new processes, products, and equipment.
Environmental & Regulatory Compliance
Ensure operations comply with RC-14001 environmental, health, safety, and security systems.
Partner with EHS teams to maintain compliance with all environmental permits and implement corrective actions for non-conformances.
Allocate resources to drive improvements in waste reduction, recycling, and natural resource conservation.
Maintain adherence to all federal, state, and local environmental regulations.
Quality & Continuous Improvement
Lead quality performance improvement through root cause analysis and preventive/corrective action systems.
Support and facilitate Continuous Improvement (CI) Teams targeting long-term process and quality enhancements.
Promote the use of statistical tools and quality improvement methodologies (Six Sigma, SPC, DOE).
Drive standardization, documentation, and data-based decision-making across operations.
Technical Leadership & Reliability
Serve as the first line of technical troubleshooting for process issues; provide shift coverage as needed.
Ensure thorough review and approval of MOCs related to operations.
Direct loss analysis and corrective action for HSEQ, productivity, and reliability events.
Partner with Engineering on process design, small capital projects, and optimization initiatives.
Track and improve OEE, yield, and process reliability using data-driven metrics.
Cost & Productivity Management
Lead efforts to meet or exceed Annual Operating Plan (AOP) cost targets (raw materials, utilities, overtime, waste, etc.).
Monitor and analyze yield variances; drive continuous improvement toward 100% process reliability.
Maintain financial control of departmental spending; prepare budgets, forecasts, and cost-reduction plans.
Evaluate new materials, equipment, and procedures to improve manufacturing efficiency and cost performance.
Support site profit improvement initiatives and loss accounting processes.
Associate Development & Engagement
Lead and develop a team of Production Managers, Shift Supervisors, and Process Engineers.
Create and maintain robust technical and leadership training programs.
Conduct regular coaching, feedback, and performance reviews (minimum twice per year).
Promote associate engagement through strong communication, collaboration, and recognition of success.
Ensure adherence to Milliken's people policies, performance management, and career development frameworks.
Delivery & Operational Planning
Align with other departments to meet production schedules and customer requirements.
Establish and monitor productivity standards, cycle times, and production plans.
Support capital and expense projects ensuring timely execution and operational readiness.
Ensure prompt response to reliability and supply disruptions through proactive problem-solving.
Leadership & Culture
Model Milliken's core values of ethics, excellence, and innovation in all leadership behaviors.
Actively participate in and promote the Daily Management System (DMS) to drive accountability and communication.
Serve as Plant Manager designee when required.
Champion inclusion and associate well-being initiatives at the site.
QUALIFICATIONS - REQUIRED
Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering.
8 years of progressive leadership experience in chemical or closely related process manufacturing.
Demonstrated success leading technical teams in production, safety, and process improvement environments.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Ability to lead with initiative, accountability, and a collaborative mindset.
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Milliken is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, including but not limited to lactation), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
To request a reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, a job interview, or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contactTalentAcquisition@milliken.com.
Milliken & Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability
