Laurel Plant - Senior Operations Manager

About the Company

Milliken & Company is a global manufacturing leader whose focus on materials science delivers tomorrow’s breakthroughs today. From industry-leading molecules to sustainable innovations, Milliken creates products that enhance 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, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About the Role

The Senior Operations Manager is a key site leader responsible for driving safety, quality, and operational excellence at Milliken’s Laurel Chemical Plant in Gainesville, Florida. Established in 1953, the Laurel Plant is a fully integrated specialty chemical manufacturing facility and a global leader in silicone chemistry, supporting the development and production of high-value silicon-based technologies used across industrial and consumer markets worldwide. The 65-acre site includes Research & Development laboratories, advanced analytical and route-development capabilities, and production assets spanning lab-scale, pilot, and commercial operations, enabling rapid scale-up of new technologies within a highly regulated environment. In this role, the Senior Operations Manager provides direct leadership for plant production operations, overseeing a team of two Production Engineers, one Production Manager, and approximately 65 operators. The role is accountable for safe execution, process reliability, and performance across safety, quality, cost, yield, and delivery metrics, and partners closely with engineering, maintenance, quality, and EHS leaders to drive operational discipline, continuous improvement, and associate development. The position also serves as Plant Manager designee as needed and represents a critical successor role within the site’s leadership pipeline.

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

• 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