Located in Ocala, FL
Pay: $95k - 100k DOE
Job Full Description
Senior Operations Leader
Plant / Production Manager – Chemical Manufacturing
Location: Ocala, FL | Relocation Assistance Available
Compensation: Up to $100,000 base salary + full benefits once hired
Industry: Industrial / Chemical Manufacturing
Position Overview
We are seeking a seasoned Senior Operations Leader to lead all manufacturing operations at our activated carbon production facility. This role is equivalent to a Plant Manager / Senior Production Manager and carries full responsibility for production, maintenance, reliability, safety, cost control, and people leadership in a plant manufacturing environment.
The ideal candidate brings deep industrial manufacturing experience, strong technical judgment, and the leadership presence to drive both short-term performance and long-term operational capability. Experience with rotary kilns or similar thermal processing systems is a major competitive advantage.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
- Own and drive daily, weekly, and monthly production performance, including OEE, yield, throughput, uptime, and cost per ton
- Lead plant operations, ensuring stable and safe operations across all shifts
- Establish operational discipline through standardized work, shift handovers, production reporting, and escalation processes
- Partner with commercial and supply chain teams to align production planning with customer demand and inventory targets
Maintenance, Reliability & Asset Management
- Lead plant-wide preventive and predictive maintenance (PM/PdM) programs to improve equipment reliability and reduce unplanned downtime
- Oversee maintenance teams and contractors, ensuring compliance with safety, quality, and reliability standards
- Drive continuous improvement in MTBF, MTTR, spare parts strategy, and equipment lifecycle management
- Champion reliability engineering practices and data-driven root cause analysis (RCA)
Capital Projects & Process Improvement
- Provide hands-on leadership for CAPEX projects, from concept and justification through engineering, installation, commissioning, and startup
- Lead equipment upgrades, debottlenecking projects, kiln rebuilds, and infrastructure improvements
- Identify and execute Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, energy efficiency, quality, and cost reduction
- Support process optimization efforts specific to thermal processing and carbon material production
Safety, Environmental & Compliance Leadership
- Serve as a visible safety leader, reinforcing a strong HSE culture at all levels of the organization
- Ensure full compliance with OSHA, EPA, and internal environmental and safety standards
- Lead incident investigations, corrective actions, and proactive risk assessments
- Maintain compliance with applicable quality and management systems (e.g., ISO 9001)
Financial & Business Management
- Own the plant operating budget, including labor, maintenance, energy, and operating supplies
- Drive cost control initiatives while maintaining product quality and operational integrity
- Develop long-range operating and capital plans aligned with business strategy
- Track and report plant KPIs with a clear focus on profitability and asset performance
People Leadership & Development
- Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, production staff, and maintenance teams
- Build deep bench strength through succession planning, skills development, and performance management
- Ensure effective workforce planning, shift coverage, and labor utilization
- Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement
Required Qualifications
- Minimum 10 years of experience in industrial or chemical manufacturing (non-negotiable)
- Proven leadership experience as a Plant Manager, Operations Manager, or senior production leader with full budget accountability
- Strong background in preventive/predictive maintenance and reliability engineering
- Demonstrated success managing CAPEX projects from concept through commissioning
- Experience operating in continuous process, high-temperature, or thermal manufacturing environments
- Working knowledge of ERP/MES systems, CMMS platforms, ISO 9001, and industrial safety requirements
- Proven ability to lead large, multi-shift teams in demanding operational environments
Highly Preferred Experience
- Rotary kiln operations (major plus)
- Activated carbon, carbon materials, thermal processing, or mineral processing environments
- Similar industries may include:
- Cement manufacturing
- Lime, calcium, or carbonate processing
- Mining and mineral processing
- Chemical or specialty materials manufacturing
- Experience optimizing energy-intensive processes and combustion-based systems
What We Offer
- Competitive base salary up to $100,000
- Full benefits package available upon hire (medical, dental, vision, retirement, etc.)
- Relocation assistance for qualified candidates
- Opportunity to lead a critical manufacturing site with strong organizational support
- Long-term career growth in a specialized and growing materials sector
Ocala, FL
1281
1005 Southwest 10th Street
Ocala, FL 34471
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