Dow has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Operations Leader in the North American Solution PE and LDPE Pilot Plants group located in Freeport, TX. The North American Solution PE and LDPE Pilot Plants operates five state of the art pilot plants that are utilized to conduct hundreds of Process & Catalysis research experiments each year.  

The Pilot Plant Senior Operations Leader provides leadership to the pilot plant operations team which includes both Pilot Plant Run Plant and contract Lab Technicians to drive process and catalyst technology development in alignment with Dow’s Packaging and Specialty Plastics (P&SP) business strategy.  Pilot Plant Senior Operations Leader acts as the primary back-up to the Pilot Plant Leader.  

This position offers the opportunity to engage in and influence research programs critical to the success of Dow’s P&SP business. These pilot plants provide significant value to the P&SP businesses by de-risking technologies as part of the scale-up process as well as troubleshooting commercial operations challenges. 
 
About You 
 
You will serve as leader of the Pilot Plant operations team and ensure that their goals are aligned with the business strategy and that their work processes are effective and efficient. Skills required include leadership abilities, an understanding of safe and reliable process operations and stakeholder management. Additionally, you will serve as the Process Safety Focal Point and prepare for and lead Process Safety audits for the facility. 
 
Also, you will be responsible for the following tasks: 

• Provides supervision and leadership to Pilot Plant & Lab technicians ~25 staff comprised of technologists & technicians; includes 24 hr/day operation. 
• Partners with the Pilot Plant Leader to drive a strong personal safety, process safety, and environmental improvement plan to achieve EH&S goals and ensure compliance with regulatory and permit requirements.    
• Develops Pilot Plant technicians and ensures career success via goal-setting, performance management, promotion processes, and employee development plan. 
• Drive strong safety, environmental and inclusive culture for group.
• Knows and advocates Life Critical Standards within the facility.  Demonstrates priority and commitment through personal behavior and coaching in the field. Provides the needed positive and negative reinforcement to address deviations with urgency and ensures appropriate follow up and investigations.  
• Collaborate with the R&D Leadership to define and prioritize the Pilot Plants & Lab schedules. 
• Supports and drives continuous improvement by being active and ensuring Pilot Plant operations participation in opportunity analysis sessions and plant improvements.  
• Works with Pilot Plant leadership team to identify, scope and resource small projects (<$300M) for research capability development and reliability improvement needs. 
• Manage Process Safety compliance and EH&S integrated audits. 

Required Qualifications: 

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or related field required. 
• A minimum of 6 years of experience in pilot plant, small scale, commercial chemical process operation, or engineering experience is required.
• A minimum requirement for this U.S. based position is the ability to work legally in the United States. No visa sponsorship/support is available for this position, including for any type of U.S. permanent residency (green card) process. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• 1+ year of previous leadership experience. 
• 8+ years of industrial experience in pilot plant, small scale or commercial chemical process operation. 
• Demonstrated track record of managing/balancing resources and priorities. 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. 

Physical Demands:

Willing and able to meet physical demands of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations

• Wear safety equipment, such as earplugs, goggles, and steel-toed shoes.
• Wear and use respirators.
• Perform frequent bending, reaching, and lifting.
• Work in tight or closed-in spaces.
• Climb stairs/ladders and work high off the ground. Must be able to wear and use personal protective equipment (PPE), including harnesses with a total weight capacity of 300lbs.
• Stand or walk for extended periods of time.  
• Lift a maximum of 50 lbs.
• This role does involve elevated work greater than or equal to four feet above the ground.

Domestic relocation assistance is available for this role and may be provided based on eligibility.