Job Requirements

Why work for us?

Alkegen brings together two of the world’s leading specialty materials companies to create one new, innovation-driven leader focused on battery technologies, filtration media, and specialty insulation and sealing materials. Through global reach and breakthrough inventions, we’re delivering products that enable the world to breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before. 

With over 60 manufacturing facilities with a global workforce of over 9,000 of the industry’s most experienced talent, including insulation and filtration experts, Alkegen is uniquely positioned to help customers impact the environment in meaningful ways.

Alkegen offers a range of dynamic career opportunities with globe-spanning reach. From production operators to engineers, technicians to specialists, sales to leadership, we’re always looking for top talent ready to bring their best.  Come grow with us!

Job Summary

The Production Manager leads all aspects of the Furnacing and Fab operations at the New Carlisle, Indiana location.  Incumbent will lead the operations team, develop and foster a culture of ownership, accountability and employee involvement. Drive excellent behaviors in the areas of operational safety, product quality, manufacturing cost, customer delivery and people management to achieve World Class performance.

Through the efforts of the team, the Production Manager oversees all daily operations of the location from receipt of customer orders, manufacturing, and dispatch ensuring policies and procedures are followed, make certain the departmental KPI’s are achieved and standards are maintained in areas of safety, quality, cost and delivery.

Expectations of A Leader

Strategy - Contribute to the vision and strategy for the site and excel in the execution of such responsibility. Align the local needs of the business to global strategies. Actively scan for threats to the established business and develop creative / breakthrough solutions.  

Leadership - A role model for the Unifrax Core Values.  Ability to develop a sense of urgency and take informed risk to achieve business objectives. Has the persistence and drive to turn innovation into action and has strong communication and influencing skills. Ability to have a strong presence and lead by example.  Accepts accountability and has a no-excuse attitude.

Talent Development – A team motivator.  Ability to hire and develop great talent.  Ability to lead a large and diverse department.  Leverages the strengths of individuals and drive a highly engaged workforce.

Financial Acumen - Ability to make decisions through a financial mindset.  Has a broad understanding of products, markets, financials, sales, and operations. Strong analytical skills, Budget and P&L management, ROI, EBITDA and capital management. Analyze items and make decisions through a financial lens.

General Management - Ability to effectively deal with complex situations and simultaneously handle issues and tasks.  Ability to control operational costs while driving business results. 

Balances the short-term and long-term needs. Communicate and articulate well using the English language as the primary language. High level of autonomy.

Innovation - Is a champion of new ideas and open to new concepts from others. Ability to influence others with a shared sense of purpose and passion for new opportunities. Understanding of the bigger picture and can translate new ideas that serve Unifrax interests into departmental operations. Interpret data and translate into new ideas that serve the business and help develop innovative new products.

Drive Safety

• Lead the departmental safety strategy in alignment with the Site Safety Strategy
• Drive excellence in safety culture and systems. Safety as our #1 focus
• Support employees in removing barriers to drive safety improvements
• Conduct Safety Gemba (Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma) verifying safe behaviors, correcting physical hazards and validating adherence to policies

KPI’s (20%):

• Meet site targets for Recordable Rate, Lost Time Accident Rate and Behavior Observations Count/Quality
• Site SIP completion
• Corporate Safety Audits (SHIP) on all sites        

Manage People

• Define and enforce clear areas of ownership and accountability to meet key objectives
• Allocate resources effectively and fully utilize assets to produce optimal results
• Create a trusting relationship with peers and reports
• Conduct monthly coaching sessions with direct reports to develop leadership and achieve results
• Demonstrate integrity through behavior and encourage others to do the same. 
• Be relied upon to do the right thing 
• Build a high performing team through identifying and supporting high potential employees and identify/manage/replace employees that are underperforming

KPI’s (20%):

• Hire and Retain High Performers
• Develop Succession Plans for Department Critical Roles
• Turnover Rate      

Drive Quality

• Collaborate with Quality Manager to execute a quality improvement plan for the facility
• Address necessary short- and long-term improvements to reduce customer complaints
• Manage adherence to departmental Quality Control Plan using leading indicators such as meeting Control Plans and improving Process Capability to ensure product quality
• Manage conformance to customer specifications and to maintain ISO certification departmentally
• Use suitable problem-solving methodology to reduce variability in manufacturing processes and minimize process scrap

KPI’s (20%):

• Customer Complaints
• Cost of Quality
• CPK
• First Pass Quality (Right First Time)       

Drive Operational Performance / Control Cost

• Achieve departmental performance targets that drive cost of production (OEE, Labor efficiency, Weekly Absorption)
• Ensure Continuous Improvement methodology across department, incorporating lean tools and capitalizing on best practice reapplication to meet/exceed cost savings targets
• Work with Maintenance Manager to ensure Engineering Reliability is improved year over year, and targets achieved as a minimum
• Work with Production Planning Department to ensure customer satisfaction with OTIF efficiency

KPI’s (40%):

• Plant cost standards
• Plant variance standards
• Cost Savings targets
• OTIF        

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Process/Chemical Engineering or Manufacturing Management
• 7+ years of related experience focused within Manufacturing Operations as a leader, particularly in continuous and capital intensive operations.
• Significant experience with hazardous operations management a requirement
• Knowledge of supply chain, quality, safety, planning and logistics activities
• Experience of practical application of Lean, TPM and/or Six Sigma tools
• Track record of driving continuous improvement and cost savings results
• Experience of prioritizing capital projects and establishing an annual business plan
• Understands financial analysis of operational performance

Competencies:

In addition, to perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Plant Safety Management: Hazardous chemical handling experience and knowledge
• Technical Capability: Hi level of capability in managing highly technical processes
• Focus on Results: Results oriented management style, develops plans, utilizes resources, from inside and outside of the team to meet the objectives of the site. Able to create a clear expectation and accountability system throughout their department
• Focus on Quality: experience in producing a hi quality and consistent product to tight manufacturing specifications
• Process Management: Able to identify and implement technology that streamlines, creates efficiency and improves the overall customer experience while reducing cost
• Change Management:  Lead the organization through change. Sets the scene for change, develops workable plans, and communicates changes effectively. Build commitment and overcome resistance to change. Ability to influence people to make the change both internally and externally
• Problem Solving: Demonstrated problem solving skills.  Quickly able to ascertain the cause of a problem by using disciplined data driven problem solving methodology.  Driven by facts and not driven by emotional thinking when understanding problems
• Deadline Management:  Is resilient under pressure and capable of meeting deadlines to meet business needs
• Communication & Influencing skills:  Demonstrates competence to effectively interact with all levels of the business and within customers, Communicates in a manner that unites team members with a sense of direction and team spirit in order to “get the job done” in an efficient and timely manner
• Leads from the Front: Develops strong working relationships with coworkers creating sense of urgency with strong communication and interpersonal skills while harnessing input from others
• Develops Others: Experienced in developing departmental reports and site peers
• Team Values: Outstanding leadership skills with a high commitment to team values; proven ability to energize an  organization and implement change as a visible leader with a strong work ethic and high standards for integrity and honesty
• Ability to develop relationships, work with, and influence people in all areas and at all levels of organization
• Ability to handle pressure and balance multiple priorities
• Ambitious and forward thinking
• Experience with customer interactions and engage them to be partners of the company

Other Duties:

Please note this job description does not cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time or without notice.

If you are interested in being part of a world class manufacturing function here at Alkegen, then we would love to hear from you.

At Alkegen, we strive every day to help people – ALL PEOPLE – breathe easier, live greener and go further than ever before. We believe that diversity and inclusion is central to this mission and to our impact. Our diverse and inclusive culture drives our growth & innovation and we nurture it by actively embracing our differences and using our varied perspectives to solve the complex challenges facing our changing and diverse world.

Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, nation of origin, religion, color, gender identity and expression, age, disability, education, opinions, culture, languages spoken, veteran’s status, or any other protected class.