Engineering Manager

Position Summary

The Engineering Manager is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing all engineering and capital project activities at the Synthomer Jefferson Hills chemical manufacturing facility. This position leads a multidisciplinary team of engineers and project managers to ensure safe, reliable, and cost‑effective operation of the plant while executing a portfolio of capital and improvement projects aligned with site and business objectives. The Engineering Manager is a critical partner to Operations, Maintenance, SHE, Supply Chain, and Corporate Engineering.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineers and project managers, ensuring strong technical capability, engagement, and performance.
• Establish clear goals and development plans; provide coaching, feedback, and succession planning.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Capital Project Portfolio Management

• Oversee the planning, prioritization, budgeting, and execution of the site’s capital project portfolio.
• Ensure projects follow Synthomer’s project management processes, engineering standards, and stage‑gate requirements.
• Allocate engineering and project management resources according to site priorities and project risks.
• Monitor project performance (cost, schedule, scope) and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Coordinate with Corporate Engineering, Procurement, and Finance to align on strategic investments and reporting requirements.

Engineering Governance & Technical Oversight

• Provide technical guidance and approvals for engineering work, design reviews, MOCs, and plant modifications.
• Ensure compliance with PSM requirements, including Process Hazard Analyses (PHA), Pre‑Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR), and mechanical integrity standards.
• Drive reliability improvement initiatives, asset lifecycle management, and engineering best practices.
• Maintain site engineering standards and ensure alignment with Synthomer global standards.

Operational Support & Facility Improvement

• Support operations and maintenance with troubleshooting, root cause investigations, and reliability improvements.
• Lead or sponsor continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, process efficiency, quality, and cost.
• Participate in site leadership activities, including risk assessments, audits, and site‑wide planning.

Budgeting & Resource Management

• Develop and manage engineering department budgets (labor, contracts, and engineering services).
• Steward capital budgets in collaboration with Finance and site leadership.
• Manage third‑party engineering, construction, and specialty service providers.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, or related discipline).
• 8+ years of experience in chemical manufacturing, refining, or related process industries.
• 3+ years of leadership experience (formal or informal), preferably in engineering or project management.
• Demonstrated experience managing capital projects (small and large).
• Strong knowledge of PSM, industrial safety practices, and chemical plant engineering.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

Preferred

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or PMP certification.
• Experience in polymer, latex, resins, or specialty chemical production.
• Familiarity with stage‑gate project systems and reliability methodologies (RCM, FMEA, RCA).
• Experience with SAP, Aspen, AutoCAD, or similar engineering tools.

Key Competencies

• Safety Leadership
• Strategic Thinking & Prioritization
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
• Technical Depth in Process/Mechanical/Chemical Engineering
• Project Management Expertise
• Coaching & Talent Development
• Data-Driven Decision Making