Group Leader, Texas Operations Process Innovation

Responsibilities

The Group Leader is responsible for leading the Process Innovation Team supporting the TXO Chemicals Manufacturing Division and Eastman’s growth strategy through lab and kilo scale experimental work. The Group Leader works closely with the team to support safe and reliable operation and product growth through experimentation, new and existing technology development, process improvement, separations and catalyst optimization. The Group Leader will work closely with business product managers, technology and engineering group leaders, and manufacturing leadership teams. The Group Leader is responsible for coaching and retaining qualified staff that contribute to division and company goals. He or she ensures the highest quality performance through feedback, training, and development of their personnel.

Responsibilities
1. Maintain an effective safety and wellness culture including driving the Eastman Zero Incident Mindset, training and general awareness. Lead by example through active participation in department Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) programs.
2. Coach and develop 10-12 direct reports by ensuring each direct report understands their alignment with manufacturing, the business, and their impact on short and long-term financial success.
3. Know their direct reports’ strengths, development needs, and career interests.
4. Develop and maintain technology strategic plans for resources, capabilities, facilities that are aligned with business strategy.
5. Understand the technology, business, and asset strategies, and reinforce a vision for the group to support these efforts.
6. Lead the establishment of effective cross-functional relationships within and across business, manufacturing, and technology teams.
7. Develop, maintain, evaluate, and prioritize an active portfolio of growth and cost improvement projects for supported processes and drive execution with their team based on resources, capital funding, and business demand.
8. Prioritize work and projects for team members in accordance with company needs and monitor progress.
9. Attract, engage, develop, and retain the talent needed to provide people capable of implementing current and future programs.

Qualifications

1. Masters or Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field with 7 years of experience or a B.S degree with 10 years of experience is required.
2. Prefer 3-5+ years’ experience in a manufacturing or manufacturing-oriented organization.
3. Proven track record of scale up, process development, applications development, or innovation-related technical roles.
4. Prior experience and accountability for driving lab safety.
5. Strong analytical and technical skills, ability to solve complex problems, ability to innovate, and a strategic business perspective.
6. 3 - 5 years supervisory experience strongly preferred
7. Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills.
8. Ability to communicate the right level of detail to the right audience, at the right time.
9. Self-starter, driven by the discovery, investigation, and implementation of process improvement and meeting customer needs.
10. Demonstrated ability to prioritize, make assignments, and ensure execution in a dynamic environment.
11. Ability to influence without authority and build strong networks across Technology, Manufacturing, and Business Organizations.