Senior Operations Leader (Plant Manager)

Located in Ocala, FL

Salary: $95k - 100k DOE

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

 

Apply Now