Operations Manager
Elementis · St. Louis, MO
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Production
- Travel
- 10%
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Chemicals
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management production role at Elementis (chemicals) in St. Louis, MO. EHS (Environmental, Health & Safety): Partner to maintain a safe work environment and meet environmental compliance requirements.
- They ask for
- 5+ years
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Root cause, Painting / coating, EHS / safety
- Day to day
- about 10% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Production Engineer roles in the US: typical posted base $115k–$161k.
Median of the low and high ends of 339 live postings that list pay, out of 1055 production engineer openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Missouri plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 16 other live production postings in Missouri.
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (5+ vs 10+)
Similar roles usually ask 10+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 71%
- ✓ Team leadership 59%
- ✓ EHS / safety 47%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Painting / coating, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Elementis
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from ElementisAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
Lead Daily Plant Operations: Manage production schedules, resource allocation, and workflow to achieve output targets while maintaining safety and quality standards.
Process Optimization & Engineering: Partner with process engineers to identify bottlenecks, implement improvements, and enhance chemical process efficiency through data-driven analysis and technology upgrades.
Safety & Compliance Oversight: Ensure adherence to OSHA, EPA, and other regulatory requirements, maintaining a strong EHS culture across all operations.
Continuous Improvement Initiatives: Drive Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies to reduce waste, improve yield, and enhance overall operational performance.
Maintenance & Reliability Coordination: Collaborate with maintenance teams to minimize downtime and ensure equipment reliability through preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
Budget & Cost Control: Monitor operational expenses, identify cost-saving opportunities, and ensure alignment with financial targets.
Talent Development & Team Leadership: Coach and develop supervisors and frontline staff, fostering engagement and building capability for future growth.
Key Relationships
Process Engineering Team: Collaborate on process design improvements, troubleshooting, and technology implementation.
Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs: Ensure product quality and compliance with industry standards and regulations.
Maintenance & Reliability Teams: Coordinate on equipment performance and preventive maintenance strategies.
Supply Chain & Planning: Align production schedules with material availability and customer demand.
EHS (Environmental, Health & Safety): Partner to maintain a safe work environment and meet environmental compliance requirements.
Decision making
The Operations Manager has authority to make decisions related to daily plant operations, production scheduling, and resource allocation within approved budgets. This includes determining technical approaches for process optimization, approving engineering methodologies for chemical processes, and implementing improvements that enhance safety, quality, and efficiency. The role also involves decisions on equipment upgrades, minor capital projects, and maintenance priorities in collaboration with process engineering teams.
Higher-level approvals are required for decisions involving significant capital investments, major process redesigns, adoption of new technologies with long-term implications, or strategic engineering changes that impact regulatory compliance or overall business direction.
Additional Job Description
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
About Us
Elementis is a global specialty chemical company, with 1,300 employees operating 17 manufacturing sites across the globe. At Elementis, we bring a distinctive combination of expertise, innovation, and teamwork to every formulation challenge. We create high-value specialty additives that enhance the performance of our customers' products and make a positive change in the world. Combining our leading positions in the science of materials flow, surface modification, and formulation with access to unique natural materials, Elementis delivers unique chemistry, sustainable solutions to customers in a wide range of markets, including cosmetics, anti-perspirants, decorative and industrial coatings, automotive and ceramics.
Job Description Summary
The Operations Manager leads and drives site operations, oversees daily production activities at a chemical manufacturing site, ensuring safety, quality, and efficiency standards are met. This role is responsible for managing plant operations, optimizing processes, and leading cross-functional teams to achieve production goals while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements. The Operations Manager drives continuous improvement initiatives, monitors key performance indicators, and ensures adherence to environmental, health, and safety protocols. Job Description
Job Competencies
- •Technical and Process Expertise: Deep understanding of chemical manufacturing processes, engineering principles, and regulatory requirements. This competency ensures the ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues, optimize processes, and implement innovative engineering solutions that improve efficiency and safety.
- •Strategic Problem Solving: Ability to analyze operational challenges, identify root causes, and develop data-driven solutions that align with business objectives. This includes leveraging engineering knowledge to make informed decisions on process improvements and technology adoption.
- •Communicates Effectively: Clear and concise communication across all levels of the organization, including technical teams, leadership, and external stakeholders. This competency ensures alignment on operational goals, safety protocols, and engineering initiatives.
- •Continuous Improvement and Innovation: Commitment to driving process optimization and fostering a culture of innovation. This includes applying Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies to enhance productivity, reduce waste, and integrate advanced engineering practices.
- •Collaboration and Influencing: Ability to work cross-functionally with process engineering, maintenance, EHS, quality, and supply chain teams. This competency ensures effective coordination, builds trust, and influences stakeholders to support operational and engineering priorities.
Technical Knowledge and Skills
1. Chemical Process Engineering
- •Description: Knowledge of chemical reaction systems, heat and mass transfer, process design, and optimization techniques. Ability to troubleshoot and improve production processes.
- •Proficiency: Advanced/Expert – Must lead process improvement initiatives and collaborate with engineering teams on complex technical challenges.
2. Regulatory Compliance & Safety Standards
- •Description: Understanding of OSHA, EPA, and other regulatory frameworks governing chemical manufacturing, including hazardous materials