Operations Manager
W. R. Grace · Pasadena, TX
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Production
- Base pay
- $140k–$193k
- Degree
- Preferred
- Experience asked
- 8+ years
- Industry
- Chemicals
- Posted
- 7 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management production role at W. R. Grace (chemicals) in Pasadena, TX. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Grace as a result of the referral or through other means.
- They ask for
- 8+ years · degree preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, OEE, Root cause, SAP
- Base pay
- $140k–$193k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Production Engineer roles in Texas: typical posted base $106k–$145k. This one lists $140k–$193k.
Median of the low and high ends of 25 live postings that list pay, out of 119 production engineer openings in Texas, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Texas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 118 other live production postings in Texas.
- Base pay
- About 34% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (8+ vs 5+)
Typical $105k–$143k, from 22 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Team leadership 43%
- ✓ Lean 33%
- ✓ Root cause 25%
- ✓ Six Sigma 20%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for OEE, SAP, 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 W. R. Grace
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?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- 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.
This plant: W. R. Grace in Pasadena
1 other open role at this site.
- Process Controls Engineer · Controls
Operations Manager at W. R. Grace in other locations
W. R. Grace lists this title in 2 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
- Baltimore, MD · $140k–$193k
Full description from W. R. GraceAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Manage the engagement, performance and development of direct reports and indirect reports
- ◆Maintain a positive working environment, resolve personnel conflicts and serve as a sounding board
- ◆Model and project a mindset and behavior of safe work practices and use of critical life safety guidelines
- ◆Lead cross-functional team to safely operate the plant and meet EHSS, production, quality, and cost goals in a 24/7 environment while complying with Federal, State, Local, Grace policies
- ◆Ensure resources and plans are in place to cover unit startups and shutdowns, anticipate scenarios which increase EHSS or production risks (such as winter weather or equipment failure)
- ◆Oversee investigations and root cause analyses and ensure proper actions are completed
- ◆Participate in the asset management process and provide key inputs such as: capacity, resources, shutdown schedules and plant trials
- ◆Continuously review performance with respect to key metrics such as production, yields, and fixed costs… report on variances to meet targets
- ◆Support site and business leadership in development of overall strategies, annual operating plan and other business plans (i.e. succession plan, CAPEX plan)
- ◆Champion the continuous improvement methodology… justify capital needs for improving OEE and productivity.
Required Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor of Science degree (Science or Engineering discipline highly preferred)
- ✓Minimum of 8+ years of experience working in a specialty chemicals environment with 3+ years’ leadership experience with direct supervisory
responsibilities
- ◆Demonstrated leadership experience with transformational change using influence to drive results
- ◆Experience with developing and tracking KPIs, metrics, and other operations-related reporting used to make business decisions to drive improvements
- ◆Worked within a PSM and/or RMP regulated facility
- ◆Demonstrated ability to track budget, report variances and develop action plans
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Experience using Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing principles and RCA methods
- ✓Project Management and Quality Management System experience
- ✓Demonstrated problem-solving experience and attention to detail
- ✓Process scale-up and plant trial experience
- ✓SAP PRD Module experience
Physical
Requirements
and Environment
- ✓Ability to work in a high hazard environment, including adverse weather conditions, elevated spaces, confined spaces, extreme temperatures, and noisy surroundings.
- ✓Must be able to stand, walk, sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and climb stairs and ladders over 100 ft.
- ✓Must be willing to wear PPE (Personal Protective equipment) including but not limited to hard hat, protective eyewear, steel-toed boots, hearing protection, Level A suit, full face respirator
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Annual Wage Range: $140,080.00 - $192,610.00
Benefits: U.S. Employee Benefits Summary (grace.com)
Grace, a Standard Industries company, is a leading global supplier of catalysts, engineered materials and fine chemicals. We provide innovative products, technologies and services which our customers use to manufacture everyday products like renewable fuels, pharmaceuticals, toothpaste, cosmetics, food packaging, beer, edible oils and more. Our thousands of employees help shape a better future at our global headquarters in Columbia, MD and locations worldwide.
Job Description
Grace is seeking an Operations Manager to join our Plastics & Chemicals Catalyst business! This role reports directly to the Plant Manager located at our Pasadena, TX facility! The position has the principal purpose and responsibility for all production (batch-mixing, distillation, finished product packaging) activities for the site. The primary schedule for the role is days, with the availability for night and weekend on-calls.
The Operations Manager is responsible for safe and efficient operations within all three manufacturing units at the site. As a member of Site Leadership, the Operations Manager will be people-focused and safety-minded. The role is a cornerstone of Operational Excellence, bringing multiple functions together to solve problems safely and effectively. Reporting directly to the Operations Manager are the Operations Lead, Shift Supervisors, Production Engineers and Operations Specialists/OMCs.
The Pasadena, TX site has about 130 employees and is an important manufacturing and distribution site for polyolefin catalysts, which are used in the production of a wide variety of plastics that are part of our everyday lives. The site consists of three polyethylene/polypropylene catalyst manufacturing units and a pilot plant, which is used to develop new manufacturing processes. The site also operates a process technology laboratory, which provides plant support for product scale-up, process development and problem solving.
Benefits
- •Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- •Life Insurance and Disability
- •Grace Wellness Program
- •Flexible Workplace
- •Retirement Plans
- •401(k) Company Match
- •Paid Vacation and Holidays
- •Parental Leave (salaried only)
- •Tuition Reimbursement
- •Company Donation Match Program
- •U.S. Employee Benefits Summary (grace.com)
Grace is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Grace via email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Grace. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Grace as a result of the referral or through other means.