Senior Operations Director, Industrial & Consumer Solutions

Job Opportunity: Senior Operations Director - Chemical Manufacturing

Location: Flexible within Europe, overseeing sites in Germany, Spain, Italy, Finland and Sweden.

About Solenis

Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including consumer, industrial, institutional, food and beverage, and pool and spa water markets. Owned by Platinum Equity, the company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids, functional additives, and cleaners and disinfectants, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact, and create cleaner and safer environments.  

Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 69 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 16,100 professionals in 130 countries across six continents. Solenis is a 2024 US Best Managed Company, recognized three years in a row. For more information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com. 

We are thrilled to go market for a Senior Operations Director.  You will play an integral role in overseeing operations across a network of chemical manufacturing plants

Are you a seasoned leader ready to take ownership of a critical manufacturing portfolio?  As the Senior Operations Director you will oversee and elevate the manufacturing operations for our thriving Industrial & Consumer Solutions business.

Key Responsibilities:

As a Senior Operations Director, you will be responsible for leading and optimizing operations across our manufacturing sites in Europe, ensuring they meet the highest standards in safety, quality, and efficiency while fulfilling business objectives.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Operational Oversight:
  • Manage plant operations across Germany, Spain, Italy, Finland and Sweden.
  • Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.
  • Develop and implement regional strategies to support Industrial & Consumer Solutions businesses.
• Safety and Compliance:
  • Drive a culture of zero incidents across all EH&S KPIs, achieving year-over-year improvement in Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR).
  • Ensure adherence to Process Safety Management (PSM) and regulatory requirements.

• Performance and Efficiency:
  • Set and achieve an OTIF target of 95% or higher.
  • Drive continuous improvement through process optimization, cost reduction, and enhanced EH&S performance.
  • Oversee maintenance and reliability strategies to meet current and future capacity needs.
• Budgeting and Capital Management:
  • Manage manufacturing expenses and capital budgets to meet financial targets.
  • Resource and implement new process technologies to support business growth.
• Quality Assurance:
  • Oversee ISO registration, maintenance, and improvement plans.
  • Standardize best practices in quality control across all sites.
• Leadership and Development:
  • Implement annual objective setting and performance appraisal processes.
  • Foster a culture of people development through training and mentorship.
  • Manage labor relations in union environments to maintain productive operations.

What We’re Looking For:

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in managing multi-site operations in the chemical manufacturing industry, coupled with strong leadership and strategic planning skills.

Additional qualifications include:

• A degree in Chemical Engineering, Industrial Management, or a related field (advanced degrees preferred).
• Extensive experience in manufacturing operations, particularly in chemical production environments.
• Demonstrated success in driving EH&S improvements and achieving operational excellence.
• Expertise in budget management, process optimization, and quality assurance.
• Strong communication and leadership skills with the ability to manage diverse teams.
• Experience with unioniz