Project Manager – Specialty Chemicals Manufacturing

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they are doing!

We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.

At this time, the Company does not sponsor employment-based visas for this position. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for current or future visa sponsorship. 

This position is based at our Sharonville, Ohio headquarters.

Position Summary

The Project Manager plans, runs and delivers projects across our specialty chemical manufacturing operations. Projects range from capital equipment installations and capacity expansions to new product scale-ups, process improvements and site or network changes. The role coordinates engineering, manufacturing, EHS, quality, supply chain, procurement and finance so that every project finishes safely, on schedule, within budget and with the expected business results.

Key Responsibilities

Project planning and execution

• Own the full project lifecycle: chartering, scope, planning, execution, commissioning and closeout.
• Build and maintain schedules, budgets, resource plans, RACI charts (who is responsible, accountable, consulted and informed), and risk and issue logs.
• Run projects through a stage-gate process with clear deliverables and approvals at each phase.
• Manage contractors, engineering firms and equipment vendors, including scopes, bids, purchase orders and change orders.

Capital and plant improvement projects

• Lead capital projects such as new tanks, blending and filling lines, tank farms, utilities, automation and building upgrades.
• Support capital request business cases with cost estimates, ROI and payback analysis.
• Coordinate installation, mechanical completion, startup and handover to operations with minimal production disruption.

Process and product projects

• Manage the scale-up and tech transfer of new formulations from R&D or the pilot plant to full production.
• Coordinate raw material qualification, batch records, specifications, labeling and SDS updates with Quality and Regulatory.
• Lead efficiency projects targeting throughput, yield, batch cycle time, changeovers and waste reduction.

Safety, environmental and regulatory compliance

• Integrate EHS requirements into every project, including Management of Change (MOC), PHA/HAZOP reviews, pre-startup safety reviews (PSSR) and permitting.
• Comply with OSHA (including Process Safety Management where applicable), EPA, DOT hazmat, RCRA, fire code and local regulations.
• Promote a safety-first culture on job sites, including contractor safety oversight.

Stakeholder management and reporting

• Lead cross-functional teams without direct authority, from plant floor to executive leadership.
• Provide regular status reports, dashboards and executive updates on schedule, cost, risk and benefits.
• Manage communication and change plans for employees, customers and suppliers affected by projects.
• Track realized savings and benefits with Finance after project completion.

Continuous improvement

• Apply Lean and Six Sigma tools (value stream mapping, root cause analysis, standard work) to find and deliver improvements.
• Capture lessons learned and help standardize project management practices and templates.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Chemistry, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in chemical, process or manufacturing environments, with at least 3 years managing projects.
• Proven record of delivering capital and/or operational improvement projects on time and on budget.
• Working knowledge of chemical process safety, hazardous materials handling and regulatory requirements.
• Strong financial acumen: cost estimating, budget management and ROI analysis.
• Proficiency with project management tools (MS Project, Smartsheet or similar), advanced Excel and an ERP system (SAP, Oracle or similar).

Preferred

• PMP certification and/or Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt.
• Experience in specialty chemicals, coatings, cleaning and sanitation, or other batch process industries.
• Familiarity with PSM/RMP, MOC and HAZOP processes.
• Experience with plant consolidations, acquisitions integration or supply chain projects.
• MBA or advanced technical degree.

Core Competencies

• Structured planning and disciplined execution across multiple concurrent projects
• Clear communication and influence at all levels of the organization
• Analytical, data-driven problem solving
• Safety-first mindset and respect for quality and compliance
• Accountability, adaptability and a bias for action

Measures of Success

• Projects delivered safely, with zero recordable incidents attributable to project work
• Schedule and budget performance against approved plans
• Business benefits realized (capacity, cost savings, yield, quality) versus the business case
• Smooth startups and handovers with minimal production disruption
• Positive stakeholder feedback and adoption of standard project practices

Working Conditions

This role divides time between office and plant environments where chemicals are handled and stored. It requires following all safety protocols and wearing personal protective equipment, and may require travel to other sites and occasional off-hours support during startups or shutdowns.

#INDOPS

DuBois provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, service in the military, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and/or local law and/or regulation.