Operations Leader

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Date: Sep 16, 2026

Location: Baltimore, MD, US, 21226

Company: W. R. Grace & Co.

Band Grade : 4-15 
Annual Wage Range: $113,712.00  - $156,354.00 
Other Compensation:  Eligibility for the Short-Term Incentive program and other applicable bonuses 
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

Built on talent, technology, and trust, Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and engineered materials. The company’s two industry-leading business segments—Catalysts Technologies and Materials Technologies—provide innovative products, technologies, and services that enhance the products and processes of our customers around the world. Grace employs approximately 4,300 people in over 30 countries.

 

W. R. Grace is seeking an Operations Leader that will serve as superintendent and second-in-command for one of our 24/7 chemical manufacturing plants in Curtis Bay, MD, reporting directly to the Operations Manager. In this on-site role, the Operations Leader brings together cross-functional teams with a calm, confident, and resourceful mindset to resolve plant challenges safely and effectively. Direct responsibilities include overseeing Shift Supervisors who manage the union workforce, as well as participating in the plant leadership team's on-call rotation.

Responsibilities

  • Lead manufacturing employees to safely operate the plant and meet production, quality, safety and environmental goals.
  • Walk the production floor throughout the day, engage the workforce, observe operations and identify issues.
  • Ensure the plant complies Federal, State, Local, Grace and Union policies and procedures
  • Balance resources and staffing levels for each shift based on standards and needs - use levers such as overtime and fatigue management.
  • Proactively anticipate scenarios increasing risks to safety or production, e.g. Winter weather, equipment failure.  Develop action plans to mitigate these risks.
  • Collaborate with training ensuring employees are properly trained and records are maintained.
  • Hire, onboard, train, develop and coach direct reports to lead their teams in accordance with Grace policies and management practices.
  • Facilitate adherence to daily/weekly operations production plans
  • Analyze and investigate production losses or safety incidents to identify root causes and implement effective real time solutions and prevent recurrence
  • Maintain a positive working environment, resolve personnel conflicts and serve as a sounding board
  • Lead Operations in plant shutdown activities and support Job Hazard Analyses and provide first line of support for off-shifts.
  • Participates in the production planning processes to include key inputs such as: Capacity, resources, shutdown schedules, and other maintenance activities.
  • Actively triage production upsets and re-balances priorities to best achieve site and area goals. Effectively and timely escalating issues to the next level of management.
  • Record and analyze area operational and financial results
  • Coordinates and prioritizes work in the area
  • Serves as backup to the Operations Manager
  • Any other duty assigned to you by your manager
  • Must be able to work in a 24/7 operation, including on call, off-shift, and return to the site as necessary

Physical Requirements and Environment

  • Ability to follow safety protocols and standards working in a pilot plant facility with highly hazardous materials
  • 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

Required Qualifications

  • High school diploma or GED.
  • 5+ years’ experience in industrial manufacturing.
  • Mechanical or process controls skills or other “hands on” experience with large machinery.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial Engineering, or relevant field OR a combination of experience and education.
  • 3 years supervisory experience in a union environment
  • Experience with Production planning and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
  • Experience with performance metrics tracking
  • Life safety training and experience identifying hazards
  • Experience communicating effectively across all levels of the organization, in writing and verbally.
  • Demonstrated problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
  • Demonstrated leadership and the ability to influence and drive change.
  • Education or experience in Lean Manufacturing principles or Project Management.

 

To be considered for this position, candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future employer-sponsored work authorization. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or visa transfer.

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Benefits

  • Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance and Disability
  • Grace Wellness Program
  • Flexible Workplace
  • Retirement Plans 
  • 401(k) Company Match – Dollar to dollar up to the first 6%
  • Paid Vacation and Holidays
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Company Donation Match Program
  • U.S. Employee Benefits Summary (grace.com) 

Other Compensation

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.


Nearest Major Market: Baltimore