Operations Manager
Date: Jul 2, 2025
Location: Baltimore, MD, US, 21226
Company: W. R. Grace & Co.
Annual Wage Range: $136,000.00 - $187,000.00
Other Compensation: Eligibility for the Short-Term Incentive program and other applicable bonuses
Benefits: U.S. Employee Benefits Summary (grace.com)
Final salary and compensation will be based on several factors including candidate qualifications and experience, geographical location, market, and business considerations.
Grace, a Standard Industries company, is a leading global supplier of specialty chemicals and solutions that enable industries to enhance modern life. Our customers use our catalysts, engineered materials, process technologies and fine chemicals to manufacture everyday products – like renewable fuels, pharmaceuticals and food packaging – better, faster and smarter. Our thousands of employees work to harness the power of science for a better world at our global headquarters in Columbia, MD and locations worldwide. For more information, visit Grace.com.
Job Description
The Operations Manager is responsible for safe and efficient operations at one of our 24/7 chemical manufacturing plants within the Curtis Bay site. As the top leader, they excel technically are people-focused and safety-minded with experience bringing multiple functions together to solve problems safely and effectively.
The Operations Manager develops the leadership team and establishes roles and responsibilities. Reporting directly to the Operations Manager are the Operations Lead, Supervisors, Production Engineers and Maintenance Planner.
The Operations Manager reports to the Site Operations Director and is a member of the Extended Site Leadership Team. This is an on-site role in Curtis Bay, MD.
Responsibilities
- Lead
- Model a mindset and behavior of safe work practices and use of critical life safety rules in everything. Anticipate scenarios which increase safety or production risks, such as winter weather or equipment failure. Develop action plans to mitigate these risks.
- Ensure resources and plans are in place to cover plant shutdowns, Job Hazard Analyses and support for off-shifts. Oversee the investigation program and root cause analyses for production losses or safety incidents and ensure proper actions are in place.
- Manage the engagement, performance and development of a team of direct reports and indirect reports. Hire, onboard, train, develop and coach direct reports according to Grace policies and management practices. Maintain a positive working environment, resolve personnel conflicts and serve as a sounding board.
- Participate in the asset management process including key inputs such as: Capacity, resources, shutdown schedules, and plant trials.
- Continuously review the compliance with respect to production, yields, and fixed costs and reports on variances
- Support both site and business leadership in develop overall strategies, annual operating plan and other business plans.
- Champion the capital program for the assigned plant with input on priorities and scope
- Actively support production troubleshooting with technical and leadership skills. Effectively and timely escalate issues to the Site Operations Director.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a related Science or Engineering discipline or equivalent experience
- 12+ years of experience in specialty chemicals or pharmaceuticals manufacturing
- 5+ years of leadership experience at a plant and/or regional level
- Process scale-up and plant trial experience
- 3+ years supervisory experience in a union environment
- Demonstrated leadership experience with transformational change using influence to drive results.
- Life safety training and proven experience identifying workplace hazards
- Ability to work in and support a 24/7 operation
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
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Chemical, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or relevant field OR a combination of experience and education.
- Experience with Production planning or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).
- Experience with performance metrics tracking.
- Experience using Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing principles.
- Project Management experience.
- Experience communicating effectively across all levels of the organization
- Demonstrated problem-solving experience and attention to detail.
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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
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Company Donation Match Program
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