Director, Process Technology

Celanese is a global leader in chemistry, producing specialty material solutions used across most major industries and consumer applications. Our businesses use our chemistry, technology and commercial expertise to create value for our customers, employees and shareholders. We are committed to sustainability by responsibly managing the materials we create for their entire lifecycle and are growing our portfolio of sustainable products to meet increasing customer and societal demand. We strive to make a positive impact in our communities and to foster inclusivity across our teams. Celanese is a Fortune 500 company that employs approximately 12,400 employees worldwide with 2023 net sales of $10.9 billion.

Overview:

This role is within the Process Technology Group (PTG) and is responsible for driving technology enhancement in CE plants related to Acetic Acid, Esters and Acetic Anhydride.  Celanese is a world leader in Acetic Acid, Esters and Acetic Anhydride production and technologies.  The leader engages with Operations to identify, define, document, and globally leverage the most effective technology within and across sites.  The role also shepherds and drives Business Technology Plans (BTP) for Acetic Acid, Esters and Acetic Anhydride technology domains via engagement with VP Business / Leaders, VP/Regional Leaders of Ops/MFG and Technology & Innovation (T&I) leaders.  They assist in development and execution of strategic projects, provides process technical support of the Units and participates in definition and execution of the business line T&I programs.  The incumbent drives new technologies from T&I to the production Units to improve and enhance the successful implementation.  Similarly, the role feedbacks opportunities / needs to T&I to re-fill the development pipeline.  In addition, the role will include a broader strategic dimension for the entire PTG (including all of Acetyls and Engineering Materials domains) to ensure a comprehensive and aligned strategy supported by the appropriate key technical skills / talent development.

Location: Clear Lake (Pasadena), TX

Major Activities

• Leads the PTG Acetic Acid, Esters and Acetic Anhydride group (several professionals and three technicians)
• Ensure the group monitors/analyzes unit operations and provides and coordinates technical assistance / trouble shooting to the Units. Provide key focal points for PTG to Unit Technology Leaders (UTLs).  Supports many global sites.
• Shepherds and drives Business Technology Plans for Acetic Acid, Esters and Acetic Anhydride technologies. Engages with VP Business / Leaders and VP/Regional Leaders of Operations / Manufacturing to develop and implement the BTP.  Aligns with the UTL on their Unit Technology Plan (UTP) with elements of the BTP and feedbacks opportunities / needs to T&I to re-fill the development pipeline.    
• Drives ideation and completion of strategic projects. Owns the project portfolio, tracks progress and maintains the project scorecard.
• Maintain and update the full PTG strategy and key technical skills roster across the entire group
• Directs lab operations for Acetic Acid, Esters and Acetic Anhydride technologies and works with the Pilot Plant for scale-up runs
• Maintains in-depth knowledge of the existing processes and manufacturing units and facilitates knowledge transfer to plant technical resources, continuously driving the plants toward cost-effective implementation of the most effective technology (MET).
• Networks with global SMEs for both knowledge sharing and troubleshooting
• Identifies, develops, maintains, and drives implementation of best practices
• Identifies areas for further technology improvement and advocates development and implementation.
• Develops team members to support cost reduction, variability reduction, and debottlenecking/expansion projects for the plants, and they serve as a focal point and knowledge base for these projects
• Achieves strategic goals as set by the business and technical teams
• Promotes and fosters process safety initiatives and provides team members for technical oversight and review for Process Hazard Analysis (PHAs) including review of technical recommendations
• Cooperates with leaders of technologies from other product lines to leverage technical knowledge across the organization
• Builds strong-identity teams that apply diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals. Develops people to meet their career goals and the organization’s goals. 

Qualifications:

• 15-20+ years in-depth technology or plant experience including process, technical support, project, technology, and/or operations
• Laboratory operations / program development
• Strong technical skills
• Demonstrated commitment to core values / process safety management / Stewardship / Safety
• Leadership roles in multi-department team efforts
• Ability to lead by influence across different cultures and drive goal completion
• Strong Relations and Networking skills
• Strong track record of being innovative and decisive

Preferred attributes

• PhD in engineering or chemistry
• Operational knowledge / working relationship with Manufacturing / Production Units related to large scale petrochemical or chemicals technologies
• Experience with economic evaluations or engineering economics