Company:

INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA

Interested in joining a winning team? A team whose employees are empowered to make a difference?

Organizational context and job purpose

Organizational Context:

INEOS is a global manufacturer of petrochemicals, speciality chemicals and oil products. It comprises 18 businesses each with a major chemical company heritage. Its production network spans 68+ sites in 16 countries with 16,000 employees throughout the world. The INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA business is a major participant in the North American chemical industry, with an annual manufacturing capacity of 9.6 billion pounds of petrochemicals. The O&P USA business includes the product lines Ethylene, Propylene, Butadiene, Polypropylene and Polyethylene. Manufacturing sites include Chocolate Bayou Works (Alvin, TX), Battleground Manufacturing Complex (La Porte, TX), and Carson (Carson, CA), with a corporate office in League City, TX.

The 300-acre INEOS Battleground Manufacturing Complex (BMC) was originally built in 1956 and is located on the Houston ship channel east of Houston, Texas. Currently, BMC produces both high-density polyethylene and polypropylene. The polypropylene line has a capacity of approximately 320 million pounds per year, and the seven polyethylene lines have a combined capacity of approximately 3 billion pounds per year. The BMC site has a state-of-the-art technical center which integrates research and development, technical services and quality assurance.

INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA is one of the largest integrated producers of polyolefins in North America. The strategic goals of INEOS O&P USA are to conceive, build, improve, and maintain highly competitive assets for the production of olefins, polypropylene, and high-density polyethylene in the Americas and produce value-added polyolefin resins for use in consumer-industrial, automotive, and packaging applications. The Polyolefins Product Development Manager reports to the Technology Director – Technical Services and Product Development and is part of the site technology group.

Purpose of the job:

The Polyolefins Product Development Manager is responsible for developing and executing the product development plan to improve the profitability of Polyethylene and Polypropylene business by creating, capturing and maintaining value. This position would include leading a team responsible for executing research programs to identify, prioritize, develop technical programs and ensure and support their commercial implementation through:

Timely delivery of new product/commercial development opportunities Timely delivery of catalyst and additive improvement Development of the staff, creating an enriched environment through strategic alignment and skill development to improve efficiency and decision-making. Coordination of O&P USA development programs and interact with internal groups to develop new ideas Active developments for circular economy and polymer recycling

The primary responsibility is the design and coordination of programs to deliver technical solutions, which provide a basis for competitive advantage for both sustaining and growth strategies contributing to the value generation of the polyolefins strategic platform.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Safety:

Comply with safety policies, laws, regulations, standards, and best practices, including the INEOS 20 Principles.
Promote safety awareness within group and for interactions with other departments.
Oversee developments and EPO to insure safe operations and proper planning.

Knowledge Management / Acumen:

Understand PP and PE polymerization technology implications in our different processes and options available.
Understand industrial reactors and finishing operations for translation of technology from lab to pilot to industrial scales.
Understand the limitations and benefits of different processes to achieve the best polymer properties.
Understand the product lines, main applications and overall customer requirements for each segment.

Strategy and Leadership:

Develop, implement and grow high-value Business and Product Development portfolios
Actively develop catalyst and new product strategy in alignment with PE and PP Business
Set group and individual goals in close connection to the business objectives for HDPE, PP and Operations.
Organize reporting with product development group to maintain awareness across business and operations. Participate in asset team discussions.
Ensure open communication and alignment of technical and commercial objectives with business goals, while maximizing individual contribution value.
Develop and ensure proper resource focus and alignment with the business goals
Work with all departments (manufacturing, customer facing groups, procurement, circular economy teams) to help form, lead and support project teams with the right mix of skills/knowledge; ensure that technical, operational, commercial, strategic concerns are considered in the development/selection of project scope.
Ensure continuing alignment of project portfolio with business priorities through updating progress and tactical changes and establishing meaningful milestones and key performance metrics with commercial impact
Set performance targets, organize recruiting, and insure continuity and cross-functional discussions and interactions.
Identify, develop and deliver the PP and HDPE product platform(s) that enhances the portfolio value over the business cycle that leverages asset capability and market channels.
Product Portfolio - Support new business strategies of the PE and PP business plans. Create the long-term development plan that continuously renews the product portfolio and base loads the assets
Sustainability - Oversee mechanical recycling implementation efforts to support customer requests and needs. Ensure PCR (Post Consumer Recycle) supplier contacts are maintained to allow ample supply for development and implementation of mechanical recycling initiatives. Oversee advanced recycling progress. Oversee 3 R’s implementation for all O&P USA sites (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle)

Group Management:

Oversee closely large and critical projects on time execution including product EPOs, significant catalyst and additive developments, and critical quality problems.
Set performance targets, organize recruiting, and insure continuity and cross-functional discussions and interactions.
Foster a creative and motivated team culture which recognizes and rewards successes and effectively coaches for continuous improvement of individual performances. Assign projects across team members to match complexity and orientation with people experience and development.
Coordinate O&P USA pilot and EPO programs in accordance with business needs. Oversee with proper delegation the execution, data gathering for process and production and for product evaluation and properties, and final reporting.

Fostering Cooperation:

Develop collaborative and cooperative relationships between team and internal and external INEOS partners, suppliers, and customers (eg. Operations, Commercial Team, Technical Service, Polymer and Analytical Lab, Catalyst Team, Regulatory, Procurement, and with other O&P sites _FEX, NOH)

People Development:

Provide reports and associated team members with development opportunities that enrich individuals while delivering bottom-line value to the business.
Promote personal training - internal and external.
Drive personnel for high performance, efficient presentations, scientific and fact based problem resolution.
Mentor new employees on proper development techniques and/or arrange for mentoring between groups.
Ensure successful career development of key personnel, in line with succession planning.
Develop scientists for use of six sigma process and approach and use of statistical tools such as Minitab. Coordinate Green Belt projects initiation thru close with Black Belt team.

Compliance / Regulatory:

Maintain compliance for new products, additives and catalysts.
Oversee intellectual property strategy, compliance and awareness within group.
Maintain proper management of change as required and oversee the product development process to meet ISO requirements.

Skills & Knowledge Required

Education/Experience

REQUIRED

Degree in engineering or science
8 years industrial experience leading and implementing technical-development programs, preferably involving polyolefins
Strong track record of technical contributions with impact.
Successful experience in project management..
Position is based in the BMC location.

PREFERRED

PhD in Chemistry or Engineering
15 years industrial experience leading and implementing technical-development programs, preferably involving polyolefins
Technology acumen in product and process scale-up, material science, and polymer fabrication.
Understanding of the polyolefin product competitive landscape and basis for competition.

Candidates must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Our culture is one of honesty and integrity with an emphasis on safety, health and environmental performance.On our team, people are acknowledged for embracing new practices that help create real value for customers.