Maintenance Manager

About Verdant Specialty Solutions

Verdant Specialty Solutions is a global specialty chemical company. Its customers include world-leading personal care and home care brands, energy solutions providers, and industrial companies. Verdant’s vision is to be the go-to provider of batch specialty surfactant-based chemistry for applications in the consumer and industrial markets. Based in Houston, the company has nine locations in the US and Europe. Verdant’s international team of 280 employees are committed to safety, quality, and supply reliability.

Why Join Verdant? Opportunities for growth Verdant is a fast-growing company that has the spirit of a small business. The company was formed in May 2021, so every employee plays an important role in culture and performance. It offers a dynamic ‘start up’ atmosphere with opportunities for professional growth.

Committed to safety Despite having the spirit of a small business, Verdant rivals against larger companies in its commitment to safety. Verdant prides itself on industry-leading environmental, safety, health, and quality standards. At Verdant, there is no priority higher than safety.

About the position This position's main role is to lead and manage the maintenance and utilities at the site, focusing on equipment reliability in maintenance activities, along with leading the effort to move the plant and maintenance into a predictive, proactive state.  The person in this position will ensure the efficient utilization of departmental resources to enforce and comply with Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) standards as set forth under various regulatory agencies and Verdant.  Additionally, he/she will continually improve equipment, utility reliability, and implement cost efficiency measures.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain general plant and operations facilities.
• Manage maintenance and departmental costs. 
• Improve plant reliability through maintenance excellence pillars.
• Manage the utilities function for reliable, cost-effective generation.
• Manage the critical spares for the site.
• Manage maintenance and provide oversight of maintenance crews, Verdant employees, and outside contractors.
• Manage and execute small maintenance capital projects.
• Instill discipline and accountability in execution of site and departmental plant policies/procedures.  Lead this effort by example.
• Follow formal program of root cause identification/failure analysis and corrective actions for maintenance related failures.
• Provide the leadership to perform work in an orderly and proactive manner based on principles of reliable design and preventive/predictive maintenance practices.
• Implement and continually improve maintenance management systems including mechanical integrity programs, work order system, maintenance standards and procedures per maintenance excellence pillars.
• Develop, report, monitor and take responsibility for improvement of key performance indicators for maintenance such as maintenance expenses, number of call-ins, effective planning rate and work ratios compared to total work (i.e., emergencies, PM work, and improvement work).
• Support / adhere to all quality system requirements, including ISO 9001, European Federation for Cosmetic Ingredients (EFfCI), Good Manufacturing Practices and Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), consistent with Manufacturing Excellence and HSSE Management Systems as it relates to this position.

HSE Responsibilities:

• As a member of the plant leadership team, the maintenance/reliability manager is jointly responsible for:
• Overall plant achievement of 0 Lost Time injuries, 0 Recordable injuries, and 0 Environmental/Process Incidents (“0/0/0”), and
• Setting standards for safety and housekeeping.
• Fully participate in site HSE initiatives including performing periodic audits, incident investigations and housekeeping inspections.
• Conduct periodic departmental inspections to assure compliance to existing safety rules and procedures and to assess the effectiveness and need for other risk reduction activities within the departments.
• Assure all equipment safety inspections and audits are performed and documented.
• Instill discipline and accountability in execution of Life Critical procedures.  Lead this effort by example.
• Enforce all site and Solvay safety rules and procedures within the maintenance, utility, and stores departments as well as contractors used in these activities.  Lead by example.
• Assure appropriate and adequate HSE training is provided to, and understood by, all direct and indirect reports, and contractors.
• Assure mechanical integrity program is maintained and adhered to.
• Assure all maintenance and stores contractors understand and adhere to plant safety rules and procedures.
• Participate in regulatory and internal audits as needed.
• Represent Verdant through daily actions that reinforce the corporate values demonstrating personal commitment to a safe, healthy, and environmentally sound workplace for employees.
• Supervises staff and contractors with regard to hazardous and universal waste regulations.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering preferred
• Bachelor of Science in other engineering disciplines or equivalent technical degree is acceptable with commensurate experience.
• Specific education or training in Reliability Engineering or Maintenance Management is a plus.
• Five years + working in an industrial facility, preferably a chemical process production plant.
• At least three years in maintenance and three or more years of supervisory experience in maintenance, or process and/or project engineering.
• Knowledge of plant reliability practices, preventive/predictive maintenance practices, mechanical integrity, failure analysis, and continuous improvement.

Skills:

• Excellent leadership and organizational skills to manage, motivate and develop personnel and to facilitate cooperation between departments.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Good computer skills with working knowledge of MS Outlook, MS Word and MS Excel.  Knowledge of MS PowerPoint and general understanding of databases is desirable
• Familiarity with Industrial Hygiene concepts and Personal Protective Equipment
• Needs excellent understanding and grasp of OSHA standards, concepts, and procedures relating to Life Critical activities. Must have working knowledge of OSHA personnel and process safety standards, especially the impact of mechanical equipment and instruments on process safety.  Should have general awareness of air, water, waste, wastewater, and storm water environmental regulations.
• Working knowledge of Mechanical Integrity systems and requirements.
• Working knowledge Preventative and Predictive Maintenance Concepts
• Working knowledge of Computer Based Maintenance Management Systems (IFS knowledge a plus)
• Familiarity with batch and continuous processing maintenance a plus

Benefits

• Competitive and comprehensive health, dental and vision benefits through Cigna.
• Generous matching 401k Plan
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account with employer contribution and yearly roll over (cannot be combined with FSA)
• Health advocacy and services
• Company paid life insurance
• Company paid short term disability insurance
• Paid Vacation and Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Other company paid programs including identity theft resolution, travel assistance, will preparation, discounts on gym membership and equipment, massage therapy, nutrition programs and smoking cessation.

EOE AA M/F/Vets/Disabled -- http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf