Production Manager

Kraton Corporation

Panama City, FL

Estimated pay: Est. $18–$27/hr (market estimate, not employer-stated)

**Make a +Difference at Kraton!**

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At Kraton, we make a **+Difference**, and we are looking for individuals who are also looking to make a difference in their jobs, for our customers and to the world. We are looking to hire a key member of our Operations team at our Panama City, Florida location.

We believe in making a **+Difference**, as a global manufacturer of sustainable specialty polymers and biobased pine chemicals, delivering innovative, high-performance solutions.

We’re proud to offer benefits that meaningfully support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between. Some of the benefits offered are:

• Medical Insurance, including TeleDoc - multiple plans available with Flexible Spending Account & Health Savings Account options
• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Health Advocate – free support to help you understand your coverage and answer questions
• Life Insurance – base coverage paid for by Kraton with option for additional coverage
• 401k – Kraton provides matching contributions based on enrollment level
• Employee Assistance Program – provided at no cost to employees

Accident, Disability, and Critical Illness Insurance

The Production Manager will effectively and safely and effectively manage operations output levels, product quality, production cost and other company assets associated with the manufacturing operations processes and ensure that the manufacturing of products meets or exceeds key performance targets and customer expectations.

The Production Manager is member of the plant’s Lead Team and may serve as the Acting Plant Manager in his/her absence.

**Key Responsibilities**

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• Ensure compliance with company policies and procedures as well as legal requirements in areas such as workplace environmental, health, and safety/OSHA, and Quality standards.
• Understand and implement actions to meet environmental targets and sustainability goals
• Promote risk-reducing initiatives and mentor shift supervisors and hourly employees in risk assessment
• Drive the optimization of production throughput/outputs and product quality.
• Lead production activities and establish priorities to ensure personal safety, quality, Loss of Primary Containment (LOPC) reduction and process safety, customer satisfaction, productivity, cost control/management, employee engagement.
• Ensure coordination between the Production, Operations, Business, and the Supply Chain area to achieve the targets & goals, always seeking to improve on the operations.
• Ensure effective plant shutdowns through compliance with safety policies and procedures, and proper operational startup.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and projects through application of various manufacturing process improvement strategies and techniques like Lean manufacturing, Managing Daily Improvement (MDI), Safety Gemba Walks, Core Problem Solving, Coaching and 5S. Drive improvements in Root Cause Analysis methodology and effectiveness.
• Set and achieve S.M.A.R.T. targets & goals in key performance areas including HSE, Quality, Production, and Cost according the Business direction. Employ and report out on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that influence and drive plant results.
• Employ and report out on key performance indicators (KPIs) that influence plant results.
• Manage department cost, spending, and overall budget/financial activities. Develop and lead cost-reduction initiatives.
• Lead, develop, coach and evaluate process unit engineers, production supervisors, and other production employees (hourly and salaried).
• Foster a positive Union-Management relationship and coach front line leaders on Labor relations
• Manage and understand resource (people, equipment, capital, etc.) requirements, identifying gaps and implementing corrective actions and solutions. oversee and ensure all team members are current on required job training and qualifications.
• Implement systems for cleanliness/housekeeping, operator rounds, Operator Basic Care (as appropriate), and consistent shift-to-shift communication
• Actively participate as a member of the plant’s Lead Team

**Required Skills**

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• 10+ years of relevant work experience in chemical manufacturing or related industry.
• Must have experience with unionized workforces.
• Must possess and demonstrate strong functional expertise and people management skills.
• Must be proficient in the use of a personal computer applications and business information systems such as PI system, DCS, SAP, Microsoft Office Tools, SAP, etc.
• A strong emphasis is placed on team skills and communication between management and labor, both in Maintenance and Operations areas.
• Ability to build relationships amongst peers and across the organization, utilizing influence to drive change.
• The ability to accomplish goals and objectives by identifying complex problems and organizing teams to explore and resolve problems will also be emphas