Global Director, Manufacturing

Ashland Inc. is seeking a Global Director, Manufacturing for its Personal Care business. This executive position will report to the SVP of Manufacturing and is a highly visible, strategic role focused on improving manufacturing efficiency, quality, and safety across a global network of sites. The role will be remote with a preference for candidates located on the East Coast and will require travel in the U.S. and internationally (25–30%).

• Provide senior‑level leadership, direction, and managerial expertise to the manufacturing and engineering element of a global chemicals business unit.
• Oversee multiple global manufacturing sites, ensuring processes and capabilities are ready to launch new products and meet custom‑order demand.
• Manage the business capital plan, develop and implement capital projects that enhance efficiency, product quality, warehousing, safety, environmental stewardship, and customer service.
• Maintain technical expertise and consistency globally, optimizing profitability through process improvements, new product lines, plant upgrades, and maintenance programs.
• Lead structured change management across the manufacturing network, adopting new operating models, capital projects, technology upgrades, organizational changes, and continuous‑improvement initiatives with clear communication, stakeholder engagement, training, and disciplined execution.
• Drive productivity improvement by identifying and delivering cost, yield, energy, labor, throughput, asset utilization, and waste‑reduction opportunities using Lean, Six Sigma, OEE, and other tools.
• Champion EHS excellence, focusing on process safety management, risk reduction, change management, process hazard analysis, asset integrity, regulatory compliance, incident prevention, and a strong safety culture at all sites.
• Facilitate employee and labor relations, including experience in unionized and non‑unionized environments, understanding collective bargaining agreements, grievance procedures, mediation, arbitration, and works councils.

• B.S. in a technical field (chemical engineering preferred).
• 5–10 years of plant management experience in the U.S. and globally, with multiple site exposure.
• Strong chemical and process knowledge focused on production operations at a plant.
• Proficiency in manufacturing process analysis and continuous‑improvement tools such as Lean and Six Sigma.
• Experience developing diverse talent and building collaborative teams; solid people‑development skills and ability to guide a global operations and engineering management team.
• Financial and statistical acumen, including interpretation of financial statements, costing methodologies, and cost/benefit analysis.
• Regulatory compliance expertise, understanding local and regional safety, environmental, quality, and financial laws.
• Ability to travel in the U.S. and internationally as required.

Ashland is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.