Engineering Manager

Position Summary

The Engineering Manager is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing all engineering and capital project activities at the Synthomer Jefferson Hills chemical manufacturing facility. This position leads a multidisciplinary team of engineers and project managers to ensure safe, reliable, and cost‑effective operation of the plant while executing a portfolio of capital and improvement projects aligned with site and business objectives.

The Engineering Manager is a critical partner to Operations, Maintenance, SHE, Supply Chain, and Corporate Engineering.

• Leadership & Team Development
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineers and project managers, ensuring strong technical capability, engagement, and performance.
  • Establish clear goals and development plans; provide coaching, feedback, and succession planning.
  • Foster a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Capital Project Portfolio Management
  • Oversee the planning, prioritization, budgeting, and execution of the site’s capital project portfolio.
  • Ensure projects follow Synthomer’s project management processes, engineering standards, and stage‑gate requirements.
  • Allocate engineering and project management resources according to site priorities and project risks.
  • Monitor project performance (cost, schedule, scope) and implement corrective actions as needed.
  • Coordinate with Corporate Engineering, Procurement, and Finance to align on strategic investments and reporting requirements.
• Engineering Governance & Technical Oversight
  • Provide technical guidance and approvals for engineering work, design reviews, MOCs, and plant modifications.
  • Ensure compliance with PSM requirements, including Process Hazard Analyses (PHA), Pre‑Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR), and mechanical integrity standards.
  • Drive reliability improvement initiatives, asset lifecycle management, and engineering best practices.
  • Maintain site engineering standards and ensure alignment with Synthomer global standards.
• Operational Support & Facility Improvement
  • Support operations and maintenance with troubleshooting, root cause investigations, and reliability improvements.
  • Lead or sponsor continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, process efficiency, quality, and cost.
  • Participate in site leadership activities, including risk assessments, audits, and site‑wide planning.
• Budgeting & Resource Management
  • Develop and manage engineering department budgets (labor, contracts, and engineering services).
  • Steward capital budgets in collaboration with Finance and site leadership.
  • Manage third‑party engineering, construction, and specialty service providers.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, or related discipline).
• 8+ years of experience in chemical manufacturing, refining, or related process industries.
• 3+ years of leadership experience (formal or informal), preferably in engineering or project management.
• Demonstrated experience managing capital projects (small and large).
• Strong knowledge of PSM, industrial safety practices, and chemical plant engineering.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Preferred:
  Professional Engineer (PE) license or PMP certification.
• Preferred:
  Experience in polymer, latex, resins, or specialty chemical production.
• Preferred:
  Familiarity with stage‑gate project systems and reliability methodologies (RCM, FMEA, RCA).
• Preferred:
  Experience with SAP, Aspen, AutoCAD, or similar engineering tools.

• Safety Leadership
• Strategic Thinking & Prioritization
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
• Technical Depth in Process/Mechanical/Chemical Engineering
• Project Management Expertise
• Coaching & Talent Development
• Data-Driven Decision Making

• Competitive, market‑aligned compensation
• Discretionary global bonus scheme
• Discretionary Long‑Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) – for senior positions
• Company car or car allowance – varies by region and role
• Healthcare – tailored to regional locations
• Parental leave and family support – maternity, paternity, adoption (aligned with regional policies)
• Working options – flexibility where it matters, based on role and business needs
• Learning & development opportunities – training, online platforms, buddy/mentorship programs, Internal Synthomer University with L&D offers
• Wellbeing support – employee assistance program (EAP), mental health resources, wellbeing initiatives
• Retirement / pension contributions – plans vary by country
• Cultures of Inclusion – where everyone can thrive
• Performance culture, global reward & recognition programmes