Jobs at Ascend Performance Materials

Summer engineering interns support projects in chemical and polymer manufacturing environments under experienced engineers. Responsibilities may include reducing waste, improving efficiency, troubleshooting, conducting root cause failure analysis, identifying cost savings, updating procedures, and supporting manufacturing, production, process technology, process design, or maintenance and reliability functions. Interns work onsite daily and may rotate between facilities.

Leads strategic value-creation initiatives across Ascend’s chemicals, nylon, and engineered polymers businesses. Responsibilities include margin improvement, growth planning, industry and partner analysis, business-process improvement, project delivery, and cross-functional team leadership. The role develops recommendations for senior management, manages projects within budget and timelines, and partners across commercial, finance, procurement, engineering, technology, and supply chain functions.

Owns commercial performance and customer growth for an Americas territory selling intermediate chemicals. Responsibilities include retaining and expanding accounts, developing new business, managing revenue and profitability, negotiating pricing and contracts, forecasting, maintaining pipelines, and coordinating with internal teams. The role requires strong B2B sales experience in chemicals or industrial markets, territory management expertise, commercial judgment, customer relationship skills, and proficiency with business software.

Develop and execute sourcing strategies for direct materials, toll manufacturing, catalysts, and specialty chemicals. Lead supplier selection, contract negotiations, strategic RFQs, supplier performance management, and commercial agreements. Partner with manufacturing, engineering, quality, supply chain, technology, and commercial teams to improve reliability, total cost, sustainability, and risk mitigation across global manufacturing operations. The role is primarily remote in the Greater Houston area and requires approximately 20–30% travel.

Maintains raw-material data integrity in SAP, reviews production consumption ratios, investigates inventory and transaction anomalies, and corrects ERP records. Coordinates goods receipts, stock in transit, consumption, inventory counts, and BOM updates with plant, operations, and logistics personnel. Produces monthly consumption reports, supports process improvements, and works onsite throughout the manufacturing plant while following safety requirements.

Supports corporate accounting operations through cash and accounts receivable reporting, account clearing, accruals, prepaid accounting, debt roll-forwards, interest accruals, FX revaluation in SAP, journal entries, reconciliations, financial analysis, monthly close activities, audit support, and ad hoc GL coding. The role ensures accurate financial records, timely reporting, and compliance with accounting standards.

The Fixed Equipment Reliability Engineer is responsible for establishing reliability engineering principles, troubleshooting equipment, conducting analyses, and providing technical support to enhance equipment reliability and maintenance operations.

Provide high-level administrative support to Vice Presidents: manage complex calendars, travel, executive and board meetings, prepare presentations and reports, handle expenses and SAP procurement, maintain confidential records, and support the administrative team.

Serve as strategic HR leader for a large manufacturing site (~400 employees, 200 contractors). Partner with site leadership to drive workforce planning, talent management, organizational design, change management, employee engagement, and HR operations. Lead and develop the site HR team, conduct employee relations, investigations, and implement workforce stabilization strategies.