Are you ready to move your career forward and help shape our company’s and customers’ futures?
If you aspire to challenge yourself, work with the best in the industry and join a successful team where you can make a meaningful contribution, then we invite you to join us at Ketjen Corporation, a provider of advanced catalyst solutions to leading producers in the petrochemical, refining, and specialty chemicals industries. Together, we can create a legacy marked by innovation, excitement, and energy.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Ketjen is seeking a Continuous Improvement Leader to advance operational excellence, productivity, and continuous improvement across the global organization. Reporting to the Senior Continuous Improvement Manager, this role will partner with leaders and cross-functional teams to identify, prioritize, execute, and sustain high-impact improvement initiatives.
The successful candidate will lead projects from concept through implementation, deliver measurable business results, and help embed continuous improvement into the way Ketjen operates.
KEY JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
• Lead the identification, prioritization, and execution of Continuous Improvement initiatives that deliver measurable improvements in safety, productivity, cost, quality, service, working capital, and overall business performance.
• Develop and execute CI strategies and roadmaps aligned with Ketjen’s business objectives.
• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Commercial, Technology, Finance, Procurement, and other functions to identify opportunities, prioritize resources, and build a pipeline of high-value initiatives.
• Conduct value stream assessments, process analyses, and root cause investigations to identify and quantify improvement opportunities.
• Lead complex, cross-functional projects using Lean Six Sigma, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, structured problem-solving, and other CI methodologies.
• Coach and mentor CI Champions, project leaders, Green Belts, and functional teams to strengthen execution capabilities and sustain project results.
• Lead change management efforts that build stakeholder commitment, address resistance, and support the adoption of new processes and behaviors.
• Establish portfolio governance, project management disciplines, and stage-gate reviews to ensure initiatives remain aligned, appropriately resourced, and effectively executed.
• Develop organizational CI capability through training, mentoring, knowledge sharing, and certification programs.
• Establish and monitor KPIs to measure project performance, financial benefits, productivity improvements, and sustainability.
• Manage CI portfolio reporting and provide leadership with clear visibility into project status, risks, results, and business impact.
• Partner with Finance to validate project savings, productivity gains, working capital improvements, and other realized benefits.
• Collaborate with global stakeholders to share best practices, replicate successful improvements, and integrate CI principles into daily operations.
• Champion a culture of accountability, collaboration, disciplined execution, and continuous improvement consistent with Ketjen’s core values.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, Project Management, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
• Minimum of five years of experience leading Continuous Improvement, Lean Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or business transformation initiatives in a manufacturing, chemical, petrochemical, refining, or related industrial environment.
• Demonstrated project or program management experience delivering measurable improvements in productivity, cost, quality, service, or working capital.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification required; Black Belt certification preferred.
• Proven ability to influence, coach, and lead cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Experience leading complex initiatives involving technical, operational, and organizational change.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, project management, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with KPI management, performance reporting, and financial benefit validation.
• Ability to work effectively within a global, cross-functional organization.
• Strong alignment with Ketjen’s core values: Respect, Engage Openly, Speed & Agility, Ultimate Ownership, Lead for Results, Teamwork, and Strong Performance Rewarded.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
• Experience with digital transformation, automation, process mining, analytics, AI, or other technology-enabled improvement solutions.
• Experience leading enterprise-wide, global, or multi-site CI programs.
• Demonstrated success influencing global, cross-functional teams through indirect leadership and collaboration.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change and sustain business improvements across functions and locations.
Benefits of Joining Ketjen
Competitive compensation
Comprehensive benefits package
A diverse array of resources to support you professionally and personally.
Apply today and help Ketjen unleash the POTENTIAL of advanced chemistry for industries that power the world.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, Project Management, or a related field, or equivalent education and relevant experience
- At least five years of experience leading Continuous Improvement, Lean Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or business transformation initiatives in a manufacturing, chemical, petrochemical, refining, or related industrial environment
- Project or program management experience delivering measurable improvements in productivity, cost, quality, service, or working capital
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification
- Ability to influence, coach, and lead cross-functional teams without direct authority
- Experience leading complex initiatives involving technical, operational, and organizational change
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, project management, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Experience with KPI management, performance reporting, and financial benefit validation
- Ability to work effectively within a global, cross-functional organization
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification
- Experience with digital transformation, automation, process mining, analytics, artificial intelligence, or technology-enabled improvement solutions
- Experience leading enterprise-wide, global, or multi-site continuous improvement programs
- Success influencing global, cross-functional teams through indirect leadership and collaboration
- Ability to lead organizational change and sustain business improvements across functions and locations
Albemarle Corporation Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Albemarle Corporation and has not been reviewed or approved by Albemarle Corporation.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as a standout element of the total rewards package, including a 401(k) with matching contributions and an additional automatic employer contribution with immediate vesting. This structure meaningfully boosts total compensation beyond base pay and is repeatedly emphasized as a differentiator.
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Parental & Family Support — Parental and family support appears robust, including up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for either parent and financial support for adoption and surrogacy. Family-related programs extend into fertility and broader parenting support, reinforcing the depth of benefits beyond traditional medical coverage.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing and lifestyle benefits include dedicated wellness days, mental-health access with coaching and therapy support for employees and dependents, and a broad Employee Assistance Program. These offerings suggest the rewards package is designed to support health, resilience, and work-life needs alongside pay.
Albemarle Corporation Insights
What We Do
Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB), headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is a global specialty chemicals company with leading positions in lithium, bromine, and refining catalysts. We power the potential of companies in many of the world’s largest and most critical industries, from energy and communications to transportation and electronics. Working with our customers, we develop and customize solutions using the finest technology and ingredients with the knowledge and know-how of our highly experienced and talented team of operators, scientists, and engineers. Discovering and implementing new and better performance-based sustainable solutions motivates all of us. We think beyond business-as-usual to drive innovations that create lasting value. Realize your POTENTIAL with Albemarle. At Albemarle, we believe that our people make us successful. It’s that simple. We embrace the diversity of experience, talent, and thought. We work hard to create an inclusive work environment that empowers you to openly and honestly communicate, create and innovate. Your career will reach an international reach from the United States to Australia. Your decision to join our team will be rewarded with a positive, team-oriented workplace that inspires personal and professional growth. We will make every effort to support your career goals and create opportunities for you to realize your full potential. This is our culture. This is our commitment. AS PART OF OUR GLOBAL TEAM, YOU’LL EXPERIENCE: • Competitive compensation and benefits • Hands-on technical experience • Job variety and career flexibility • Collaboration with seasoned employees at every level • A proven record of innovation • Company-wide focus on economic and environmental sustainability • Deep commitment to our communities, education and social development • Concern and compassion for fellow employees • Among the best safety records in the industry The bottom line: no matter where you apply your talent and training, Albemarle
