Operations Manager

Roquette is a family-owned global leader in plant-based ingredients and a leading provider of pharmaceutical excipients.

Want to help us make a difference?
Using plant-based resources, we collaborate with our customers and partners to imagine and offer ingredients to better feed people and treat patients.
Each of our ingredients responds to unique and essential needs, and they enable healthier lifestyles.

The Role:

We are looking for our next Operations Manager, responsible for managing plant-wide production activities and resources while ensuring compliance with safety, quality, and customer requirements. This role plays a key part in maintaining efficiency and productivity within the plant, while fostering an engaged workforce through leadership and development.

This position is located in Gurnee, IL

Compensation:

The current salary range for this role is estimated to be $106,200 - $143,800 In addition, this position may also be eligible to earn performance-based incentive compensation. The specific compensation offered to a candidate will be influenced by a variety of factors including but not limited to skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

What We Offer:

• A highly collaborative team environment with ample room for exponential career growth.
• Competitive pay, annual performance bonus, comprehensive benefits, 6.2% company retirement contribution, and professional development opportunities.
• Generous paid time off and 12 annual paid company holidays.
• 12 weeks 100% paid maternity leave, and up to 4 weeks 100% paid parental leave (including adoption/surrogacy/foster care leave) for non-birthing parents.
• Student loan repayment assistance and tuition reimbursement program for select roles.
• Annual wellness benefit and wellness centered programs focused on your health needs.

What You’ll Do:

• Motivate, support, and provide guidance to production staff.
• Establish a balance between productivity and cost within manufacturing operations.
• Set productivity goals based on customer demands and company objectives.
• Collaborate with production department managers to identify and resolve technical and operational challenges.
• Develop both long-term and short-term production objectives to align with business goals.
• Manage budgets and financial objectives to optimize operational efficiency.
• Ensure adherence to company policies, safety regulations, and standard operating procedures.
• Foster a culture of engagement and high performance through strong leadership behaviors.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for direct reports.
• Direct and coordinate team leaders and production staff to achieve optimal quality and productivity levels.
• Maintain clear communication with team members regarding company policies, procedures, and plant updates.
• Identify root causes of manufacturing issues and implement corrective actions to minimize downtime, with a focus on safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Actively develop direct reports to help them achieve their maximum potential.

What You’ll Need:

Education:

• Preferred: Engineering degree or equivalent experience in a chemical plant or similar environment (e.g., corn wet milling, sugar, paper, petroleum, ethanol, food, etc.).

      Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of proven experience in a chemical plant or similar industry.
• Knowledge of specific engineering thermodynamics processes (including evaporation, condensation, and filtration)
• Prior experience in a leadership role managing people and/or leading projects.
• Proven ability to effectively manage multiple projects amid changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts and drive operational improvements.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• This role will have direct reports, including department leaders and production team members.

Work Environment:

• This role spends approximately 50% of the time in an office environment and 50% in the plant environment.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to speak or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk, climb stairs, use hands and fingers to handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• Work in hot, cold, and loud environments may be required.
• Employee must be able to wear a respirator.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

• This is a full-time position. Days and flexible hours of work are required to meet facility demands.

Business Travel:

• Travel may be required when working on projects at other manufacturing plants (currently in the US, Canada, and Brazil).
• 80% of projects take place in Keokuk, IA.
• Occasional international travel may be expected.

AAP/EEO Statement  

Roquette is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. “AAP, EEO, Drug-Free Workplace”

Other Duties 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

If you identify yourself in this position, please apply by uploading your resume and let's start the journey together !

Roquette is proud to be a global company where you can find personal and professional growth through multiple diverse experiences. 

Roquette believes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion must be woven into everything we do, from the products we make, through the relationships we build with our partners, and most importantly within the teams we create and how we interact together.

As we continue to grow, Roquette understands that to be successful we must always be inclusive in our approach, by creating a workforce that represents the world we live in, and the communities and customers we serve.

To find out more about our products, values and sustainable development ambitions visit us at www.roquette.com and at www.sustainability.roquette.com