Productivity Program Manager - Value Office

POSITION OVERVIEW

Ascend Performance Materials is a global leader in high-performance chemicals, fibers and plastics, committed to enhancing quality of life through innovation. With fully integrated manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia, we develop essential solutions that drive safer vehicles, cleaner energy, advanced medical devices, and durable consumer goods. Guided by a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and customer success, we operate responsibly while delivering value through cutting-edge technologies and industry expertise. Join our team and be part of a collaborative environment where your work drives meaningful global impact.

The Productivity Program Manager – Value Office drives productivity and value creation initiatives across Ascend’s operations. The role is responsible for leading the productivity management system required to deliver year-over-year cost reduction commitments, including opportunity generation, project governance, execution support, and value realization across operations and support functions. This position requires a collaborative leader who can influence cross-functional teams, connect operational improvements to financial outcomes, and drive disciplined execution in a fast-paced environment.

TARGETED OUTCOMES

• Build and sustain a productivity pipeline capable of supporting annual and future-year cost reduction targets.

• Drive recurring ideation efforts that generate measurable operational and financial improvements.

• Improve execution discipline and project governance using Ascend’s recognition and continuous improvement processes.

• Deliver sustainable productivity improvements tied to operational efficiency, margin enhancement, and cost reduction.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Productivity and Program Leadership

• Drive productivity initiatives across our manufacturing facilities.

• Lead recurring ideation sessions to maintain a healthy pipeline of productivity opportunities.

• Coordinate the full productivity lifecycle from ideation through value realization.

• Partner with site and functional leaders to prioritize initiatives based on operational impact, financial value, feasibility, and strategic alignment.

• Ensure projects are properly chartered, resourced, governed, and executed using standardized continuous improvement methodologies.

Financial and Operational Alignment

• Perform initial financial evaluations of productivity opportunities using operational assumptions and projected value realization.

• Partner with finance teams to validate project assumptions, savings methodologies, and financial thresholds.

• Monitor pipeline health, project execution status, savings delivery, and sustainability of results.

• Support development of KPI dashboards and tracking systems that connect operational performance to financial outcomes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with operations, engineering, quality, procurement, logistics, supply chain, technology, and finance teams to remove execution barriers.

• Facilitate cross-functional communication and governance to improve accountability and decision-making.

• Drive a culture of continuous improvement, operational discipline, and value creation

Team and Interactions

• Reports to: Director, Value Office

• Works closely with operations, production engineering, technology, quality, procurement, logistics, supply chain, finance, and site leadership teams.

LOCATION

Pensacola, Florida or Decatur, Alabama
 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, supply chain, or related discipline required.

• Minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, operational excellence, productivity leadership, or business transformation roles within industrial or chemical manufacturing environments.

• Experience leading cross-functional productivity, continuous improvement, or cost reduction initiatives in complex manufacturing organizations.

• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, operational cost drivers, and productivity management systems.

• Experience driving initiatives through structured governance, stage-gate, Lean, Six Sigma, or DMAIC methodologies.

• Experience working across matrixed organizations and influencing teams without direct authority.

• Demonstrated ability to connect operational initiatives to financial outcomes and realized business value.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Strong program and project management capabilities.

• Process discipline with strong execution and organizational skills.

• Ability to simplify complex operational challenges into actionable plans and measurable results.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

• Effective communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to drive accountability and alignment across cross-functional teams.

• High level of initiative, ownership, and adaptability in fast-paced manufacturing environments.

• Proficiency with SAP, Microsoft Office Suite, business intelligence tools, productivity tracking systems, and AI-enabled tools.

At Ascend Performance Materials, we value transparency and fairness in our hiring process. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters, search firms, or staffing agencies. Any resumes received from such entities will be considered the property of Ascend Performance Materials, and we will not be obligated to pay any fees for such submissions. Our Talent Acquisition Team actively engages with preferred recruitment partners who have established agreements with us. We encourage all interested candidates to apply directly through our official channels to be considered for any open positions.

About Us:

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities we are able to develop new products from our core technologies, and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and six manufacturing facilities globally. As a privately-held company, our people do big things and make big decisions, often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big, meaningful ways—all within a stable and growing business.

Why work at Ascend?

Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 6,6 value chain, creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone, everywhere, every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values.

We care. We operate safely with high integrity for our employees, our customers and our communities. Our people are our greatest assets, and our Total Rewards Program extends beyond traditional benefits to include access to on-site medical clinics at our U.S. facilities, a global wellness rewards program and Performance Matters, an employee-driven recognition plan. Our Commitment to Zero demonstrates our belief that is it possible to operate with zero personal injuries, zero process safety incidents and zero environmental releases. And the Ascend Cares Foundation, led by Ascend employees, supports Ascend families in times of need, provides inspiring opportunities ​​for community engagement and facilitates community leadership.

Customer-focused. We exist for our customers; they drive our actions. Their success is our success. Our plastics and chemicals are building blocks that help make everyday essentials safer and more sustainable, and we constantly strive to develop new and innovative products to meet the future needs of our customers. And that customer focus doesn’t only apply to the marketplace – it also applies to how we treat our colleagues and our fellow community members.

Better every day. We invest in our people and our processes to improve every day. A2E, our continuous improvement program, guides the way we do business. And this way of problem solving applies not only to our manufacturing practices but also to our commitment to developing our people. You’ll see it during your career at Ascend in our leadership development, skills training and mentoring programs

Agile. We think broadly and lead proactively in a constantly evolving organization and industry. Agility doesn’t mean simply working quickly – it means critical thinking, creative problem solving and novel approaches to everyday challenges.

One Ascend. All together, with a common set of goals and an eye toward the future. We don’t accept silos. We look for ways to share across departments, sites and geography. This means you won’t be boxed into a single role at Ascend – you could get the chance to work with teams across the globe to improve the way we serve our people, our customers and our communities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information or other protected status under federal, state or local laws.