Job Title: Regional Director of Operations
Department: Operations
Location: Georgia & Kentucky
Reports to: President & CEO
Travel Required: Insignificant
General Summary:
The Regional Director of Operations is responsible for the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of all regional manufacturing plants, currently two in Georgia and one in Kentucky. This role oversees daily production execution and quality, sets medium- to long-term strategy for production, warehouse, distribution, maintenance, engineering, and quality control, and owns site-level plant operating expense budgets, including capital spend within approved budgets. The Regional Director also builds and leads a strong, unified Operations leadership team
across all sites.
The Regional Director of Operations will report directly to the President & CEO.
Essential Job Functions & Responsibilities:
• Accountable for safe, efficient operations across all sites, including production, warehouse, shipping, maintenance, EHS, regulatory, Engineering and capital projects.
• Own performance management across the region: reviews, goal setting, discipline, development, and succession planning.
• Ensure proper staffing and training across all functional areas to meet business needs.
• Build a unified "One Company" operations culture and continuously improve organizational effectiveness across sites.
• Drive quality and first-pass yield improvements through site Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, EHS, and Quality leaders.
• Manage regional operating expenses, driving cost control and efficiency.
• Lead continuous improvement across the region.
• Develop and maintain a regional KPI system to track and manage performance.
• Own the regional maintenance program, improving uptime while optimizing spend.
• Promote core value with employees in alignment with corporate purpose, mission, vision.
• Develop the annual capital plan, justify projects to leadership, and lead execution.
• Coach and develop the regional leadership team, building bench strength and succession depth.
• Ensure safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance across sites, partnering with EHS on incidents and risk reduction.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in chemical, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering or related field. Advanced degree (MBA or master’s in engineering). is preferred
• 5+ years management experience in a chemical plant, including multi-site oversight is required
• Strong business acumen; proven budget and capital project management. Greenfield & Brownfield project experience is preferred.
• Working knowledge of continuous improvement methods (5S, Lean, Six Sigma) is required.
• Proficient in Word, Excel, Outlook; able to learn new software.
• Self-driven, organized, effective across all organizational levels and sites.
• Strong communication and multi-tasking skills; team oriented.
• Six Sigma Green/Black Belt certification is preferred
• Experience with digital plant tools (data historians, KPI/OEE dashboards, PowerBI).
• PSM/HAZOP or process safety management experience.
• Track record building high-performing teams and succession pipelines.
• Specialty chemicals or related process manufacturing background.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in chemical, mechanical, industrial engineering, or a related field
- 5+ years of management experience in a chemical plant, including multi-site oversight
- Proven budget and capital project management experience
- Working knowledge of continuous improvement methods, including 5S, Lean, and Six Sigma
- Proficiency in Word, Excel, and Outlook, with ability to learn new software
- Strong communication, organizational, multitasking, and cross-functional leadership skills
- Experience with digital plant tools, data historians, KPI/OEE dashboards, and Power BI
- PSM/HAZOP or process safety management experience
- Specialty chemicals or related process manufacturing background
- Advanced degree, such as an MBA or master’s in engineering
- Greenfield and brownfield project experience
- Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
What We Do
The Chatham Group is a talent acquisition and recruiting firm serving science- and technology-based industries. It provides personalized executive, professional, and technical search services, helping clients identify and hire talent across chemicals, plastics, specialty gases, advanced materials, personal care products, accounting, finance, and IT. The firm emphasizes hands-on expertise, long-term partnerships, cultural fit, and transparent recruitment processes for clients and candidates.
