Unit Leader - Tedlar

At DuPont, we are working on things that matter; whether it’s providing clean water to more than a billion people on the planet, producing materials that are essential in everyday technology devices from smartphones to electric vehicles, or protecting workers around the world. 

If you would like to be a part of a premier multi-industrial company that is delivering sustainable solutions that bring real purpose and value, of a company with collaborative spirit because it believes that we work best when we work together as a team and values the diversity of thought, then DuPont is the company for you!

We are excited to share that on May 22, 2024, DuPont announced plans to separate(1) into three industry-leading, independent publicly traded companies. This strategic move will create focused businesses with distinct investment profiles. We believe the proposed separations will create opportunities for all three future companies to better serve their customers and unlock long-term value for stakeholders. This process is expected to take 18-24 months from the date of announcement to complete. We are committed to supporting our employees throughout this transition and ensuring a smooth and successful separation process. We look forward to welcoming new talent who are interested in contributing to the continued success and growth of our evolving organization.

WHY JOIN US?

Our purpose is to empower the world with essential innovations to thrive. We work on things that matter! 

Have the Opportunity to chart your own course, challenge yourself, and acquire new capabilities to build a rewarding and fulfilling career. We reward employees with competitive pay and incentives to recognize skills, competencies, and contributions to business results. 

Get to Experience a collaborative environment where teamwork is celebrated with flexibility that enhances balance and an inclusive atmosphere that is welcoming to all!

Get to know our Purpose and make it yours by bringing innovations to market that improve the world, share a commitment to sustainability that makes our planet better and give back to communities in which we work and live.

Our Operations team is essential to delivering the innovative and life-saving products we make for our customers. We depend on our team members to actively engage in continuously improving our operations while we provide the growth and development to help them build their skills and career. Operational Excellence in our workplace unleashes the energy, creativity and collaboration – along with our tools, technology and training – that enables our people to perform at their best.

Job Description:

The Yerkes Plant in Buffalo, NY is looking for a skilled leader with 15+ years of Production and Chemical plant experience to fill a vacant Unit Production Leader position for Tedlar® operations. The Yerkes site is one of two manufacturing locations for the production of Tedlar® polyvinyl fluoride film produced by the Photovoltaics and Advanced Materials business unit in the DuPont Company. Tedlar® film is used in a wide variety of applications serving global Industrial and Photovoltaic markets. The Tedlar® facilities at Yerkes consist of polymerization units, film casting, and numerous converting operations such as surface treatment and roll slitting. The Yerkes site currently manufactures Tedlar® film and Corian® solid surfaces. This individual will oversee the line management responsibility for an organization composed of approximately 150 DuPont production employees including Process Control Technicians, Run and Maintain Engineers and quality control technicians. This position provides strategic and tactical oversight for all aspects of the Tedlar® unit. 

Unit Leader is an experienced leadership role that delivers profitable results and long-term value consistently aligned to business objectives. The Unit Leader engages all employees in DuPont's Operational Excellence framework; Instills behaviors and mindsets for operating safely; Manages plant financial performance with discipline and rigor and builds a sense of pride and ownership at all levels.

Your key responsibilities:

• Embraces and role models DuPont Core Values; Cultivates a culture of excellence
• Stays informed of the business strategy and needs; Engages with employees to communicated business strategy and gain insight on strengths and challenges to delivery of strategy; Supports change to meet business needs
• Demonstrates financial accountability and rigor to deliver against plan and gain value from our assets and investments by pulling the right levers to manage expenses, margins, etc.
• Establishes and communicates challenging performance goals, metrics and outcomes for Unit to safely and efficiently meet or exceed production and quality goals aligned to customers’ needs
• Hires, retains and develops talent to meet current and future capabilities; Promotes a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment; Coaches and provides performance feedback to team members to align on expectations and overall team effectiveness; Uses reward and recognition to drive the right behaviors and results
• Promotes commitment and ownership to Operational Excellence by engaging team members to identify opportunities for continuous improvement, eliminate waste and remove barriers; Uses lean and digital tools effectively
• Collaborates across functions (R&D, Supply Chain, EHS, Engineering, Finance, Quality, etc.) to align resources, eliminate inefficiencies and deliver value
• Interacts in a timely fashion with customers, community, regulatory and media to maintain strong external relations

Qualifications:

• 15 years relevant experience across multiple Manufacturing disciplines such as: EHS, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Maintenance, Reliability, Technology, HR, Finance and Continuous Improvement 
• 10 years’ experience of direct line people leadership
• Experience managing in a labor environment where strong relationships with union/work councils are required, preferred
• Experienced Six Sigma/Lean practitioner with demonstrated results
• BS, Sciences, Engineering, or Supply Chain
• APICS CSCP or CPIM Certification preferred

About the Site:

The Yerkes site employs approximately 435 DuPont employees and another 60-80 contractors. In addition to the Tedlar® operation, Yerkes is the home for Corian® Operations and R&D. The Corian® business is part of the Shelter Business Division at DuPont and in turn part of the Water and Protection DuPont business segment. The Shelter business has landlord responsibilities for the Yerkes site with the Tedlar® business as Tenant. The two business units work collaboratively to share, where appropriate, improvement approaches, resources and site infrastructure support. The bargaining unit employees (operators, mechanics, lab technicians and clerical group) are represented by a local 6992 of the United Steel Workers union.

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(1)The separation transactions are subject to satisfaction of customary conditions, including final approval by DuPont's Board of Directors, receipt of tax opinion from counsel, the filing and effectiveness of Form 10 registration statements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, applicable regulatory approvals, and satisfactory completion of financing.  For further discussion of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could impact the achievement, expected timing and intended benefits of the separation transactions, see DuPont’s announcement.