Project Manager

POSITION OVERVIEW 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 manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Europe and China. 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. Ascend Performance Materials is searching for a Project Manager to be based in the Chocolate Bayou, Texas area. As a key member of the Project Engineering Team, this individual contributor role will have accountability and ownership for capital project execution from concept to post closure audit. This includes integrating the contributions of all major constituencies including Technology, Process Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Operations, Business/Commercial, ESSH, Procurement, Project Design & Engineering and Construction needed to create reliable projects with minimum installed cost and fastest execution. REPORTS TO Senior Project Engineering Manager TARGETED OUTCOMES Develop an excellent, collaborative working relationship with Business management and functional management to drive the most efficient execution processes possible for all projects Design, put into practice, and lead as an advocate and champion, the use of best-in-class work processes for all aspects of project execution. Drive safe design and construction techniques for zero injuries and environmental incidents KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Processes Works with the business team and functional groups to identify project alternatives that offer the most creative solutions to solve a business need, as it progresses through the stage gate process. Directs actions required to ensure project Safety, Process Design Package and Scope development and documentation are developed throughout the stage gate process. Directs technical and administrative effort required to accomplish unit support & small project requirements in accordance with scope, design concept, design criteria, standard operating procedures, safety, schedule and budgets. Accountable for the development of the engineering design, estimating, procurement, schedule, construction and field productivity strategies that reflect industry best practices. Works closely with Ascend Site engineering and maintenance groups to leverage Ascend equipment and people resources and accountable to interface with ESSH department as necessary. Aligns project teams with project deliverables and goals and ensures that the project team stays aligned around these deliverables and goals. Ensures that detailed project cost and schedule controls are established and utilized per Project Management Best Practices to track progress on project commitments and progress reports are communicated. Works with each project leadership team to ensure that the project management of change (MOC) procedure for the project is strictly adhered to as required for the corresponding stage gate. Organizes the project start-up team early and clearly identify roles and responsibilities. Ensure that the start-up plan is developed as part of the detail design engineering process. Responsible for setting high expectations and holding accountable suppliers and 3rd party engineering execution Ensures project closure and final asset settlement is completed in a timely manner. Issues routine status reports to Stakeholders in written and/or verbal communications. Leadership Strong sense of ownership and a drive to be Better Everyday and to help the Project Team evolve to reach Best Practices. Lead cross functional project teams to include engineering, finance, supply chain, operational, ESSH, procurement, and MRE personnel to execute projects successfully Oversee and guide multi-functional technical teams of up to 5 to 15 personnel, including engineers, designers, drafters for mechanical, E&I civil, structural, process controls, etc. and other disciplines as required for project design and execution. Manage projects engineered with 3rd party (Consulting Engineers) resources. Responsible for multiple concurrent projects, depending on size and complexity of portfolio. Manage project support team, including project estimating, project controls, and construction management. REQUIRED EXPERIENCE Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Construction Management. Minimum 4 years in the chemicals or petro-chemicals industry or other “heavy” industries (Paper, Mining, etc.) Minimum 2 years’ experience managing Capital Programs, Capital Projects and the Capital Project Planning process Strong understanding and relevant experience of technology and manufacturing processes and systems, are essential to this position. DESIRED CERTIFICATION & TRAINING Project Management certification, preferred SAP knowledge Understanding of Project “Stage Gate” or “FEL” engineering process methods Use of scheduling software such as Microsoft Project or Primavera preferred Use of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook etc.) REQUIRED SKILLS Financial and economic acumen to build project justification models Proactive leadership and team-building skills with the ability to work effectively throughout the organization in a fast-paced matrix-structured reporting organization. Solid interpersonal and organizational skills with excellent English verbal and written communication capabilities. Demonstrated strong root-cause analytical and corrective action skills are a plus. Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple complex projects Demonstrated commitment to proactively deliver customer success Skills Summary: 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.