Maintenance Specialist

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 Contract Administrator/Associate Maintenance Specialist will be the Individual with accountability for overall administration of contractors, point of contact and Ascend Job Representative expectations and data analysis.  This role will monitor the numbers of contractors on site daily against an authorized headcount.  The role will support and participate in activities to drive and sustain process and documentation improvements within CMP.  The Contract Administrator/Associate Maintenance Specialist will be accountable for monitoring and reporting overall onsite contractor compliance including documenting regular vendor performance reviews. The Contract Administrator/Associate Maintenance Specialist will have accountability for select facilities contractors to facilitate repairs/ provide service and support the site within the facility’s department.

TARGETED OUTCOMES

• Cost, productivity, quality and safety targets for our contract labor and services are met or exceeded
• Maintain relationships and expectations with vendors
• Ongoing support and communication with service requestors
• Proven ability to quickly and safely mobilize and demobilize resources as needs arise.
• Identification and implementation of error resolution, contract adherence and invoice auditing
• Best In Class Contractor Management Tools and practices are in place to continue to drive productivity, safety, value and positive work experiences
• Support day-to-day facilities operations (permitting, auditing work for safety and performance)
• Provide oversite and facilitate nested and non-nested contractors within facilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Track proper contractor headcount daily against authorized headcount
• Drive performance improvement with each contracting organization by building relationships
• Perform invoice audits routinely and provide training and feedback to approvers
• Establish contractor targets and milestones for each contractor organization
• Implement site processes that ensure contract work across the site is conducted in a safe, responsible, and cost-effective manner
• Develop and lead a process to account for each contractor personnel on site daily
• Understand each contractor’s contract and ensure compliance with the contract
• Develop contract summaries and training to help field management/invoice approvers understand contractor agreements and how they are best utilized to drive down contractor costs
• Works with contractor leadership to ensure resource levels are adequate to cover service requirements and that personnel exit site when the requirements have been met
• Ensure appropriate contractor paperwork is maintained
• Complete vendor performance reviews
• Identify and implement opportunities to create value for the business
• Provides effective communication with the service providers and the client
• Build effective working relationships with contractors, contractor management, supervision, and field roles
• Facilitates key maintenance work process and productivity improvement projects as necessary to meet department goals and targets
• Aware of onboarding, offboarding and overall onsite vendor productivity and contract compliance
• Serve as the Track Coordinator back up
• Provide backup for contractor entry access
• Establish/Facilitate routine meetings for Contract Management Team (ESSH Representative, My Track Coordinator, Contract Manager)
• Must complete Ascend Job Representative (AJR) qualifications
• Support day-to-day facilities operations (permitting, auditing work for safety and performance)
• Provide oversite and facilitate nested and non-nested contractors within facilities
• Overseer’s facility projects and provides updates and status reports
• Willingness to learn and follow the Maintenance Work Process

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• High School diploma or equivalent
• 3-5 years’ experience working with Vendor management systems (TRACK, CMS and other ERP systems) preferred
• Minimum 5 years in maintenance/operations, reliability and/or turnaround activities in chemical, petrochemical or refinery industry
• Working knowledge of maintenance and turnaround work processes and associated central maintenance management systems (CMMS)
• Working knowledge of typical contracting strategies, contracting terms and conditions and contractor staffing/roles in an industrial setting
• Demonstrated performance and value improvement in work process related matters

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Able to quickly respond in challenging situations
• Owners’ mindset to identify and deliver improved performance
• Excellent oral and written communication skills as well as strong computer skills in several software systems
• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills
• Contract execution and issue resolution abilities
• Ability to work with various groups of people (i.e. accounting, information technology, operations management, contract personnel, etc.)
• Ability to build/maintain effective working relationships
• Must be able to work independently and cooperatively within a team in a fast-paced work environment
• Experience with MS Office Suites (i.e. Outlook, Excel, Word, etc.)
• Track and/or myTrack experience is a plus
• Knowledge of SAP system (Notification, W/O Creation, Purchasing and Requisition creation basic planning

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.

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.