Director of Process Engineering

Title: Director of Process Engineering

Location: Durham, NC; Ironton, OH; Remote

Company Summary

• Are you passionate about sustainability and making a difference in the world? The world is drowning in plastic waste and it’s critical that we find scalable solutions to solve this crisis. Our client's mission is to help solve the global environmental problem created by plastic waste. By diverting #5 plastic away from landfills and oceans, waste plastic can have a new life as a valuable renewable resource. Through our client's ground-breaking, patented recycling process, they separate color, odor, and contaminants from plastic waste to transform it into ultra-pure recycled resin. They provide their purified polypropylene resin to large companies like Procter & Gamble and L’Oreal to give them a sustainable solution for future products and packaging. Our client offers:Public company – NASDAQ
• Industry best PTO plan
• Competitive pay structure (includes cash and equity incentives)
• Full benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k)
• Awarded “Best Places to Work” two years in a row by Plastics News (2022, 2023)
• First-of-its-kind manufacturing processes/facilities designed with advanced technology and a “Born Digital” strategy

Role Overview

Our client is seeking an experienced Director of Engineering to lead their corporate engineering team. This key leadership position reports directly to the Executive Vice President of Manufacturing and plays a vital part in ensuring the process engineering needs are met across the new capital projects, R&D efforts, and ongoing process improvements at our purification sites.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and mentor a team of process engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement
• Oversee process engineering and design initiatives across multiple facilities and projects
• Develop and implement engineering standards, procedures, and best practices
• Partner with capital projects, R&D, and site manufacturing teams to ensure engineering solutions meet operational requirements
• Manage resource allocation and budgeting for engineering initiatives
• Drive process optimization projects to improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability
• Evaluate and implement new technologies and methodologies to enhance engineering capabilities
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external engineering partners and vendors

Basic Qualifications (Required)

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering required; Master's degree preferred
• 15 years of process engineering experience, with at least 8 years in leadership roles
• Deep expertise in process design, unit operations, and process safety management
• Proven track record of successfully leading complex engineering projects
• Strong understanding of capital project management and execution
• Experience with engineering design tools
• Excellent project management and organizational skills
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams

Leadership Competencies: Strategic thinking and planning capabilities; strong decision-making and problem-solving skills; ability to influence and collaborate across organizational boundaries; change management experience; commitment to safety and operational excellence

Impact: Shape the technical direction of our manufacturing operations; drive innovation in process design and engineering; develop the next generation of engineering talent; contribute to the company's growth and operational excellence; lead initiatives that improve efficiency and sustainability

Preferred:

• Professional Engineering (PE) license
• Experience with continuous improvement methodologies