Solenis is a leading global provider of water and hygiene solutions. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids, functional additives, cleaners, disinfectants, and state-of-the-art monitoring, control and delivery systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact, and create cleaner and safer environments. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 78 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over ~23000 professionals in >160 countries across six continents. Solenis is a 2025 Best Managed Company Gold Standard honoree.
For additional information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com or follow us on social media.
Associate Director, Manufacturing Opex – North America
Company: Solenis
Region: North America
Function: Manufacturing / Operational Excellence / Maintenance & Reliability
Reports to: Head of Global OPEX
Position Summary
The Associate Director, Manufacturing Opex – North America plays a critical leadership role in Solenis’ SPRINT transformation program, driving step‑change improvements in manufacturing productivity, operational performance, and asset reliability across North American operations.
This role is accountable for translating SPRINT objectives into measurable and sustainable productivity gains through the deployment of Manufacturing Operational Excellence, with a strong emphasis on maintenance excellence, reliability, and asset performance. The Associate Director partners closely with Plant Managers, Maintenance & Reliability Leaders, Engineering, EHS, Finance, and Global OPEX teams to improve throughput, reduce losses, optimize cost structures, and embed a culture of continuous improvement aligned with Solenis’ strategic growth and margin objectives.
Key Responsibilities
SPRINT Transformation & Manufacturing Opex Leadership
- Serve as a regional Manufacturing Opex leader within the SPRINT transformation program, ensuring productivity, reliability, and cost competitiveness are core value levers.
- Lead the deployment of Solenis’ Manufacturing Opex framework across North American sites, aligned with SPRINT priorities.
- Translate regional and SPRINT productivity targets into site‑level initiatives with clear KPIs, ownership, and financial impact.
- Act as a change leader, driving adoption of standard work, performance management routines, and disciplined execution.
Productivity & Cost Competitiveness
- Drive manufacturing productivity improvements across labor, assets, and materials, including:
- Throughput, capacity utilization, and schedule adherence
- Labor productivity and work process efficiency
- Reduction of operational losses (downtime, scrap, rework, yield loss)
- Lead initiatives to simplify, standardize, and optimize manufacturing and maintenance work processes.
- Partner with Finance to ensure rigorous tracking, validation, and sustainability of productivity and cost improvements.
- Support margin improvement through reductions in fixed and variable manufacturing costs using Opex and reliability levers.
Maintenance Excellence & Asset Reliability
- Lead regional efforts to strengthen maintenance excellence and asset reliability as foundational enablers of productivity.
- Drive reductions in unplanned downtime and reactive maintenance through:
- Preventive and predictive maintenance programs
- Reliability‑Centered Maintenance (RCM), FMEA, and asset criticality assessments
- Improved maintenance planning, scheduling, and execution discipline
- Promote standard maintenance practices and performance metrics across sites.
- Partner with Engineering and Capital Projects teams to embed reliability and maintainability into equipment design, upgrades, and new installations.
Safety, Quality & Risk Reduction
- Ensure safety is fully integrated into Manufacturing Opex, SPRINT, and maintenance initiatives, reinforcing a zero‑harm culture.
- Support mechanical integrity, process safety, and risk‑based maintenance practices.
- Ensure productivity and reliability improvements support product quality, regulatory compliance, and environmental performance.
Continuous Improvement & Best Practice Deployment
- Lead cross‑functional Manufacturing Opex initiatives, including Kaizen events, focused improvement workshops, and value stream mapping.
- Identify, replicate, and scale best practices in productivity, maintenance, and reliability across North American sites.
- Drive the use of visual management, tiered accountability, and performance reviews to sustain gains.
Capability Building & Change Management
- Build long‑term Manufacturing Opex, productivity, and reliability capability across sites.
- Coach and develop Plant Leaders, Maintenance Managers, and CI practitioners to own results.
- Support the development of Lean leaders, TPM pillars, and reliability champions aligned with SPRINT objectives.
- Lead change management efforts to embed new behaviors, routines, and performance expectations.
Governance, Reporting & Sustainability
- Establish governance mechanisms to track Manufacturing Opex, SPRINT, productivity, and reliability performance.
- Provide regular, data‑driven updates to regional and global leadership on progress, risks, and opportunities.
- Support Solenis’ sustainability and ESG objectives by improving energy efficiency, reducing waste, and maximizing asset utilization.
Key Interfaces
- Plant Managers and Manufacturing Leadership Teams
- Maintenance & Reliability Managers
- Engineering and Capital Projects
- EHS, Quality, and Supply Chain
- Global Manufacturing Opex / SPRINT Leadership
- Finance (productivity and benefit validation)
Qualifications & Experience
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, or a related technical field.
- 8–12 years with demonstrated leadership in Manufacturing Opex, productivity improvement, and/or maintenance & reliability.
- Proven track record of delivering measurable productivity and cost improvements in a multi‑site environment.
- Strong knowledge of Lean, TPM, reliability methodologies, and continuous improvement tools.
- Experience in batch or process manufacturing environments (chemical or industrial manufacturing strongly preferred).
- Willingness to travel across North American sites (approximately 30–50%).
Preferred
- Master’s degree (MBA, MS Engineering, or equivalent).
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, TPM certification, or Reliability certification (e.g., CMRP).
- Experience supporting large‑scale transformation programs.
- Experience in a global, matrixed organization.
Leadership & Behavioral Competencies
- Strong transformation and change leader with the ability to influence without direct authority.
- Highly results‑oriented, with a clear focus on productivity, value creation, and execution.
- Systems thinker with deep understanding of manufacturing assets and cost drivers.
- Data‑driven, structured problem solver with a hands‑on, pragmatic approach.
- Passion for safety, reliability, continuous improvement, and people development.
Key Success Measures
- Achievement of SPRINT Manufacturing productivity and cost targets across North America.
- Sustained improvements in OEE, throughput, labor productivity, and maintenance effectiveness.
- Reduction in unplanned downtime and maintenance‑related losses.
- Demonstrated financial impact and margin improvement from Manufacturing Opex initiatives.
- Increased site ownership and capability in productivity, maintenance, and continuous improvement.
- Standardization and sustainability of best practices across manufacturing sites.
We understand that candidates will not meet every single desired qualification. If your experience looks a little different from what we’ve identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we’d love to learn more about you.
At Solenis, we understand that our greatest asset is our people. That is why we offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits which include medical, dental, vision & 401K, and numerous opportunities for professional growth and development. So, if you are interested in working for a world-class company and enjoy solving complex challenges, whether in the lab or the field, consider joining our team.
Solenis is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer, including Minorities / Women/ Veterans / Disabled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
Should you require assistance in applying to this opportunity, please reach out to Solenis Talent Acquisition at talentacquisition@solenis.com
The expected compensation range for this position is between $142,240.00 and $208,615.00 plus discretionary bonuses. The exact compensation may vary based on your skills, experience and other factors permitted by law.