Expert - Turnaround Optimization

Company: Westlake Chemical
Location: Sulphur
Posted on: January 19, 2023

Job Description:

SUMMARY

This position is responsible for development, execution, and decisions for the company's turnaround strategy that have far reaching impacts on safety, reliability, costs, and financial performance. The Turnaround Optimization Expert is responsible for improving turnaround safety, scheduling, execution, costs, and improving plant reliability between turnarounds. This includes identifying and documenting processes for improving plant turnaround performance to high levels compared to industry performance benchmarks. Serves as subject matter expert on chemical turnarounds, potentially of several hundred -million-dollar scope, large project and process controls. Works as a peer to Plant Managers and manufacturing leadership to influence and lead large project teams. This position will be concentrated within our Chemical plants in the United States, Germany, and Asia.



DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

May include, but are not limited to, the following:

* Ensures a strong safety culture through turnaround excellence as well as leadership behaviors demonstrating a commitment to environmental, health & safety.

* Serves as a subject matter expert on chemical plant turnaround processes.

* Develops strategy and standardized Westlake turnaround process best practices to be implemented across Westlake.

* Builds competence in best practices of chemical plant turnaround processes. Leads the creation of turnaround process and practices including stage gate process, turnaround readiness, risk assessments, project management controls, KPI's, and turnaround critiques.

* Works with site leadership on evaluating turnaround methods as well as critiques of past turnarounds.

* Leads materials management strategy assessments.

* In conjunction with purchasing, ensure effective corporate negotiations on key turnaround cost drivers.

* Develops KPI's for measuring the performance of turnarounds, ensuring visibility of results with manufacturing leadership team.

* Performs an expert assessment of turnaround best practices.

* Provide insight in chemical industry turnaround best practices and ensure incorporation into Westlake turnarounds as appropriate.

* Engages Sr. Leadership in turnaround stage gate process to ensure turnarounds are proceeding according to plan. Anticipates, identifies, and rectifies issues as appropriate. Ensures issues with equipment performance are included as needed in turnaround planning.

* Incorporates Digitalization tools in turnaround preparation and simulations as appropriate.

* Successful candidates must background screening, including motor vehicle record screening, drug testing and pre-employment physical requirements before starting work.



EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

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• Fifteen years of demonstrated leadership experience and expertise in Turnaround activities such as planning, scheduling, field management, and process development.
  
  
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills, verbal and written.
  
  
• Proficient computer skills, with good working knowledge of all standard company applications (i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.)
  
  
• Self-directed and motivated
  
  
• Strong leadership skills
  
  
• Influencing and team building skills
  
  
• Ability to make sound decisions based upon technical information.
  
  
  
  PHYSICAL DEMANDS
  
  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. During plant visits must be able to climb stairs and ladders in order to access elevated structures and equipment such as towers and columns. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Additionally, this position must make general decisions requiring judgement and perform activities requiring sustained concentration.
  
  
  
  WORK ENVIRONMENT
  
  The noise level in the work environment is sometimes moderate when working in an office, however, some of the work may be required in the operating units which mandates usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, and respirators. May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs and elevators. Travel including air travel or auto travel will be required.
  
  
  
  WORK LOCATION
  
  This position will be located in Houston, Texas and will be required to travel to our other Westlake plant locations in the United States, Germany, and Asia. If an internal candidate is chosen, that person may be allowed to remain at his/her current work location.
  
  
  
  

Keywords: Westlake Chemical, Lake Charles , Expert - Turnaround Optimization, Other , Sulphur, Louisiana