Senior Chemical Operators at Michelman serve as both production experts and frontline mentors, responsible for safely operating processing equipment, executing batch production, and maintaining situational awareness of all work occurring within their zone.
Requirements
- Act as equipment and area owner, maintaining ownership over assigned equipment.
- Ensure readiness of utilities for unit operation.
- Follow SOPs to safely operate equipment including reactors, kettles, mixers, pumps, filtration, forklifts, and utilities.
- Load, unload, and package materials per instructions, completing all documentation.
- Manufacture batches per work orders and adjust as needed to meet specifications.
- Monitor and interpret process parameters, record data in real time, and escalate abnormal conditions or trends.
- Operate process systems (e.g., extruders, packaging lines, wastewater treatment, boiler) in compliance with safety, quality, and efficiency standards.
- Participate in shift handoffs and daily tier meetings to support production continuity.
- Perform equipment calibrations in accordance with gauge standards.
- Record inventory transactions accurately in ERP.
- Support product trials and help refine batch procedures.
- Use checklists to perform equipment changeovers, line clearances, and task verifications.
- Use checklists to prepare and perform equipment cleaning and/or sanitization, changeovers, line clearances, and task verifications.
- Verify raw material identity, lot codes, and quantities before staging for production.
- Access digital tools for just-in-time learning and job guidance.
- Ask clarifying questions to ensure task understanding and reduce operational risk.
- Communicate effectively with team leaders, support staff, and managers to address safety, quality, and production concerns.
- Complete required training, certifications, and assessments on time.
- Follow all EHS and Quality policies to maintain a safe and compliant workplace.
- Guide new and existing operators by modeling standard work and reinforcing best practices.
- Keep work areas clean and organized to meet housekeeping and GMP standards.
- Provide peers with constructive feedback to improve safety, quality, and efficiency.
- Actively engage in safety meetings and toolbox talks.
- Lead or participate in shift-level near-miss and incident reviews.
- Maintain situational awareness of all work occurring within the assigned area. Ensure that concurrent activities do not create safety risks or operational conflicts.
- Review and follow hazard labels and chemical handling procedures.
- Segregate and dispose of waste materials per environmental guidelines.
- Stop work when undue health, safety, or environmental risks are present. Step back and get help before proceeding.
- Support safe work execution in coordination with Maintenance, Engineering, Project Teams, and peers.
- Wear required PPE in accordance with procedures and safety data sheets (SDSs).
- Perform quality control tests and adjust batches to meet specifications.
- Collaborate with the quality team to resolve product or customer issues.
- Review batch records and follow deviation and escalation procedures.
- Support problem-solving efforts to prevent or correct quality defects.
- Select appropriate scale to confirm material weights before addition.
- Identify and report ways to reduce scrap, waste, or energy use.
- Lead or participate in continuous improvement activities.
- Lead or participate in cycle counts to improve inventory accuracy.
- Lead or support root cause investigations (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone) as a subject matter expert.
- Share improvement ideas and recommend updates to SOPs or work instructions.
- Authorize and monitor work permits.
- Identify and troubleshoot minor mechanical or instrumentation issues before escalation.
- Perform preventive maintenance tasks according to autonomous maintenance (AM) guidelines.
- Submit maintenance work requests.
- Prepare equipment for maintenance and/or projects.
- Notify affected personnel of changes in equipment status or area accessibility due to ongoing work or preparation activities.
Benefits
- Excellent salary
- Incentive package
- Benefits package
- Dynamic, empowered team environment
