Research Operations Manager

Maryland Heights, MO

Spartech offers a competitive salary, incentives, and benefit programs!

Spartech LLC, headquartered in Maryland Heights, Missouri is a leading manufacturing organization in the Custom Sheet & Roll Stock and Packaging industries with numerous locations throughout the United States. We have a broad customer base with extensive product offerings. Many of our materials are used in products you might see every day— for example if you start your morning with a yogurt or your child eats a single serving peanut butter—you may have already seen some of our materials. More unique uses of our materials can be seen in Military or security applications, for example, with bullet proof materials. From routine daily-life to life-saving applications—we make a difference. Our broad scope of products and services keep our environment interesting and challenging with a culture focused on success.

The Research Operations Manager directs the overall efforts of the operations team at the Innovation Center to meet development objectives. This includes input on experimental design, pilot trials planning, scheduling and completion, production, quality, environmental, safety, materials management, and purchasing.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage and develop staff, focused on full qualification of operations team members on all equipment.
• Participate as active member of the Technology team, advising the engineering team as needed.
• Conduct production, communication and planning meetings.
• Responsibility for the weekly scheduling of tasks and trials and ensuring the execution of the plan.
• Help remove obstacles to development and provide insight on materials processing to engineers.
• Develop procedures to meet site goals in areas including safety and environmental compliance, cost, productivity, creativity, timeliness, and quality.
• Manage capital projects, with close coordination of maintenance.
• Spearhead technology transfer to manufacturing facilities
• Conduct plant tours as needed.
• Assist engineers with new product scale-ups.
• Work with Technology personnel to ensure intellectual property developments are protected.
• Directly and indirectly supervises all areas of the Technology Operations. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include hiring, promoting, compensating, training, disciplining, scheduling, directing, terminating, developing and measuring performance.
• Conduct employee performance review and planning sessions.
• Regular attendance.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical discipline or extensive manufacturing, material development experience.

• Minimum seven years' experience in engineering, design and development of products similar to Spartech’s; experience in research and development environment.
• Preferred minimum of three years of management experience, in projects, people and departmental areas
• Experience applying standards and procedures; familiarity with environmental safety regulations and standards.
• Experience with using ERP or similar system preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of Spartech products and materials used in production of products.
• Ability to research and develop proposals for development of new and modified Spartech products from a process and machine capability standpoint. Assist engineering in evaluating proposals from vendors, customers and outside entities and evaluate feasibility for the company.
• Ability to develop trial plans and execute and work with the engineering team to ensure project success.
• Knowledge of ISO standards and procedures, and inspection methods of materials and finished products.
• Ability to effectively communicate with all levels and types of internal and external individuals.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations, including using/calculating ratios, percents and translate that for the team in material mixing, machine setups and trial execution.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, and customers.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Benefits

We offer competitive salary, incentives, and benefit programs. – Most Benefits Start Day ONE!

Benefits include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Company paid Life & Long-term/Short-term disability programs.
  
• 401(k) with strong company match.
• 120 hours Paid Time Off (pro-rated based on hire date).
• 11 paid holidays.

Spartech, LLC provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status, or other legally protected classification in the state in which a person is seeking employment. Spartech will use E-Verify to ensure employment eligibility of newly hired employees where required.