Senior Operations Leader (Plant Manager / Production Manager Level)

Dunnellon, FL

Activated Carbon Manufacturing – 24/7 Continuous Process

Donau Carbon USA is a global leader in activated carbon production, backed by more than 100 years of industry expertise. We manufacture high‑quality powdered, granular, and extruded activated carbon for applications including odor control, natural gas treatment, solvent recovery, wastewater treatment, and food & beverage processing.

We are seeking a Senior Operations Leader to oversee full plant operations at our Dunnellon, FL manufacturing site. This role is responsible for production, maintenance, reliability, engineering oversight, cost control, HSE, and people leadership in a continuous‑process environment. Rotary kiln or thermal processing experience is a major plus.

Key Responsibilities

Lead all plant operations, including daily/weekly/monthly production performance (OEE, yield, uptime, throughput)
Oversee workforce planning, shift management, and supervisory development
Drive operational efficiency, process optimization, and Lean/CI initiatives
Lead PM/PdM programs, reliability engineering, and contractor oversight
Manage CAPEX projects from concept through commissioning
Ensure OSHA/EPA compliance and maintain safety discipline
Own operational budgeting, cost control, and resource allocation
Provide strong leadership across production, maintenance, and engineering teams
Willingness to lead by example and drive culture change and work with an older plant.

Required Qualifications

5+ years in industrial or chemical manufacturing
Proven leadership as a Plant Manager or Operations Manager with full budget accountability
Strong background in preventive/predictive maintenance and reliability engineering
Hands‑on CAPEX project management experience
Experience with thermal processing, carbon materials, mineral processing, or rotary kilns preferred
Familiarity industrial safety protocols is important
Demonstrated success in manufacturing operations and continuous improvement
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field preferred

Donau Carbon USA

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Senior Operations Leader (Plant manager /Production Manager Level)