VP of Process Engineering
Houston, TX
Our client, a biotech company specializing in products for human and animal health, has an opportunity for a Vice President of Process Engineering. This executive provides leadership for the Engineering team as technical experts of the design and operation of the manufacturing processes, including providing support for new products and process improvements. This VP will utilize resources and personnel to achieve safe, reliable, and efficient operations that meet customer needs and plant objectives.
Responsibilities:
- Work as an effective member of a team while providing strong leadership, direction, and coaching for direct reports, as applicable
- Identify areas of improvement and develop & implement recommendations to capture those improvements.
- Lead engineering team from first concept to commercial plant operation with compliance to safety and quality, as well as Good Engineering Practices.
- Engineering: define the technical scope of work, review and approve the technical documentation during all steps of the project (Concept, Process design, Laboratory/Pilot testing, Basic Engineering, & Detail Engineering)
- Procurement: do the technical review and approval during all steps of the procurement
- Construction: provide technical input for shutdown coordination
- Installation: acceptance testing, commissioning, operator training, handover to Production & Maintenance
- Plant life: provide technical support for troubleshooting and debottlenecking
- Ensure the Management of Change process is followed
- Responsible for both process & production engineering and capital investment portfolio
- Provide day-to-day engineering support to operations (i.e., troubleshooting, training)
- Identify and lead key improvement and growth projects
- Lead Global Technology Development to support in both Houston and Norway
- Explore new concepts and implement new processes, equipment, or develop new product streams
- Direct all engineering activities toward maximizing yields, improving quality levels, and reducing costs while utilizing resources in the most efficient manner possible
- Communicate with stakeholders regarding process changes and plant performance and propose improvements as needed
- Establish and conduct tests, analyze, and interpret test results and prepare reports summarizing methods employed and results obtained in the solution of the assigned project
- Provide technical support to engineers and technicians in response to production issues
- Provide support to Production and Quality Assurance in the areas of process improvement, opportunity analysis, and safety
- Provide process documentation and operating instructions to support efficient operation
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering required, master’s in engineering or an MBA a plus
- At least 15 years of Process Engineering experience with 10 years in an Engineering Manager role
- Experience with Engineering project management
- Understanding of industry regulatory compliance standards and their application to the manufacturing process
- Knowledge and experience with meeting regulatory standards for Food and GMP safety standards, OSHA compliance and TCEQ Environmental regulations
- Collaborative management approach
- Experience in brewery, food processing, nutraceutical, or pharmaceutical manufacturing industry with emphasis on “process engineering”
- Experience working in a global setting a plus
