Plant Manager

Company Description

Veolia Group is a global leader in environmental services, operating across all five continents with nearly 218,000 employees. Specializing in water, energy, and waste management, Veolia Group designs and implements innovative solutions for decarbonization, depollution, and resource regeneration, supporting communities and industries in their ecological transformation. Within this framework, Veolia's Water Technology Business brings together a dedicated team of experienced professionals committed to tackling the world’s most complex challenges related to water scarcity, quality, productivity, and energy. Together, we pursue a shared mission to create a more sustainable future.

Job Description

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and driven Chemical Plant Manager to lead our Bakersfield, CA manufacturing facility — a critical production hub serving the East and Central U.S. regions. Our facility produces specialty chemicals used in industrial water treatment applications, supporting industries that depend on clean, safe, and sustainable water systems.

This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who thrives on operational excellence, team development, and continuous improvement. If you are passionate about doing meaningful work that contributes to a cleaner, more sustainable world, this opportunity is for you.

You will oversee a workforce of approximately 60 employees and hold full accountability for the safe, efficient, and profitable operation of the plant — spanning EHS, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and Operations.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS:

• Safety-First Leader –Uncompromising commitment to EHS compliance and building a culture where every employee goes home safe.

• Operationally Driven – A hands-on problem solver who relentlessly pursues efficiency, quality, and on-time delivery.

• Strategically Minded – Able to balance the demands of today's production floor with the vision and planning required to grow the site for tomorrow.
   

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Leadership

• Serve as the site's top safety champion, ensuring full compliance with all federal, state, and local EHS regulations, including EPA, OSHA, CalOSHA, and RCRA requirements applicable to chemical manufacturing

• Drive a zero-incident safety culture through proactive hazard identification, risk assessments, safety audits, and employee engagement programs

• Oversee proper handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous chemicals in accordance with all regulatory requirements

• Partner with corporate EHS to implement company-wide safety initiatives and ensure timely reporting of incidents, near-misses, and corrective actions

• Maintain all required environmental permits and ensure ongoing regulatory compliance

Manufacturing Operations Management

• Direct and optimize day-to-day plant operations to meet production schedules, quality standards, and customer delivery commitments

• Review production demand forecasts to make informed decisions regarding inventory levels, staffing requirements, work procedures, and duty assignments

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including production output, yield, downtime, OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), and cost per unit

• Identify and eliminate operational bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and waste through the application of Lean Manufacturing principles (5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, etc.)

• Ensure On-Time Delivery (OTD) performance consistently meets or exceeds customer and regional sales expectations

Financial Management & Budget Oversight

• Develop, manage, and be accountable for the site's annual operating budget, including labor, materials, overhead, and capital expenditures

• Approve expenditures for supplies, raw materials, and human resources while ensuring resources are deployed efficiently to meet production targets

• Analyze financial performance data, identify variances, and implement corrective actions to maintain cost controls and profitability

• Develop and execute the annual capital budget, including equipment upgrades, facility improvements, and capacity expansion projects

• Provide accurate financial forecasting and reporting to corporate leadership

Strategic Planning & Site Development

• Develop and execute a 5-year strategic plan for the Bakersfield facility, encompassing workforce development, capital investment, capacity planning, and operational capability

• Translate the long-term site strategy into actionable annual operating plans with measurable milestones and accountability

• Lead or oversee site expansion projects from planning through commissioning, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget

• Contribute to broader corporate business strategy by providing site-level insights on capacity, capability, market trends, and operational risks

Departmental Leadership & People Management

• Provide direct leadership and strategic direction to the following departments:

  • Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)

  • Quality Assurance/Quality Control

  • Engineering

  • Maintenance

  • Production/Operations

• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain top talent; build a high-performing, engaged workforce that reflects the company's values

• Establish clear performance expectations, conduct regular performance reviews, and implement development plans for direct reports and their teams

• Foster a positive, inclusive, and supportive work environment that positions the company as an employer of choice in the Bakersfield market

• Drive employee engagement through transparent communication, recognition programs, and meaningful career development opportunities

Cross-Functional & Corporate Collaboration

• Serve as the primary site liaison and maintain strong working relationships with the following corporate functions:

  • EHS – regulatory compliance, incident management, and program alignment

  • Human Resources – talent acquisition, employee relations, and workforce planning

  • Finance – budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting

  • Product Management – product specifications, formulation changes, and new product introductions

  • Sales – customer commitments, capacity planning, and regional demand alignment

  • Engineering – capital projects, process improvements, and technical support

  • Procurement & Materials Planning – raw material sourcing, supply chain reliability, and inventory management

• Communicate plant performance, risks, and opportunities clearly and consistently to corporate leadership

Quality Assurance

• Ensure all products manufactured at the Bakersfield facility meet or exceed customer quality specifications and internal quality standards

• Oversee the site's quality management system and drive a culture of right-first-time production

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) processes for quality escapes or customer complaints

• Collaborate with Quality and Product Management teams to support new product qualifications and process validations

Qualifications

Education & Experience

(Required)

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline

• 7–10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, with at least 3–5 years in a plant or operations manager role within a chemical, specialty chemical, or process manufacturing environment

• Demonstrated knowledge of chemical manufacturing processes, including handling of hazardous materials and compliance with applicable regulations

• Proven track record of P&L ownership and managing multi-million dollar operating budgets

• Strong working knowledge of EHS regulations (OSHA, EPA, CalOSHA) in a chemical manufacturing context

• Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing tools and driving measurable operational improvements

• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and inspire cross-functional teams of 50+ employees

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills

• Excellent communication skills — able to effectively engage with frontline employees, peers, and executive leadership

Preferred

• Experience in water treatment chemical manufacturing or related specialty chemical sectors

• Familiarity with ISO 9001 or similar quality management systems

• Experience managing capital projects and site expansions

• MBA or advanced degree in a relevant discipline

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

At Veolia, we realize diverse teams make smarter decisions, deliver better results, and build stronger communities. We’re an organization that champions diversity and inclusion at every rung of the ladder and are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Because our people are our greatest assets, we also offer competitive compensation and benefits that include:

● Compensation - The salary range is tied to the market for similarly benchmarked roles.  The range is
not an absolute, but a guide, and offers will be based on the individual candidate’s knowledge, skills,
experience, and market conditions, as well as internal peer equity.  Depending upon all the preceding
considerations for the final selected individual candidate, the offer may be lower or higher than the
stated range: $120k-$145k USD
● Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance Starting Day 1!
● Life Insurance
● Paid Time Off
● Paid Holidays
● Parental Leave
● 401(k) Plan - 3% default contribution plus matching!
● Flexible Spending & Health Saving Accounts
● AD&D Insurance
● Disability Insurance
● Tuition Reimbursement

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this
posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable
law.
****Applicants are required to be eligible to lawfully work in the U.S. immediately; employer will not
sponsor applicants for U.S. work authorization (e.g. H-1B visa) for this opportunity****
Veolia does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiting firms. All vendors must have a
current and fully executed MSA on file before submitting candidates. Any unsolicited resumes and
candidate profiles will be deemed the property of Veolia, and no fee will be due.

As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.