Process Technology Leader, Dispersants and Viscosity Modifiers

Title: Process Technology Leader, Dispersants & Viscosity Modifiers
Location: Wickliffe, OH

Job Description:

Job Type: Hybrid (4 days on-site, 1 day remote)

Travel:10-20%

Shape the Future with Us.

At Lubrizol, we’re bringing to life the chemistry behind clean water, efficient transportation, reliable infrastructure, critical medicines, and the products people rely on every day through science, sustainability, and a culture of inclusion.

As part of our global team, you’ll be empowered to make a real impact - on your career, your community, and the world around you.

How You’ll Make an Impact

Lubrizol’s process technology team reimagines what is possible, delivering safe and sustainable solutions to drive business value and create a competitive advantage. As the Process Technology Leader, Dispersants & Viscosity Modifiers, you will play a critical role in developing next generation manufacturing processes and high-performance engineering teams leveraging latest technologies, creativity, engineering and unit operation fundamentals with contemporary development methodologies.

You will drive our Most Effective Technology process, METp, which has three levels, Base = what we have today, Plus = the best we can do today and Prime = what we believe is possible.  Your primary focus will be on best-in-class technology, MET-Plus and MET-Prime for Lubrizol’s processes while partnering with global operations teams to maximize MET-Base performance. In addition, you will identify and progress global productivity and continuous improvement initiatives.  You will lead the process scale up of new products, tolling and regional localization support and work to attract and develop the next generation of process development engineers.  You will support the adherence and application of program management fundaments for all activities where resources are deployed to ensure results align with business expectations.

You will work with the global cross-functional team to develop effective partnerships and standard work practices ensuring we deliver on the potential and opportunity as One Lubrizol.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Lead the Dispersants & Viscosity Modifiers Process Technology team:

• Cultivate a high-performance engineering team and drive cross-functional engagements to achieve business objectives.
• Identify technologies, partnerships, methodologies to stimulate our thinking, elevate our practices, accelerate learning to enable step changes in performance.
• Work with global business and operations teams to align on process technology and productivity initiatives.
• Drive standardization and effectiveness of best practice operational, technology development and transfer, and project management processes across all manufacturing locations.

Develop and implement Most Effective Technology Processes and lead global productivity initiatives:

• Partner with R&D and 3rd parties (Tollers) to develop MET-Plus and MET-Prime pipelines, state of the art process technologies and fundamental process capabilities.
• Develop MET dashboards, Metrics/KPIs to quantity process performance, potential with investment, and improvement with development.  Deliver identified value in MET dashboard available by upgrading facilities.
• Identify technologies required for pilot process improvements and partner with broader Manufacturing Technology teams to secure necessary equipment and pilot process to enable accelerated learning.
• Lead scale-up activities with special focus on generating required data confirming product and process quality and capability.
• Embrace Lean and Design for Six Sigma initiatives to ensure data driven and systematic approaches to driving improvements and especially that effective controls are implemented to maintain gains.
• Lead product and process FMEAs to ensure effective management of risk, ensuring all process risks and operator health and safety risks are mitigated during lab, pilot plant and plant work.
• Accountable for compliance and execution of Technology License Agreements with external partners as appropriate.
• Partner with plant operations to create an effective process to surface and prioritize global productivity and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Lead execution of focus projects while also understanding where else insights gained can be leveraged elsewhere.

Develop a high-performance engineering team to enable accelerated learning and business results:

• Work with Lubrizol’s R&D teams for opportunities to enhance engineer capability through Digitization, AI and Generative AI
• Work to enhance member and teams’ creativity and agility through development of effective brainstorming skills.
• Foster lean start-up thinking and team mindsets with focus on minimally viable products and effective build, measure, learn cycles of learning.
• Drive superior teaming and facilitation skills ensuring desired stakeholder experiences
• Ensure team are grounded in core engineering fundamentals, core unit operation expertise and engineering skills and risk assessment (FMEA)
• Work to elevate Six Sigma competencies to include Process Mapping, Measurement System Analysis, Root Cause Analysis, Process Capability/Control Charts, Multi-variate analysis/Components of Variation, Design of Experiments, House of Quality and Statistical Tools
• Ensures high competency and demonstrated proficiency in applying first principles of chemistry and engineering, formal and organized problem solving, application of statistics and design of experiments, project management and execution, and technical documentation and report writing.
• Lead the hiring and development of Engineering talent.

Provide Manufacturing Plant and Commercial Support along with Regional PT Leadership:

• Work to support and ensure operations teams are achieving global METBase performance standards.
• Supports localization efforts as required.
• Leverage in-region presence to support/lead PT in-region deliverables

Required Qualifications that Enable Your Success

• Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering or equivalent from an accredited university.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in chemical manufacturing and/or process development.
• Minimum 3 years of experience managing Engineers.
• Demonstrated success in driving change and delivering results in a matrix organization.
• Proven experience developing teams to deliver on their potential.
• Excellent communication and networking skills.
• Sound project management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, teamwork, and leadership skills.
• Exhibits a continuous improvement mindset.

Preferred Qualifications that Drive you Forward 

• Advanced degree in Chemical Engineering or equivalent.
• DMAIC or DFSS Six Sigma certification, green belt or black belt coupled with credible practical application.
• Certifications in project management (e.g. PMP).
• Digital / AI / Machine Learning advanced training, certificates, or extensive experience/case studies.

Your Work Environment
At Lubrizol, we’re committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment where you can do your best work—whether in a lab, on the production floor, or in a hybrid office setting. Depending on your role, your work environment may include:

•    Standing, walking, or operating equipment for extended periods
•    Working in a lab or manufacturing setting with appropriate PPE provided
•    Use of computers and digital tools in an office or hybrid environment
•    Occasional lifting or movement of materials 
•    Adherence to rigorous safety protocols and ergonomic standards
 

We continuously invest in our facilities and technologies to ensure they support your well-being, productivity, and growth. If you require reasonable accommodation, we are committed to working with you to ensure an inclusive and accessible experience.

Benefits that Empower You
•    Competitive salary with performance-based bonus plans
•    401(k) match + Age-Weighted Defined Contribution
•    Comprehensive medical, dental & vision coverage
•    Health Savings Account (HSA)
•    Paid holidays, vacation, and parental leave
•    Flexible work environment
•    Learning and development opportunities
•    Career and professional growth
•    Inclusive culture and vibrant community engagement