Job Description
Your Role at KIK
We are seeking a Processing Manager to lead the Salem plant chemical processing operation and the Chemical Operator team. This role is accountable for safe, efficient, and compliant manufacture of bleach, household cleaning products, and pool shock products. The Processing Manager translates the production plan into daily processing activities; develops employees; maintains reliable processing equipment and records; and partners with Quality, Maintenance, Warehouse, Production, and EHS to meet safety, quality, service, and cost objectives. This position is a salaried role with a target pay rate of $100,000-120,000 annually.
What You'll Do:
• Lead day-to-day chemical processing activities to safely manufacture products in accordance with approved formulas, batch instructions, standard operating procedures, and the production schedule.
• Plan and prioritize processing work, including batching, blending, chemical staging, material transfers, changeovers, and processing equipment readiness, to support on-time production.
• Directly supervise Chemical Operators, including shift coverage, work assignments, coaching, training, performance feedback, attendance follow-up, and performance reviews.
• Build and maintain a qualified processing team by ensuring new hires, transfers, and promoted employees complete required onboarding, role-specific training, refresher training, and documented competency verification.
• Review daily shift notes, batch records, process data, and operator observations; promptly address operational issues, escalate risks, and coordinate corrective actions.
• Monitor processing performance, including schedule attainment, batch accuracy, yield, scrap and waste, downtime, chemical usage, and labor utilization. Use the information to identify and implement practical improvements.
• Maintain a strong floor presence and reinforce safe work practices, including chemical handling, personal protective equipment, hazardous energy control, hazard communication, confined-space and emergency-response requirements as applicable.
• Ensure Chemical Operators follow Good Manufacturing Practices, sanitation requirements, product segregation controls, and documentation standards. Partner with Quality to resolve process deviations and prevent recurrence.
• Coordinate with Maintenance to plan inspections, preventive maintenance, repairs, and corrective work for processing equipment. Review priority items and ensure processing-related work is completed and documented.
• Coordinate with Warehouse, Purchasing, and other partners to maintain appropriate inventory and availability of raw materials, packaging-related processing supplies, and critical chemicals.
• Support the safe receipt, storage, transfer, and release of bulk chemicals and railcars, where applicable, in accordance with site procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in incident investigations, near-miss reviews, hazard assessments, process risk reviews, and corrective-action follow-up for the processing department. Partner with HESS on regulatory programs and technical compliance requirements.
• Support process safety and change-management activities, including review of proposed changes to chemicals, formulas, equipment, procedures, or operating conditions.
• Maintain accurate processing records, training documentation, inspection logs, and other department records required by Company procedures and applicable regulations.
• Promote a respectful, accountable, and team-oriented work environment consistent with KIK values. Participate in selecting, onboarding, and developing processing personnel.
• Must be able to successfully complete and maintain KIK-provided HazWhopper and Incident Response training to support the chlorine process and Chemical Operators.
What You'll Bring:
• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, manufacturing, operations, or a related technical field preferred; equivalent relevant manufacturing experience will be considered.
• Five or more years of chemical processing, batch manufacturing, chemical operations, or closely related manufacturing experience required.
• Three or more years of direct leadership or supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Experience working with hazardous chemicals and chemical processing equipment; bleach, household cleaning products, pool chemicals, or similar regulated consumer products experience strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of process safety, chemical handling, hazard communication, lockout/tagout, personal protective equipment, Good Manufacturing Practices, and safe operating procedures.
• Experience with process safety management, risk management programs, management of change, bulk chemical handling, or railcar operations is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams across shifts, analyze operational data, solve problems, communicate clearly, and hold others accountable in a constructive manner.
• Proficiency with standard business systems and Microsoft Office applications; ability to learn site production, maintenance, and training systems.
• Complete KIK-provided HAZWOPER and Incident Response training and actively support safe chlorine-processing operations and the Chemical Operators who perform this work.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
• Works in a manufacturing environment with regular exposure to noise, odors, moving equipment, temperature variation, and chemicals. Required personal protective equipment must be worn as specified by the task and work area.
• Must be able to work on the plant floor, climb stairs and ladders, enter elevated or restricted work areas as permitted, and occasionally lift or move materials consistent with safe-work requirements.
• May be required to work a flexible schedule and respond to production, processing, or emergency needs outside normal business hours.
What You Will Get
KIK offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits including health, wellness, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. You can plan for your future with KIK's retirement savings options including employer match. KIK also recognizes the importance of continuing education and offers Education Assistance to our employees to encourage continued personal development and growth.
We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. This position has a base salaried rate of $100,000-120,000 per year. The actual salary may vary based upon several factors including your relevant skills and experience.
