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