Senior Maintenance and Reliability Manager

Position Overview

Ascend Performance Materials is a global leader in high-performance chemicals, fibers and plastics, committed to enhancing quality of life through innovation. With fully integrated manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia, we develop essential solutions that drive safer vehicles, cleaner energy, advanced medical devices, and durable consumer goods. Guided by a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and customer success, we operate responsibly while delivering value through cutting-edge technologies and industry expertise. Join our team and be part of a collaborative environment where your work drives meaningful global impact.

The Sr. Maintenance and Reliability Manager is a key member of the Business and Site Leadership Teams, accountable for all maintenance and reliability functions at the Pensacola site. This leader will guide the strategic and operational execution of maintenance programs, drive productivity and equipment reliability, and lead a team committed to achieving operational excellence.

TARGETED OUTCOMES

• Establish and execute a multi-year strategic plan to transform maintenance and reliability, delivering improved productivity, reduced downtime, and cost effectiveness.
• Lead the organization through a successful reliability transformation by instilling discipline in maintenance execution and predictive strategies.
  Cultivate a high-performing team culture focused on innovation, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Achieve significant improvements in business profitability through optimized maintenance planning, turnaround execution, and reliability investments.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

• Lead and develop the site’s reliability and maintenance team, ensuring effective execution and capability growth.
• Partner with the Site Director and Leadership Team to resolve operational constraints and drive strategic initiatives.
• Set clear objectives and expectations for direct reports and foster a collaborative, values-driven culture.
• Promote Ascend’s One Ascend mindset and a customer-focused approach throughout the organization.
• Deliver Annual Operating Plan (AOP) commitments and adjust plans to address emerging site priorities.

Maintenance

• Drive execution of safe, cost-effective, and regulatory-compliant maintenance activities and projects.
• Lead the implementation of standardized maintenance work processes (MWP) and reliability frameworks aligned with industry best practices.
• Ensure optimized use of SAP and maintenance systems for effective planning and execution.
• Oversee development of turnaround strategies and continuous improvement initiatives.

Reliability

• Develop and implement reliability strategies centered on predictive and preventive maintenance across mechanical and instrumentation systems.
• Prioritize maintenance investments and capital expenditures that maximize Operational Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Instill a proactive, data-driven reliability culture in collaboration with operations and engineering.
• Ensure alignment of reliability goals with process safety and work process optimization.

TEAM

• Reports to: Senior Site Director
• Direct Reports: 3 Maintenance and Reliability Managers
• Total Organization: Approximately 75 Ascend and contractor team members
• Works closely with operations, engineering, ESSH, and the central reliability team to deliver performance outcomes.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 15 years of experience in operations, reliability, maintenance, and/or engineering leadership roles.
• Minimum 10 years in the chemical or petrochemical industry.
• Proven experience leading large-scale maintenance and reliability transformations. Maintenance and Reliability Professional certification preferred.
• Professional Engineering license preferred.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop large technical teams in dynamic environments.
• Strong strategic and operational leadership capabilities.
• Expertise in maintenance systems (SAP), predictive analytics, and turnaround planning.
• Excellent interpersonal, coaching, and communication skills.
  Ability to manage complex projects and drive alignment across cross-functional teams.
• Deep knowledge of world-class maintenance and reliability standards and practices.
• High tolerance for ambiguity and adeptness in leading change.

At Ascend Performance Materials, we value transparency and fairness in our hiring process. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters, search firms, or staffing agencies. Any resumes received from such entities will be considered the property of Ascend Performance Materials, and we will not be obligated to pay any fees for such submissions. Our Talent Acquisition Team actively engages with preferred recruitment partners who have established agreements with us. We encourage all interested candidates to apply directly through our official channels to be considered for any open positions.

Skills Summary:

About Us:

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities we are able to develop new products from our core technologies, and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and six manufacturing facilities globally. As a privately-held company, our people do big things and make big decisions, often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big, meaningful ways—all within a stable and growing business.

Why work at Ascend?

Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 6,6 value chain, creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone, everywhere, every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values.

We care. We operate safely with high integrity for our employees, our customers and our communities. Our people are our greatest assets, and our Total Rewards Program extends beyond traditional benefits to include access to on-site medical clinics at our U.S. facilities, a global wellness rewards program and Performance Matters, an employee-driven recognition plan. Our Commitment to Zero demonstrates our belief that is it possible to operate with zero personal injuries, zero process safety incidents and zero environmental releases. And the Ascend Cares Foundation, led by Ascend employees, supports Ascend families in times of need, provides inspiring opportunities ​​for community engagement and facilitates community leadership.

Customer-focused. We exist for our customers; they drive our actions. Their success is our success. Our plastics and chemicals are building blocks that help make everyday essentials safer and more sustainable, and we constantly strive to develop new and innovative products to meet the future needs of our customers. And that customer focus doesn’t only apply to the marketplace – it also applies to how we treat our colleagues and our fellow community members.

Better every day. We invest in our people and our processes to improve every day. A2E, our continuous improvement program, guides the way we do business. And this way of problem solving applies not only to our manufacturing practices but also to our commitment to developing our people. You’ll see it during your career at Ascend in our leadership development, skills training and mentoring programs

Agile. We think broadly and lead proactively in a constantly evolving organization and industry. Agility doesn’t mean simply working quickly – it means critical thinking, creative problem solving and novel approaches to everyday challenges.

One Ascend. All together, with a common set of goals and an eye toward the future. We don’t accept silos. We look for ways to share across departments, sites and geography. This means you won’t be boxed into a single role at Ascend – you could get the chance to work with teams across the globe to improve the way we serve our people, our customers and our communities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information or other protected status under federal, state or local laws.