Avantor is seeking a Manager, Project Engineering to work in collaboration with local and corporate leadership, including executives, in the areas of Process Engineering, Capital Project Management, and Reliability & Maintenance, in the planning, development, and execution of strategic priorities for all Project Engineering activities and initiatives.

The Manager, Project Engineering is recognized both inside and outside the organization as a thought leader in Engineering and related areas. This role will evaluate, design, execute, measure, monitor and control business processes related to Capital Investment and Project Management; ensure business process outcomes are in harmony with the organization’s strategic goals; & collaborate across departments to improve the management of various business processes.

This is a full-time position based out of our Carpinteria, CA (preferred) or Bakersfield, CA offices & must be able to travel up to 25%.

What we’re looking for: 

• Education:
• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant Engineering discipline preferred; Master’s/MBA desired.
• Experience:
• 5+ years of experience in a Project Engineering leadership role with a combination of Process Engineering, Project Management, and Maintenance experience preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience with Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing, current or past certification desired.
• PMP certification highly desirable.
• Additional Qualifications: 
• Professional Engineer license in California or Texas preferred.
• Other professional certifications such as PgMP, ASME, ISO, API, etc. preferred depending upon relevance.
• Ability to be a thought leader in Engineering and related areas.
• Strong leadership, communication, and analytical skills.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement to deliver expected results in a rapidly changing, fast-paced environment.

How you will thrive and create an impact: 

• Champion the culture of safety, collaboration, and DEI at all levels, and be an advocate for Avantor’s core values of Innovation, Customer-Centricity, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence (ICARE).
• Oversee the Project Engineering teams based in Carpinteria and Bakersfield, CA.
• Provide Project Engineering leadership and resource allocation for four sites: Carpinteria, Bakersfield, and Chino, CA; and Irving, TX.
• Work hand-in-hand with the leadership team to ensure that Project Engineering priorities remain aligned with organizational needs, and that Project Engineering efforts are planned, launched, executed, and completed in a timely manner.
• Monitor and report on department metrics and KPIs, including preparing and updating reports and dashboards presentable to all levels of the company.
• Manage all personnel as a “people first” leader to ensure frequent and consistent engagement, recognition, development, and promotion, with a continuous eye on department and team morale.
• Coach and mentor associates and direct reports as well as Engineers in other departments as a recognized subject matter expert.
• Create a long-term vision and plan for the department to include Capital Investments to a 3-to-5-year horizon.
• Be the voice of the customer, internal and possibly external, to ensure that organizational needs are prioritized appropriately, and achieved consistently.
• Be ready, willing, and able to take calculated risks, make sound data-driven decisions, and speak truth to power.
• Translate corporate strategy into department priorities, and communicate to all levels whilst ensuring that all department needs and other feedback are communicated.
• Represent the Project Engineering function in meetings, presentations, and communications.
• Responsible for departmental P&L up to $4MM/yr, and Capital Investment allocation of $10MM/yr and up.
• Consider processes holistically from beginning to end, introducing innovation to improve outcomes, enhance profitability, and allow the organization to meet business objectives and goals.
• Leverage department resources and strategic alliances to address issues that are highly complex, multi-dimensional, and generally but not always highly technical in nature, sometimes without precedence.