Position Summary
Ergon is seeking a strategic and results-driven
Director of Specialty Chemical Business Operations
to lead the economic, operational, and strategic performance of our specialty chemical platform. This role serves as a critical integrator across R&D, sales, operations, and business development, driving cross-functional alignment to enhance profitability, accelerate innovation, and ensure long-term competitiveness. The Director will play a central role in setting and executing strategic plans while cultivating internal and external relationships that reflect Ergon's culture of Empowered Service, Purposeful Growth, Respectful Relationships, and Selfless Leadership.
Key Responsibilities•Operational & Economic Optimization: Guide feedstock purchasing, production planning, and pricing strategy to optimize product mix and margin performance.
•Cross-Functional Alignment: Lead the integration of sales, operations, R&D, and business development efforts to ensure shared accountability and streamlined execution.
•Strategic Planning: Develop and implement multi-year strategic plans that incorporate innovation pipelines, market forecasts, and capacity expansion.
•Financial Ownership: Collaborate on P&L ownership and budget development, providing production and cost assumptions to guide forecasting and analysis.
•Supply & Operations Planning: Direct monthly supply planning cycles and contribute to the Executive Supply & Operations Planning (ESOP) process for long-range visibility.
•Market & Product Development: Partner with business development and R&D teams to prioritize high-impact growth opportunities and bring new products to market.
•Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with key external suppliers, customers, and strategic partners.
•Process Improvement: Champion operational efficiency and cross-functional planning tools to improve agility and decision-making.
Basic Qualifications
•Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related technical field
•7+ years of experience in the specialty chemical industry with demonstrated success in operations, commercial functions, or R&D
•Proven ability to lead cross-functional or matrixed teams
•Strong knowledge of specialty chemical markets, processes, and value drivers
•Solid understanding of cost structures, economic modeling, and margin management
•Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, planning systems, and economic modeling tools (e.g., LP)
Preferred Qualifications
•Master of Business Administration (MBA)
•Experience with P&L ownership or co-ownership
•Familiarity with innovation portfolio management and commercialization strategies
•Strong negotiation skills and executive presence
•Demonstrated success driving integrated strategic planning and operational execution