Continuous Improvement Manager (Administrative)

Founded in 1983 by principal shareholder William I. Koch, Oxbow Carbon LLC (“Oxbow”) is a global leader in recycling, marketing, and upgrading of refinery and natural gas coproducts. Oxbow produces and distributes calcined and fuel grade petroleum coke and provides bulk storage and handling services for petroleum coke and other commodities. Leveraging its extensive scale, strong expertise, and leading market positions, Oxbow has established a powerful global sourcing platform supported by superior market intelligence and long-standing relationships with key suppliers and customers. Oxbow's products are essential in the production of aluminum, steel, glass, and cement, while its specialty offerings are integral to a variety of innovative applications, including high-performance plastics, solar panels, electronics, and batteries. Oxbow's continued success and leadership within the industry are attributed to a combination of strong teamwork, innovative uses of technology, and talented employees.

Oxbow is currently looking for a Continuous Improvement Manager to join our team in The Woodlands, Texas.  This role is responsible for overseeing the company's Process Improvement Program (PIP), with an emphasis on calciners and terminals. Key responsibilities include supporting ongoing process improvement, delivering tools and training, and refining technical and transactional processes. The position also requires leading teams to address recurring issues and directing projects focused on process optimization. Additional duties involve developing new methods and products as well as exploring other relevant opportunities.

 

Essential Job Duties

• Oversee the Process Improvement Program (PIP) and seek methods for expanding participation and improving effectiveness.
• Train employees in continuous improvement to reduce costs, risks, errors, and enhance quality.
• Identify ways to adapt to market changes.
• Support scalable and efficient product/process development initiatives.
• Collaborate with executives and management to define and refine organizational core values, vision, and mission, providing direction for continuous improvement initiatives.
• Champion the principles of continuous improvement across Oxbow.
• Identify potential barriers to improvement and develop effective strategies to address them.
• Facilitate interdepartmental collaboration to align efforts towards shared objectives.
• Evaluate the outcomes of improvement projects, analyzing their impact and value to Oxbow.
• Deliver training sessions, workshops, and individualized coaching to enable employees to support continuous improvement endeavors.
• Continuously investigate and implement cutting-edge techniques and tools to ensure the company's improvement initiatives remain at the forefront of industry standards.
• Support management with strategic initiatives, including participation in the Oxbow Task Force.
• Maintain expertise and stay current in Lean, Six Sigma, and Project Management methodologies.
• Define project scope, objectives, and deliverables in coordination with senior management and stakeholders.
• Develop and manage comprehensive project plans encompassing timelines, milestones, and resource allocation.
• Design and conduct experiments (Design of Experiments, DOE) to validate new processes and materials.
• Remain informed on advancements in carbon materials and calcining technology for diverse applications.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams—such as marketing, IT, and customer service—to ensure seamless project execution.
• Analyze data and present insights and actionable recommendations to stakeholders.
• Ensure full compliance with environmental, health, and safety regulations.
• Identify and mitigate process-related risks to uphold a safe work environment.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The candidate should demonstrate exceptional organizational, communication, analytical, and problem-solving abilities, as well as effective leadership skills within the organization. Candidates must be capable of decisive action, quick comprehension of new concepts, and adept problem resolution relevant to organizational needs. Advanced proficiency with computer programs such as Microsoft Office and related software is required. Familiarity with process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen), or a willingness to develop such expertise through training, is highly valued. Additional desirable skills include meticulous attention to detail, strong negotiation and interpersonal skills, excellent verbal and written communication, robust leadership qualities, and resilience under pressure. Flexibility to handle demanding deadlines and the capacity to work both independently and collaboratively are essential.