Title: Project Engineering Manager
Location: LaPorte, TX
Who we are:
Voted one of the Nation's Best and Brightest Companies to Work for, Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) is a global leader in specialty chemical, fiber, and resin production. With top-of-the-line research and production facilities and a vast network of supplies from around the world, Kuraray leads the industry in specialty dental, fiber, resin, and elastomer products. Kuraray America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuraray Company, Ltd. Based in Tokyo, Japan. Kuraray has operations in 32 countries and employs more than 12,000 employees, including over 800 in the United States.
Why Kuraray:
Kuraray is building a better tomorrow, today. Our team members are dedicated to expanding our business with committed professionals who share essential values such as integrity, excellence, teamwork, and accountability.
As a part of Kuraray America, Inc., our team shares the advantages of working for the leader in specialty chemicals, resins, and fibers. Our international presence and resources allow us to be a world-leading innovator in the industries we service. Yet, despite our size, our people are more than just a number. As a new team member, you can expect to earn responsibility quickly. Our commitment to our people is visible in our comprehensive benefits package. As a Kuraray team member, you will have the opportunity to enjoy competitive salaries and benefits, incentive opportunities, and an excellent work environment.
Position Summary:
The Project Engineering Manager provides site-level leadership for capital project execution and engineering delivery at the Pasadena manufacturing facility. This role is responsible for managing a portfolio of capital projects from concept through commissioning while leading and developing a team of project engineers. The Project Engineering Manager partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, EHS, and corporate stakeholders to ensure projects are executed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with business and reliability objectives.
This position serves as both a technical authority and people leader, ensuring consistent application of engineering standards, project management best practices, and continuous improvement across the site's capital program.
Responsibilities:
Capital Project Leadership & Execution
- Own and manage the site's capital project portfolio, ensuring alignment with business priorities, safety requirements, and budget constraints.
- Lead planning, design, execution, commissioning, and closeout of medium- to large-scale capital projects.
- Approve project scopes, cost estimates, schedules, and execution strategies.
- Ensure projects meet safety, quality, cost, and schedule objectives throughout the full project lifecycle.
- Provide leadership during commissioning, startup, and handover to Operations and Maintenance.
People Leadership & Development
- Directly manage, mentor, and develop project engineers and project support staff.
- Assign projects, set performance expectations, and provide ongoing coaching and feedback.
- Promote consistent application of Kuraray engineering standards, project controls, and best practices.
- Support succession planning and technical development of the project engineering team.
Engineering Standards & Technical Oversight
- Serve as a senior technical authority for mechanical systems, piping, and process integration.
- Ensure compliance with ANSI, ASME, and Kuraray corporate engineering standards.
- Provide technical guidance on equipment selection, system design, and constructability.
- Support Operations and Maintenance in troubleshooting complex technical and reliability issues.
Project Controls & Financial Management
- Oversee development and management of project budgets, schedules, and resource plans.
- Track portfolio-level cost performance, forecasting, and risk management.
- Ensure disciplined use of project controls, SAP (PM, PS, MM), and reporting tools.
- Approve change orders and manage contractor and vendor performance.
Safety, Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure all projects comply with site safety policies, environmental regulations, and engineering governance.
- Lead or oversee Management of Change (MOC), hazard reviews, and pre-startup safety reviews (PSSR).
- Model and reinforce strong safety leadership and accountability.
Strategic Collaboration & Continuous Improvement
- Partner with Operations, Maintenance, EHS, and Reliability to identify long-term infrastructure and improvement needs.
- Contribute to multi-year capital planning, project prioritization, and cost optimization initiatives.
- Drive continuous improvement in project management processes, tools, and execution strategies.
- Evaluate and recommend new technologies and engineering solutions to improve safety, reliability, and sustainability.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical or Chemical preferred).
- Minimum of 10 years of engineering experience in a chemical or process manufacturing environment
- Minimum of 5 years leading capital projects and/or engineering teams.
- Demonstrated success managing capital projects from concept through commissioning, including feasibility studies, cost estimating, and execution.
- Strong knowledge of mechanical engineering principles, construction practices, and applicable industry standards (ANSI, ASME).
- Proven ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously while setting priorities and meeting aggressive deadlines.
- Effective people leader with a track record of coaching, mentoring, and developing engineering professionals.
- Strong project management, planning, and organizational skills, with sound judgment and decision-making abilities in dynamic environments.
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across all organizational levels and cultural boundaries.
- Highly analytical with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to act decisively when information is limited.
- Proficient in SAP (PM, PS, MM) and Microsoft Office applications.
- Ability to manage multiple responsibilities with minimal supervision.
- Valid driver's license required.
Competencies:
- Customer Focus
- Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
- Business Insight
- Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization's goals.
- Cultivates Innovation
- Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
- Action Oriented
- Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
- Ensures Accountability
- Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
- Drives Results
- Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstance
- Collaborates
- Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
- Values Difference
- Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization
- Communicates Effectively
- Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
- Courage
- Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.
- Instills Trust
- Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
- Situational Adaptability
- Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.
We offer a competitive compensation package that includes base pay and an annual incentive. This program is designed to reward individual performance and align overall rewards with corporate and team performance.
Our employees benefit from a robust healthcare package that includes wellness reimbursements, along with generous perks such as three weeks of paid time off, ten company holidays, paid parental leave, education reimbursement, and a matching 401k plan, among other offerings.
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S.
Learn more at kuraray.us.com/careers/
Kuraray America, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity/disability/protected veteran status
No third-party candidates accepted.