Director, Furnace Engineering

Role description: 

The Director of Glass and Furnace Engineering is responsible to develop and execute strategy for glass and furnace functions for Ardagh Glass Packaging – North America (AGP-NA) in the areas of operational performance, furnace capacity, glass quality, maintenance/rebuilds, and technology advancement for low cost and sustainability. 

Responsibilities: 

• Lead technical teams that directly support plant operations, furnace design, furnace development, batch and furnace operations, and glass chemistry 
• Modify and troubleshoot current and new glass formulations for optimum quality, cost, and productivity 
• Develop and maintain a map of batch, glass, and furnace assets and processes for AGP-NA 
• Collaborate and support plant operations with respect to optimum production; support preventive and predictive maintenance of all glass and furnace assets through regular audits and joint meetings; ensure systems are always in maintenance compliance 
• Define, measure, and improve Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with respect to all glass and furnace processes 
• Develop a glass and furnace risk assessment process using industry-standard tools; address higher-risk facilities asset maintenance, repair, and replacement 
• Utilize the risk assessment as a tool to inform capital prioritization and allocation with engineering leadership; develop and implement processes for risk and business continuity-based assessments 
• Provide operational support and troubleshooting for ongoing issues that plant teams cannot manage 
• Work with internal experts and external vendors in developing a glass and furnace technology roadmap for implementation in North America that will achieve improved quality, and energy efficiency of glass and furnace systems, and cost reduction efforts 
• Execute glass and furnace-related projects including glass transitions, hot repairs, process shutdown, repair, and start-ups in the plants during and between rebuilds 
• Build a glass and furnace Center of Excellence that comprises corporate engineers, plant operations, plant maintenance, and operational excellence teams to implement a community of practice for best practices sharing and implementation 

Minimum skills / qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field 
• Fifteen (15) years of manufacturing and engineering experience in glass production is preferable 
• Progressive career growth in technical and leadership ladder in plant and engineering organizations 
• Project/program management experience and ability to manage multiple initiatives and projects at the same time 
• Experience with technical problem solving and an understanding of multiple technologies (electrical, mechanical, environmental, IS machines, forming/hot end, etc) 
• Excellent up, down, and lateral communication with interpersonal and influencing skills 
• Effective leadership, organization, and planning skills with the ability to handle changing priorities 
• Works well with others and can facilitate discussions to reach consensus 
• Knowledge and experience with project planning tools such as MS Project, risk analysis, and decision analysis 
• Self-starter and able to create and lead effective teams 
• Ability to travel up to 50% 

Preferred skills / qualifications:  

• Master’s degree in engineering, business administration, or a related field 
• Fifteen (15) years of experience in operations, troubleshooting, hot repairs, furnace design and rebuilds/start-ups 

About Ardagh Group
Ardagh Glass Packaging is a global leader in glass packaging solutions, producing packaging for the world’s leading brands. We trace our roots all the way back to the Irish Glass Bottle Company, founded in 1932. Since then, we have grown rapidly to a team of more than 20,000 people with revenues of over $9 billion. Today we have a presence across Europe, Africa, and North America.

• Did you know that Ardagh produce many of the beverage cans and bottles you drink your favorite beverages from?
• Did you know we produce metal and glass packaging which are permanent materials, meaning they can be infinitely recycled without any loss of quality?
• Did you know we produce more than 160 million containers per day?

Ardagh is passionate about sustainability and have a reputation for innovation. We push the boundaries of what’s possible, pioneering new production methods, new design techniques and new ways to recycle and save energy. Our aim is to reduce any negative environmental impact while remaining economically sustainable and socially responsible. We believe that the success of our business depends on the success of our people. We strive to create working environments where our employees feel valued, can work to their full potential, and where their achievements are celebrated. Here at Ardagh, we offer exciting and rewarding opportunities for talented and creative people. If you have ambition and want to make an impact with your career, come and join our team, you’ll enjoy the journey!
 
Benefits Offered

• Medical, prescription, dental and vision plans 
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) 
• Life insurance  
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match and an employer retirement contribution 
• Paid holidays, floating days and vacation 
• Short- and Long-Term Disability (STD/LTD) 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Professional and personal development opportunities through Employee Resource Groups
• Benefits available from day 1 of employment 
• Flexible and hybrid working hours

Ardagh Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, and local law.
 
Ardagh Group complies with federal, state, and local disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.  Contact Clare McHugh (clare.mchugh@ardaghgroup.com) if a reasonable accommodation is needed.