Operations Development Program

Job Description

Operations Development Program | Hydrite

The Tone:
This is a leadership-first development program, an early career opportunity at Hydrite, a family-driven and financially strong company. Hydrite is a chemical manufacturing organization that values its people and is seeking problem-solvers to join its growing team. This two to three-year program, which opens in a plant supervisory seat, is crucial for building future leaders in Hydrite’s manufacturing operations. It provides hands-on experience across two to three rotations, each lasting nine to twelve months, ensuring deep learning from the plant floor up. Assignments are tailored to real site openings, with participants matched where they can add genuine value and receive dedicated development, ultimately leading to a deliberate permanent operations role.

The TL;DR
• Role: Development Program / Early Career
• Type: Full-time. Shift for this position is Friday-Sunday with Alternating Thursdays 6am-6:30pm.
• Location: In-person, Hydrite manufacturing sites (willingness to relocate, travel 10-25% expected).

• Team: Reports to the Manufacturing Manager.
• Mission: Own safety, team accountability, and daily execution for a production area while developing leadership skills and learning manufacturing processes from the floor up.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Safety Leadership: Own safety performance for the assigned area, setting clear expectations through daily presence on the floor and overseeing how issues are raised, investigated, and closed.
• Team Supervision: Supervise a production or shift team, holding accountability for staffing, coaching, performance conversations, and ensuring day-to-day execution against the schedule.
• Process Expertise: Learn the site’s manufacturing processes in depth, developing the technical fluency needed to make sound operating decisions and earn the confidence of experienced operators.
• Project Management: Lead or contribute to engineering and continuous improvement projects that run alongside daily supervisory responsibilities.
• Development & Rotations: Take on a second assignment in process engineering, supply chain, maintenance, quality, continuous improvement, or EHS, and present an annual report at the Operations Managers Meeting to build exposure to plant management.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, chemistry, supply chain, or a general business discipline. This program is open to new graduates and current Hydrite employees moving into operations leadership.
• Experience: Prior leadership experience through an internship, co-op, military service, or a previous role is strongly preferred, as the program opens in a supervisory seat.
• Skills: Credibility with a plant floor team, demonstrating sound judgment under pressure, willingness to be present on off shifts, and the ability to uphold standards effectively.
• Bonus: Willingness to relocate, as relocation significantly expands opportunities both during and after the program, with 10 to 25 percent travel expected.