Global Improvement Engineer

In January 2024, Livent merged with Allkem Limited to create Arcadium Lithium plc. While we work to integrate our technology systems, including our recruitment platforms, Arcadium Lithium plc will use Livent’s ADP system to capture all candidate information.

About Arcadium Lithium: We are change-makers, joining forces to drive progress. A world enabled by the critical mineral, Lithium - the elemental source powering modern life and our global transition to clean energy.

For decades, we’ve grown alongside and collaborated with our people, our customers, and communities. Pioneering, collaborating, and evolving Together.

From the birth of the first lithium-ion battery to the breakthrough lithium advancements that have followed. We've helped lead the change, powering the future of lithium innovation.

Our growth continues to be strategic, expansive, and sustainable. With a wealth of premier lithium resources spread across the world in key locations. We can reliably, safely, and responsibly provide the resources to meet the diverse needs of our customers.

No matter where they are. No matter the challenge. It's all about delivering on the high expectation for quality, performance, and sustainability.

And our duty goes even further. It includes everyone on the planet using a lithium-powered device or vehicle.

Every battery charged. Every device powered. Every lithium application utilized. Underscoring our commitment to quality, collaboration, and our shared vision of powering a more sustainable future for everyone.

Arcadium Lithium is more than just a company. It's a promise, and a commitment by our people.

To act ethically and responsibly, ensuring that our legacy is one of positive impact and lasting change.

Position Summary: The Global Improvement Engineer will have responsibility for improvement across the portfolio of operations globally. This position will initially be focused on Lithium Hydroxide process operation technology. This position is based in Bessemer City, NC.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Drive EHS initiatives at sites of primary responsibility

• Drive implementation of the Livent process safety standard and ensure continued compliance.
• Promote a culture that all jobs can be performed safely. No job that would risk the health, safety, or welfare of our employees is worth doing.
• Meet commitments to safety and environmental reporting and improvement initiatives.
• Support the Responsible Care and sustainability initiatives

Drive technology improvement plans across areas of responsibility

• Develop and document process technology information.
• Develop procedures and protocols for the transfer of new processes into manufacturing and continuously improve existing processes.
• Participate in programs for cross-plant standardization of processing equipment.
• Address chronic production issues and process problems

Drive technical excellence

• Stay informed of big picture initiatives and provide input and implementation support for defined area.
• Collaborate with R&D team on current and new technology development.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with all internal and external stakeholders (e.g. Site Operations, Site Engineering, Site and Corporate EHS, Corporate Engineering, Finance, consultants and vendors).
• Drive standardization of process and technology when appropriate
• Coordinate and prioritize efforts of internal process owners and subject matter experts in defined area. Deploy right people to right actions.
• Remain current on industry best practices, technology improvements and available resources to ensure fully leveraging knowledge that exists outside of Livent.
• Communicate clearly and informs Associate Technical Director of delays and barriers in a timely manner to allow for appropriate action.

Provide overall project management support, tracking, and reporting responsibilities for process improvement projects and some CapEx projects within assigned areas.

• Create detailed project timelines.
• Identify milestones and interdependencies. Build communication plans.
• Collect updates and communicate issues and decision status.
• Intervene as the Project Manager/Engineer for key projects which need immediate redirection or support.
• Deliver results and bring projects in safely, on-time, and on-budget

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Yes

Education and Experience

• BS in Chemical Engineering; MS beneficial
• 10 years’ experience in chemical process and project engineering.
• 10 years’ experience in chemical manufacturing environment and project engineering experience
• 6-10 years’ experience in a chemical environment in a continuous process experience

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Strong safety leadership and experience with process safety management.
• Competence in engineering fundamentals. Ability to interpret and apply broad basis principles, theories and concepts. Extensive knowledge and expertise on established technologies.
• Strong leadership, problem solving, prioritization, and risk-based management skills.
• Data based decision making and strong results driven/action orientated approach to leadership.
• Strategic agility with foresight and the ability to create alternate plans
• Desire to build a strong historical base of knowledge and potential larger project / process ownership in the future
• A demonstrated history of bringing projects in safely, on time and on budget. General understanding of economic factors affecting the business.
• The ability to effectively present at both informal and formal training settings
• Effective team building skills with an operating style that fosters high expectations, open dialogue, creates a strong sense of team, inspires and motivates
• International experience and bi-lingual capabilities a plus

Competencies

• Safety and Process safety knowledge
• Technical / functional skills / process engineering
• Controls engineering and instrumentation
• Problem solving
• Six Sigma
• Action oriented / drive for results / Quality focus
• Decision quality / database decision making
• Planning and project management
• Capital deployment / small capital project management
• Intrapersonal skills and self-awareness
• Approachability
• Managerial courage
• Business acumen

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; climb stairs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception. Moderate travel using all forms of transportation is required.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. This position will be in an office environment with some exposure to the manufacturing environments.

Safety Requirements: All employees are expected to carry out their work functions in a healthy and safe manner, to encourage and support safe work practices at all times, and to report and/or rectify any unsafe conditions that may come to their attention immediately.

Personal Protective Equipment – Must wear PPE as required based on job duties.

Travel Required: Some international travel may be required. Less than 20 percent travel.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.