Manager, Responsible Care

Manager, Responsible Care Overview

This role is based in Houston, Texas, USA, within the Marketing & Logistics, North America division, specifically in the Marketing department. The role reports directly to the Director, Operations. Focused on leading safety, environmental, and quality programs in the petrochemical/chemical industry.

"Responsible Care" refers to a global chemical industry initiative for safe handling of materials, sustainability, and ethics (including Codes of Practice for process safety, security, product stewardship, etc.).

Position Purpose

Lead and oversee the company's Responsible Care (RC) and Quality Management programs in North America. This means ensuring compliance with company goals, industry standards (like RC Codes of Practice), and regulations. Drive initiatives with customers, suppliers, and partners; handle workplace health/safety, security, and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) programs; support global audits and crisis plans; and provide expert advice on emergencies, especially transportation-related ones. It contributes to the department by ensuring marketing and logistics operations are safe, sustainable, and high-quality, aligning with the company's global objectives.

Quantitative Data

• Direct/Indirect Reports: 0 (no team to manage directly; lead through influence and collaboration).
• Budget Influence: No direct budget, but impact spending on consultants, certifications, etc. Programs are integral to marketing efforts but not tied to specific revenue numbers.
• Other: Relies on engaging the North American team, global HSSEQ (Health, Safety, Security, Environment, Quality) experts, and external partners. Part of the Global Marketing & Logistics RC Team, helping shape strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Lead RC Program in North America:

• Develop and audit the RC Management System for certification.
• Create annual plans, track KPIs, and report progress.
• Onboard new employees/contractors on RC.
• Collaborate with sales on customer strategies; promote RC to customers/suppliers via seminars and training.
• Handle audits, assessments, and crisis plans; manage consultants.
• Act as main contact for regulators and industry associations; lead Workplace Health & Safety, Security, and ESG programs.

Coordinate Global Programs:

• Review global document changes and implement locally.
• Support global RC audits as an auditor.
• Improve corporate crisis management, including annual exercises.
• Interpret North American laws/regulations and advise on emergency preparedness (e.g., transportation).

Global RC Team Participation:

• Represent North America on the global team.
• Join meetings, calls, and workshops to meet objectives.
• Manage and report on global goals/KPIs; provide updates for board/quarterly/annual reports and website materials.

Lead Quality Management:

• Develop and audit the Quality System for certifications (e.g., sustainability/chain-of-custody standards like ISCC, RC-related management systems).
• Run management reviews and incident processes (near-misses, complaints).
• Train on investigations; track KPIs.
• Oversee product quality/quantity custody transfers, surveying providers, document libraries, and change management.

Transportation-Related RC Activities:

• Ensure terminals meet RC standards.
• Coordinate product stewardship (awareness, assessments for customers/carriers).
• Handle incident response, investigations, and corrective actions.
• Monitor regulations (e.g., rail/road strategy); report on RC programs.
• Participate in industry transportation safety groups (e.g., hazmat emergency preparedness initiatives).

Support Customers and Distributors:

• Aid commercial team on new business via RC training and visits.
• Partner with sales/distributors on standards and annual plans.
• Assess distributor performance; develop RC strategies for market growth, including risk assessments.

Working Relationships:

• Internal: VP Marketing & Logistics, Director Operations/RC, Sales Managers, NA/Global RC Teams. Purpose: Leadership, planning, auditing, training, and collaboration on RC/Quality. Emphasizes influence, credibility, time management, and teamwork.
• External: Customers, suppliers, governments (e.g., OSHA, transport regulators), auditors, consultants, industry groups (e.g., chemical manufacturers associations, methanol/chemical trade groups). Purpose: Seminars, incident management, audits, compliance input, and cooperative efforts.

Guidance and Authority

• Your Decisions: Interpret RC principles; improve programs; modify quality elements; raise performance standards; manage social responsibility initiatives; schedule activities/travel.
• Limited By Others/Policies: Auditing follows certification and corporate rules. Autonomy in program development within company/global frameworks.

Major Challenges

• Influencing changes in processes (internal/external) that may conflict with current practices—requires buy-in and strong communication.
• Broad scope with global reach: High collaboration; excellent communication to stakeholders.
• Managing high demands/priorities without direct authority.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s in chemical/environmental/safety/process engineering or similar science/tech field (post-grad preferred); or equivalent experience.
• Experience: 15+ years in petrochemicals/chemicals (operations/marketing preferred); expertise in crisis/emergency management; HSE program management in facilities; coordinating emergency responses; project management.
• Skills: Leadership/influence/motivation; teamwork; communication (public speaking, audience-tailored); auditing (RC/ISO 9001 essential, ISO 14001 a plus); PC skills (Word, Excel); critical thinking/decision-making; organization.
• Other: ~30% travel; deep commitment to RC ethics; knowledge of relevant chemical processes/properties is a plus; international experience helpful.

Working Conditions

• Physical Effort: Mostly office-based (sitting, computer strain). Occasional site audits involve climbing, walking, chemical exposure (low frequency).
• Environment: Good office; travel up to 14 hours by plane. "Working Alone" risks on domestic/international trips.
• Sensory Attention: 75% on computer; focused meetings.

Organization Structure

• Reporting: Director, Operations, Marketing & Logistics, NA.
• Peers: Other RC Managers (Europe, Asia, Latin America, Corporate); Global RC Team; NA Customer Service & Logistics/Commercial Groups.
• Subordinates: None (0 reports).
• Functional Ties: Advice/exchange on RC with regional experts.