Plant Specialist in Lawrence, Kansas at Trecora LLC

The Plant Specialist supports safe, efficient, and reliable plant operations by providing technical expertise, hands-on troubleshooting, and coordination across production, maintenance, EHS, and quality teams. This role assists with monitoring process conditions, performing equipment checks, documenting operational data, supporting product changeovers, and ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, and quality standards. The Plant Specialist plays a key role in identifying operational issues, recommending improvements, and supporting daily workflow to ensure smooth production.

Operational Support & Process Monitoring

1. Monitor plant equipment, process parameters, and operating conditions to identify abnormal trends or potential issues.

2. Assist operators with routine and non-routine activities, including startups, shutdowns, changeovers, and operational adjustments.

3. Perform regular field inspections of pumps, valves, tanks, lines, and utilities to verify proper function and identify concerns.

4. Escalate equipment or process abnormalities to Operations Leadership to prevent downtime.

5. Maintain clean, organized work areas and support housekeeping expectations.

Technical Assistance & Continuous Improvement

6. Assist in troubleshooting mechanical, process, and instrumentation issues to support reliable plant performance.

7. Participate in root cause analysis for equipment failures, quality deviations, and operational disruptions.

8. Recommend and support implementation of improvements to increase reliability, efficiency, and safety.

9. Assist with special projects, equipment upgrades, shutdown activities, or other plant initiatives as assigned.

10. Provide hands-on support to operations and maintenance teams to minimize production interruptions.

Documentation, Quality & Compliance

11. Accurately record equipment readings, process data, and production activities in logs, systems, or required forms.

12. Maintain documentation associated with batch sheets, work instructions, SOPs, and process changes.

13. Support sampling, product verification, and communication of quality results to ensure production meets specifications.

14. Follow all requirements of the Quality Management System (QMS) and the company’s Quality Policy.

15. Ensure compliance with internal procedures, industry standards, and environmental regulations.

Safety & Team Collaboration

16. Adhere to all safety policies, procedures, and PPE requirements at all times.

17. Immediately report unsafe conditions, near misses, and equipment concerns; participate in safety meetings and audits.

18. Assist with spill response, containment, or emergency procedures as trained.

19. Communicate effectively across shifts, departments, and leadership to ensure smooth handoffs and coordinated operations.

20. Support onboarding and training of new team members by sharing knowledge of processes, equipment, and best practices.

21. Perform additional duties as assigned.

Education

High school diploma or general education degree (GED), required.

Associate degree or equivalent from two-year college or technical school in Industrial Technology, Chemical Processing, or a related field, preferred.

Experience

Minimum of 4 years of experience in a chemical plant, refinery, manufacturing facility, or similar industrial setting

Experience with plant operations, equipment monitoring, or mechanical troubleshooting.

Familiarity with pumps, valves, tanks, heat exchangers, control systems, or process flows.

Experience working within a safety- and quality-focused environment.

Detail-oriented with strong documentation, data entry, and recordkeeping habits.

Problem-solving mindset with the ability to assess issues and recommend practical solutions.

Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across teams and shifts.

Reliable and dependable with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.

Safety-focused and consistently adheres to established procedures and regulatory requirements.