Jana Pollard

About Jana Pollard

I’m a strategic operations executive and venture capitalist with a proven track record of leading high-performing teams, optimizing global manufacturing operations, and driving measurable business results.With over 20 years of operational leadership experience, I’ve led transformations across multiple manufacturing organizations, including the global rollout of Lean processes across sites, the launch of new facilities that doubled capacity, and initiatives that delivered injury-free safety records and double-digit improvements in efficiency.My career began in engineering and evolved through roles of increasing responsibility in site and global leadership, ultimately leading to my current position as Director of Regional Operations, Americas, at Elementis Global. With experience spanning the globe, I specialize in transforming performance through safety, efficiency, and people-centered leadership.I’m passionate about empowering teams to excel and fostering cultures where accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement thrive. My leadership approach combines technical insight, strategic planning, and mentorship to drive sustainable growth and operational excellence.I’m excited about this expertise which supports organizations ready to evolve from stable performance to strategic, innovation-driven growth through strong governance and operational discipline.

Experience

1. Director, Regional Operations

   Elementis Global

   Feb 2024 — Present

   Provide strategic guidance and operational oversight for manufacturing and mining sites across North and South America, ensuring performance excellence in safety, quality, productivity, and cost.• Lead cross-functional teams to deliver on key business metrics and KPIs, driving improvements in operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.• Implement standardized processes and continuous improvement initiatives that have strengthened regional collaboration and enhanced overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).• Partner with site leaders to foster a culture of accountability, employee engagement, and performance—resulting in measurable gains in throughput and on-time delivery.

Education

• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

  Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering

• Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics at University of Delaware

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, International Business