Plant Operations Manager

Refy; Batang; On-site; IDR 200.000.000 - 300.000.000; Full time

Job summary

A biomass energy company in Indonesia seeks a hands-on operations leader to operate machinery and manage production. This role requires 3+ years of experience with industrial equipment and fluency in Bahasa Indonesia and Mandarin. You'll troubleshoot issues directly and lead a small team. Compensation ranges from IDR 30-50 million/month plus bonuses and equity opportunities as the company scales.

Benefits

Annual performance bonus

Equity participation

Direct line to founders

Qualifications

• 3+ years hands-on experience with equipment like pellet mills and dryers.
• Ability to independently diagnose and repair faults.
• Comfortable in a startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Operate the full production line, including shredders and pelletizers.
• Troubleshoot and repair mechanical/electrical issues.
• Manage and train local operators and set production schedules.

Skills

Operating industrial equipment

Diagnosing mechanical and electrical faults

Leadership and training

Fluent in Bahasa Indonesia

Mandarin Chinese speaker

Job description

About Us

Refy's mission is to accelerate Southeast Asia's energy transition by making biomass a reliable, cost-competitive alternative to fossil fuels. We source, process, and trade agricultural waste, converting them into sustainable fuel pellets for industrial customers.

Backed by Wavemaker Impact, Refy is building bioenergy trading infrastructure and partnering with experienced local operators to production facilities while developing trading relationships across the pan-Asia region.

The Role

In short: We need someone who can run machines, fix machines, and get things done.

This is not a desk job—you'll be on the floor operating equipment, troubleshooting breakdowns, and leading a small team of local operators. As our first dedicated operations hire, you'll work directly with leadership to build the operational playbook we'll replicate across future facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate full production line: shredder, crusher, hammer mill, dryer, pelletizer, cooler
• Troubleshoot and repair mechanical/electrical faults—you fix it, not wait for someone else
• Maintain product quality: moisture, calorific value, ash content, pellet durability
• Manage and train 2-4 local operators; set production schedules
• Coordinate raw material intake and finished goods dispatch
• Report to Singapore leadership via WeChat

Requirements

Must Have:

• 3+ years hands-on experience operating industrial equipment (pellet mills, dryers, crushers)
• Ability to independently diagnose and repair mechanical and electrical faults
• Comfortable in startup environment with minimal structure
• Based in Indonesia
• Mandarin Chinese speaker (to communicate with equipment suppliers)
• Fluent in Bahasa Indonesia

Preferred:

• Experience with biomass pellets, wood pellets, or animal feed production
• Background as equipment commissioning engineer or installation technician

This Role is NOT For

• Managers who delegate but don't operate equipment themselves
• People who wait for maintenance staff to fix problems
• Those who need large support teams and corporate structure

Compensation

• IDR 30-50 million/month (based on experience)
• Annual performance bonus
• Equity participation for strong performersDirect line to founders
• Opportunity to grow into Regional Operations Lead as we scale