Distillation Manager - Winter Haven, FL

ADM; Winter Haven (FL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

ADM is seeking a Plant Engineer/Lead Operator in Florida to oversee vacuum distillation, manage a distillation team, and ensure citrus oil quality and regulatory compliance.

You will optimize processes, coordinate production, and collaborate with QA/QC to meet strict sensory and analytical specs for food and fragrance safety.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Chemistry or closely related field is required.
• 5+ years in chemical distillation or botanical extraction with at least 2 years in supervision/management.
• Experience with citrus oil processing, essential oils, or flavors/fragrances is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operation of vacuum distillation columns, fractionating units, strippers, and evaporators.
• Lead Plant Engineer and Pilot Plant lead Operator as direct reports.
• Optimize processing parameters to maximize yield and purity of citrus oils.
• Manage production schedules to meet customer demand and inventory targets.
• Develop process feed blends to meet customer requirements and optimize workflows.
• Collaborate with QA/QC lab to monitor GC-MS results and physical properties.
• Ensure oils meet sensory and analytical specs for safety.
• Maintain compliance with food safety standards (GFSI, SQF, HACCP, GMP) and certifications.
• Troubleshoot deviations, equipment malfunctions, and yield variations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives (Lean/Six Sigma) to reduce waste and energy usage.
• Participate in Cap-Ex projects, equipment upgrades, and expansions.
• Supervise and mentor distillation technicians, enforcing safety and accountability.
• Enforce OSHA regulations and environmental permits (air/wastewater).
• Maintain production logs, inventory records, and regulatory docs.

Skills

People management

Process optimization

Lean/Six Sigma

Safety & compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Chemistry

Tools

DCS/SCADA/PLC systems

ERP systems

GC-MS

Job description

• Oversee the daily operation of vacuum distillation columns, fractionating units, strippers, and evaporators.
• People Management – Plant Engineer and Pilot Plant lead Operator as direct reports.
• Optimize processing parameters (temperature, pressure, flow rates) to maximize yield and purity of citrus oils (e.g., orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit).
• Manage production schedules to meet customer demand and inventory targets.
• Develop process feed blends to meet customer requirements and optimize workflows.
• Collaborate with the QA/QC laboratory to monitor gas chromatography (GC-MS) results and physical properties (refractive index, specific gravity).
• Ensure all finished oils meet rigorous sensory (aroma, flavor) and analytical specifications for food and fragrance safety.
• Maintain strict compliance with food safety standards (GFSI, SQF, HACCP, GMP) and organic/kosher/halal certifications where applicable.
• Troubleshoot process deviations, equipment malfunctions, and yield variations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives (Lean/Six Sigma) to reduce waste, shorten cycle times, and lower energy consumption.
• Participate in capital expenditure (Cap-Ex) projects, including equipment upgrades and facility expansions.
• Supervise, train, and mentor distillation technicians and operators, fostering a culture of safety and accountability.
• Enforce strict adherence to OSHA regulations, hazardous material handling protocols, and environmental permits (air/wastewater emissions).
• Maintain accurate production logs, inventory records, and regulatory documentation.
• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or a closely related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in chemical distillation or botanical extraction, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or management role. Direct experience with citrus oil processing, essential oils, or flavors/fragrances is highly preferred.
• Deep understanding of fractional distillation, mass transfer, fluid dynamics, and thermal processes.
• Familiarity with automated process control systems (DCS/SCADA/PLC).
• Strong analytical problem-solving abilities, excellent communication skills, and a collaborative leadership style.

Job Responsibilities

• Oversee the daily operation of vacuum distillation columns, fractionating units, strippers, and evaporators.
• People Management – Plant Engineer and Pilot Plant lead Operator as direct reports.
• Optimize processing parameters (temperature, pressure, flow rates) to maximize yield and purity of citrus oils (e.g., orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit).
• Manage production schedules to meet customer demand and inventory targets.
• Develop process feed blends to meet customer requirements and optimize workflows.
• Collaborate with the QA/QC laboratory to monitor gas chromatography (GC-MS) results and physical properties (refractive index, specific gravity).
• Ensure all finished oils meet rigorous sensory (aroma, flavor) and analytical specifications for food and fragrance safety.
• Maintain strict compliance with food safety standards (GFSI, SQF, HACCP, GMP) and organic/kosher/halal certifications where applicable.
• Troubleshoot process deviations, equipment malfunctions, and yield variations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives (Lean/Six Sigma) to reduce waste, shorten cycle times, and lower energy consumption.
• Participate in capital expenditure (Cap-Ex) projects, including equipment upgrades and facility expansions.
• Supervise, train, and mentor distillation technicians and operators, fostering a culture of safety and accountability.
• Enforce strict adherence to OSHA regulations, hazardous material handling protocols, and environmental permits (air/wastewater emissions).
• Maintain accurate production logs, inventory records, and regulatory documentation.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or a closely related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in chemical distillation or botanical extraction, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or management role. Direct experience with citrus oil processing, essential oils, or flavors/fragrances is highly preferred.
• Deep understanding of fractional distillation, mass transfer, fluid dynamics, and thermal processes.
• Familiarity with automated process control systems (DCS/SCADA/PLC).
• Strong analytical problem-solving abilities, excellent communication skills, and a collaborative leadership style.

Preferred Requirements

• 10+ years of experience leading a plant engaged in citrus ingredients processing using batch and continuous distillation.
• Experience with ERP systems, standard costing models and procurement;
• Continuous Improvement leadership and application of CI processes in a production environment;.
• Demonstrated scale-up experience and/or new technology development experience in a production environment;
• Experience with Quality Management Systems and QC lab testing and procedures;
• Direct experience managing a OSHA PSM compliant facility.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.

REF:111709BR