Maintenance Technician POET Bioprocessing Ethanol Plant

Northwest Iowa Community College; Iowa (LA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

POET in Ashton, IA is seeking a Maintenance Technician to perform preventive maintenance, repairs, and cleaning of all plant equipment and systems. You will work with a team to ensure safe, compliant operations and document tasks using Maximo.

The role involves 12-hour shifts, on-site responsibilities, and collaboration across departments to maintain equipment like pumps, gearboxes, boilers, conveyors, and electrical systems. Training and standard operating procedures are emphasized.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Documented successful performance as a Maintenance Technician I or equivalent work experience required.
• Experience with fabrication, welding, cutting; repair of pumps, gearboxes, valves; boiler operations and water chemistry; conveyors; PM practices; piping; and instrument/electrical work preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate work functions with fellow team members and other departments within POET.
• Maintain boiler and cooling tower systems including water testing and adjusting.
• Maintain all plant equipment including pumps, gearboxes, motors, etc., and perform LOTO when needed.
• Troubleshoot equipment issues.
• Operate, maintain, and clean water filtration equipment.
• Understand and operate the DCS for the plant as needed.
• Use Maximo to coordinate materials and document maintenance tasks and inventory.
• Work with management to solve problems and fix unsafe conditions.
• Maintain knowledge of plant processes to understand equipment utilization.
• Operate equipment such as telehandler, skid steers, tractors, ATVs, pay loaders, lifts.
• Perform welding, cutting, and fabrication on plant and structural equipment.
• Be responsible for concrete work including building forms and finishing.
• Maintain a clean facility and sanitation schedule.
• Keep plant safe by fostering safe behavior and environmental compliance.
• Train new team members in the Maintenance Department.
• Communicate clearly with other departments.
• Maintain a team environment and champion POET in the community.
• Foster safe behavior and environmental compliance at all times.
• Maintain and advance food safety and quality of POET’s products and processes.
• Teamwork and flexibility for other uses.

Skills

Diploma

Maintenance Tech I

Fabrication & Welding

Equipment Repair

Reading Schematics

MS Office

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

Job description

The Maintenance Technician is responsible for the safe and efficient repair, preventative maintenance, and cleaning of all equipment associated with plant processes. Team members in this position will also perform maintenance tasks on all plant equipment. Maintenance Technicians are accountable for communicating any issues to the management team. Maintenance Technicians should be knowledgeable of process flow, computerized equipment and have an awareness of hazards associated with the process as well as display an understanding and ability to execute standard operating procedures (SOPs). As a team member grows in their skill and experience levels they are expected to become proficient in all maintenance functions at the Bioprocessing facility and be capable of training other team members in all areas. Continuous plant operation may require the Maintenance Technician to work 12-hour shifts and/or meet call-in requirements as needed.

This is an on-site role located in Ashton, IA.

Responsibilities include:

• Coordinate work functions with fellow team members and other departments within POET.
• Maintain boiler and cooling tower systems including water testing and adjusting.
• Maintain all plant equipment including, but not limited to: centrifuges (decanters and corn oil), pumps, motors, gearboxes, minor electrical systems, PLC’s, heat exchangers, compressors, grain handling equipment, and fans or blowers.
• Troubleshoot equipment issues.
• Perform Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) functions on the equipment.
• Operate, maintain, and clean the water filtration equipment.
• Understandand as needed operatethe DCS (Distributed Control System) for the plant.
• Use Maximo to coordinate and order materials to complete projects and thoroughly document all maintenance tasks and spare part inventory.
• Work with the management team to solve problems and fix unsafe conditions.
• Use your knowledge of plant processes to understand how the equipment is utilized.
• Operate equipment including, but not limited to: telehandler, skid steers, tractors, ATVs, pay loaders,aerial liftsand fork lifts.
• Perform welding, cutting, and fabrication on plant and structural equipment.
• Be responsible for concrete work including building forms, pouring, and finishing.
• Maintain a clean facility and follow the sanitation schedule completing all tasks as assigned.
• Keep your plant safe by fostering a culture of safe behavior and environmental compliance.
• Train new team members in the Maintenance Department.
• Clearly and concisely communicate with other departments.
• Maintain a team environment at all times and champion POET in the community.
• Foster a culture of safe behavior and environmental compliance at all times.
• Maintain and advance the food safety and quality of POET’s products and processes to deliver a best-in-class culture of quality.
• Since we’re all about teamwork and getting the job done, your skills may be put to a lot of other uses!

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Documented successful performance as a Maintenance Technician I or equivalent work experience required.
• Experience with fabrication, welding, cutting; repair of equipment such as pumps, gearboxes, airlocks, fans/blowers, agitator assemblies, and valves; boiler operations and water chemistry; material handling systems such as conveyors; preventative maintenance practices, fabrication and repair of metal/plastic piping systems; and instrument and electrical work preferred.
• Experiencewith concrete work, hydraulics, pneumatic and fluid processes, and ability to read schematic drawings is helpful.
• Knowledge of the basics of Microsoft Office Suite and the ability of learning new programs.

A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE

• High level of personal integrity
• Interpersonal skills – ability to effectively interact with individuals at all levels within/outside the organization
• Ability to understand technical and day to day operation of a bioprocessing facility.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Ability to embrace and promote change
• Innovative mindset
• Ability to think objectively
• Self-awareness in the face of uncertainty
• Organization and time management skills
• Ability to work in a team environment