Manufacturing Operations Manager

Nebraskaagconnection; Blair (NE); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Corbion's lactic acid and derivatives production facility in Blair, Nebraska is seeking a senior leader for production to drive strategic direction and operational excellence. The role manages the Assistant Operations Manager and Production Supervisors across day and overnight shifts, guiding budgets, Lean initiatives and KPI delivery to meet safety, quality and cost targets.

Ideal candidates have 8+ years in manufacturing leadership, proven budget management, and change leadership in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field; 8+ years in manufacturing leadership.
• Proven ability to lead operations, manage budgets, and drive Lean initiatives.
• Experience reducing costs while maintaining safety and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Ensure facility compliance with Corbion, environmental, governmental and OSHA regulations.
• Provide strategic direction to the Operations leadership; oversee budgets and KPIs.
• Lead Lean process improvements to improve production efficiency and output.
• Develop and communicate annual Operations KPIs aligned with production goals.
• Coach and develop the operations team; manage staffing and performance.
• Report monthly production results and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Lean process management

Team leadership

Budget management

Change management

Manufacturing operations

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related field

Job description

At Corbion, we exist to champion preservation in all its forms, preserving food and food production, health, and our planet.

Corbion's lactic acid and derivatives production facility in Blair, Nebraska is looking for a senior leader for production. In this role, you will manage the Assistant Operations Manager and Production Supervisors for day and overnight shifts and lead the strategic development and direction of lactic acid and derivatives production. The ideal candidate has experience with Lean process management, team leadership and managing fixed and variable cost budgets.

Essential Job Functions

• Ensure facility compliance for all Corbion, environmental, governmental and OSHA regulations and engage in maintaining an accident‑free facility
• Strategic planning, process development and overall manufacturing performance including quantity and quality in all product lines to align with Corbion's business objectives
• Manage fixed cost and variable cost budgets; contribute to annual budget planning and monitor monthly, quarterly, and annual financial performance against targets
• Provide strategic direction to Assistant Operations Manager; ensure cohesive execution of tactical operational plans, manage plant outages, crisis management and problem‑solving
• Ensure operations department has quality training content for skill advancement, regulatory compliance with auditing agencies, federal regulations, and company policies
• Develop and communicate annual Operations KPIs that are measurable, achievable, and emphasize production quality and efficiencies
• Foster an Operations culture that adheres to inter‑departmental communication with Safety, Maintenance, Quality and others to maintain Corbion's open door policy on communication and collaboration
• Ensure operations management team actively participates in team member's individual performance goals in alignment with production and growth goals. Coach them on leadership and people management, progressive discipline in accordance with Corbion policies, values and applicable federal, state or civil laws
• Supervise monthly, quarterly and annual hiring and retention tracking from Production Supervisors. Estimate staffing needs and monitor employee engagement and satisfaction, and areas of opportunity for sustaining staffing continuity
• Review and report on monthly production results to maintain alignment with Corbion's production goals and metrics
• Manage continuous improvement such as Lean efforts and pro‑actively respond to production problems and solutions, increasing production efficiencies
• Improve, identify and assist with quality discrepancy management
• Serve as a member of the plant's leadership team; work with other department leaders to ensure alignment and cohesion with Corbion goals to sustain collaborative progress of the plant

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree, preferably in Engineering or similar field of study
• 8+ years of progressive management responsibility in a manufacturing environment, ideally biorefining or chemical
• Demonstrated ability to manage operations/production
• Proven success building and leading a team, including coaching for performance, mentoring, and discipline
• Experience using Lean management processes
• Proven success setting and managing budgets
• Successful background of change management and plant optimization

Physical Demands

• Sitting frequently in an office space
• Standing occasionally in the office or plant areas
• Walking frequently throughout the plant and outdoors between the facility's buildings with exposure to outdoor temperatures
• Climbing stairs occasionally
• Kneeling, bending/stooping and reaching overhead
• Ability to lift up to twenty (20) pounds maximum on a frequent basis when working with large files, binders, computer equipment and shop equipment

About Corbion

Corbion is a sustainable ingredients company dedicated to preserving what matters, including food and food production, health, and the planet. We specialize in lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, food preservation solutions, functional blends, and algae ingredients, using our deep application and product knowledge to propel nature's ingenuity through science. With more than a century of experience, we continue working side‑by‑side with our customers to make our cutting‑edge technologies work for them. Leveraging our advanced capabilities in fermentation and preservation technology, we help customers differentiate their products in diverse markets ranging from food and animal nutrition to home & personal care, pharmaceuticals, electronics, medical devices, and bioplastics. In 2025, Corbion generated annual sales of EUR 1,267.4 million with a workforce of 2,408 FTEs. Corbion is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

Corbion is an equal opportunity employer and committed to a diverse workplace. All applicants will be considered equally without regard to race, color, ethnicity, veteran status, religion, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, age, sex, sexual orientation, handicapping condition, membership in an organization or any other non‑merit factors.

Corbion provides reasonable accommodation to applicants.

EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled

Corbion does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third‑party recruiting agencies in response to job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers. All candidates must be submitted by approved Corbion vendors who have been expressly requested to make a submission by our Talent Acquisition team for a specific job opening. No placement fees will be paid to any firm unless such a request has been made by the Corbion Talent Acquisition team and such candidate was submitted to the Corbion Talent Acquisition Team.

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