Operations Manager

POET; Iowa Falls (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Bonus opportunities

Paid time off & holidays

Health, dental, vision insurance

401K with company match

Relocation assistance

Onsite fitness

Job summary

POET is seeking an Operations Manager for the Iowa Falls biorefinery to lead daily operations, drive efficiency, and uphold safety and quality standards. This on-site role requires coordinating with plant leadership, managing a diverse team, and ensuring regulatory compliance in a 24/7 operation.

The successful candidate will bring 5+ years in manufacturing with supervisory experience, a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, and familiarity with Maximo and MS Office.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a manufacturing/processing environment
• 5 years of supervisory and/or managerial experience preferred
• Experience with maintenance management systems such as Maximo is preferred

Responsibilities

• Oversee biorefinery operations and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Lead and develop operations team to maintain safe, efficient production.
• Optimize plant uptime and minimize downtime while delivering quality end product.
• Coordinate with Plant Manager to implement SOPs and system improvements.
• Monitor material inventories and support problem-solving across departments.

Skills

Operations management

Team leadership

Process improvement

Root Cause Analysis

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related

Tools

Maximo

Microsoft Office

Job description

ABOUT POET

At POET, it is our mission to be good stewards of the Earth by converting renewable resources to energy and other valuable goods as effectively as humanly possible. For over thirty years our drive and passion to change the world has enabled us to become the largest producer and marketer of bioethanol and a leader in sustainable products in the world.

BENEFITS & PERKS

Eligible Team Members may receive $$ Competitive BONUS opportunities - up to SIX bonuses per year (Quarterly Profit Sharing & Value Share) Paid time off and paid holidays - 40 hours of PTO available on Day 1, on top of a biweekly PTO accrual program! Comprehensive benefits package; Individual and family plans for health, dental, & vision insurance, including a generous employer Health Savings Account contribution Competitive pay, including shift premium pay for qualifying positions 401K with company match Paid Parental Leave Tuition reimbursement Attractive Relocation Assistance and Bonus Programs for qualifying positions and/or locations Safety and cold weather gear reimbursements Discounted home and auto insurance All POET Team Members enjoy A multifaceted wellness program encompassing the whole person – mentally, physically, and spiritually 'Family-first' culture Onsite fitness centers or fitness reimbursements

JOB SUMMARY & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Operations Manager is responsible for understanding, planning, directing and coordinating the operations of the biorefinery and implementing changes as necessary to ensure all necessary regulations are being met. Team members in this position manage team members and create a positive work environment as well as support operations through problem solving, adaptation and working with other departments to correct process problems. The Operations Manager is accountable for optimizing plant runtime as well as downtime while ensuring a quality end product. POET bioprocessing facilities operate on a 24-hour continuous schedule. The Operations Manager must be available as needed. This is an on-site role located in Iowa Falls, IA.

Responsibilities include:

• Facilitate communication between departments within the plant and other POET Biorefining locations to maintain an effective teamwork environment.
• Manage all plant operations and production and strive for maximum efficiency.
• Manage raw material inventories and receipts to ensure continued plant operation.
• Provide trouble shooting and problem solving expertise to resolve chemical plant operational problems.
• Optimize plant up-time or runtime, minimize all plant downtime.
• Assign cleaning tasks and maintain the sanitation schedule.
• Perform on-call duties for technical support during off hours.
• Lead interdepartmental teams through Root Cause Analysis (RCA) process and drive all action items through to completion.
• Utilize plant historian database (PI) to analyze plant operational trends.
• Coordinate with the Plant Manager to ensure all operational System Improvement Forms (SIF’s) are implemented.
• Coordinate with the Plant Manager to ensure the entire operations department is informed of and embracing operational changes that occur within the company.
• Coordinate with the Plant Manager to ensure that all city, county, state and federal regulations are being met and assist in implementing approved changes.
• Effectively lead the team by recruiting, selecting, orienting and training team members.
• Leadership responsibilities also include delegating, coaching, managing performance and career development to effectively execute departmental strategies and support company objectives.
• 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. Bachelor’s degree in Ag‑business, Business, Operations Management, Science, Chemistry, Biology or Engineering preferred. 5 or more years’ experience in a manufacturing/processing environment required. 5 years of supervisory and/or managerial experience is preferred. Experience with Maintenance management systems such as Maximo is preferred. You know the basics of Microsoft Office Suite. You’re capable 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 embrace and promote change
• Innovative mindset
• Ability to think objectively
• Self‑awareness in the face of uncertainty
• Ability to work in a team environment

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

This role has some physical requirements that our team members will need to be able to perform, such as:

• Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as hard hats, gloves, safety glasses, steel‑toed boots, hazardous material suit, hearing protection, and harness.
• Working at extreme heights (approximately 150 ft), in confined spaces, and in extreme temperatures from -20 to +100 degrees Fahrenheit, both indoors and outdoors.
• Due to the nature of the work, the areas can be dusty at times.
• Must be able to use the following equipment/tools, with training provided (not all encompassing): forklift, power washer, pallet jack, hoist systems, scissor lifts, JLG lifts, telehandlers, Front End Loaders, various hand tools, and computers.

• Sitting in a chair in the Control Room while operating the plant
• Walk indoors and outdoors sometimes over rough, uneven, or wet/slick surfaces
• Carry to up to 15lbs
• Climb stairs and/or ladders
• Stand indoors to clean and maintain areas
• Reach at arm’s length to gather samples
• Be in awkward back, shoulder, wrists, and hand positions
• Use coordination and grip, with a force of up to 50lbs
• Bend while standing
• Use repetitive arm motions to wipe down and maintain work area
• Climb in and out of Powered Industrial Vehicles

• Occasionally: Lift up to 50lbs, with or without assistance
• Carry up to 40 lbs, with our without assistance
• Push with a force of 10lbs, with or without assistance
• Pull with a force of up to 85lbs, with or without assistance
• Bend, twist, turn, kneel, and crouch, while holding light and medium weighted objects

Due to the physical and safety‑sensitive nature of this job, you will be subject to a physical and expected to pass a drug screen during the pre‑screen process. During employment, you’ll be subject to random drug and alcohol testing.

CULTURE IS KING AT POET

We’re all on the same team. We always communicate. And we park our egos at the door. These aren’t just slogans on our walls. It’s the way we do things at POET. We provide an environment for team members to maintain a healthy work‑life balance. It’s the best way to optimize health, wellness, and productivity in a sustainable way. We work hard. We play hard. We have frequent team events, volunteer efforts, and we know how to celebrate wins!

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

At POET we encourage internal development and growth by allowing team members to carve their own path to success. Leaders support team members with the necessary resources to develop their skills, achieve goals, and create the most value. We believe in developing our team members to their highest potential and recognizing contributions that add value to the organization. Each new team member’s position and compensation are carefully determined by considering their unique qualifications and skillset. POET is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to maintaining a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, abilities, merit, and other legitimate business factors, without regard to any legally protected characteristic. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, working conditions, promotion, and termination. Over the past 30 years of bioprocessing leadership, we've assembled the industry's strongest team of engineers, scientists, financial analysts and more. Along the way, we've carefully selected team members who share our core values and pride in everything we do. That's common sense—and it's led to some of the most creative bioprocessing work in the world. The people of POET make working here a challenging, exhilarating place to advance a career. They accomplish great things for millions of Americans and find great satisfaction in helping our country in so many ways.