Plant Manager

Ethanolproducer; Kansas; On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Wellness program

Bonus Program

Job summary

A prominent energy firm in Kansas seeks a Plant Manager to lead and optimize ethanol production operations. The role involves overseeing daily plant performance, ensuring safety compliance, and developing front-line leadership. Candidates must have over 10 years of experience in managing production facilities with a strong background in fermentation and distillation processes. This position offers a competitive salary along with comprehensive benefits including medical and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience managing or leading an ethanol production facility.
• Proven success in operational optimization and leadership.
• Strong experience with safety regulations in an industrial context.

Responsibilities

• Lead all daily plant production operations to achieve efficiency targets.
• Monitor fermentation and distillation processes for optimal output.
• Drive safety culture and ensure compliance with regulations.

Skills

Leadership presence

Operational accountability

Plant production optimization

Team management

Ethanol plant processes expertise

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Industrial Management

Job description

Plant Manager

Conestoga Energy Partners

Liberal, Kansas

Job Description

Conestoga Energy Partners is seeking a highly experienced Plant Manager with a proven track record of leading ethanol production facilities. This role is responsible for full plant operational leadership, production performance, safety excellence, and the development of front-line leadership across the facility. This position requires a leader who understands fermentation, distillation, yields, uptime, and plant optimization while building a culture of accountability, safety, and operational discipline.

Responsibilities

• Plant Production & Operational Leadership
  • Lead all daily plant production operations to achieve throughput, yield, and efficiency targets.
  • Monitor fermentation, distillation, and overall process performance to optimize production output.
  • Drive uptime, reliability, and process consistency across all shifts.
  • Identify and implement operational improvements that enhance plant performance and reduce downtime.
  • Ensure standardized operating practices and strong shift-to-shift accountability.
• Ethanol Facility Management
  • Oversee the full operational performance of an ethanol production facility.
  • Maintain deep awareness of plant KPIs, including yield, grind rates, energy usage, and CI impacts.
  • Partner with Commercial and Corporate leadership on carbon intensity (CI) optimization and pathway management.
  • Understand operational decisions that impact CI scores and end market pathways.
• Leadership & Supervisor Development
  • Directly coach and develop Production Managers, Maintenance Managers, and shift leadership.
  • Strengthen supervisor capability in directing crews, enforcing standards, and managing performance.
  • Lead structured leadership meetings focused on accountability, problem-solving, and operational discipline.
  • Build a strong internal leadership pipeline through mentoring and succession planning.
• Safety, Environmental & Regulatory Compliance
  • Champion a world‑class safety culture and lead by example in all safety practices.
  • Ensure full compliance with OSHA, environmental permits, and company safety policies.
  • Partner closely with EHS to drive proactive safety initiatives and corrective actions.
• Maintenance & Reliability Alignment
  • Collaborate with Maintenance leadership to ensure preventive and corrective maintenance supports production uptime.
  • Balance operational demands with long‑term asset reliability strategies.
• Financial & Performance Management
  • Manage plant budgets including labor, overtime, maintenance, and operational expenses.
  • Identify cost improvement opportunities without compromising safety, reliability, or quality.
  • Drive operational efficiency and responsible resource management.
• Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Serve as the operational bridge between corporate leadership and plant operations.
  • Collaborate with HR, Safety, Lab/Quality, Procurement, Accounting, and Commercial teams.
  • Ensure clear, consistent communication across departments and across all shifts.

Qualifications

• Required Qualifications
  • 10+ years of experience managing or leading an ethanol production facility.
  • Proven success in plant production leadership and operational optimization.
  • Demonstrated experience managing supervisors, managers, and multi‑department teams.
  • Strong expertise in ethanol plant processes (fermentation, distillation, yields, and plant performance metrics).
  • Experience with safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance in an industrial setting.
  • Strong leadership presence, decision‑making ability, and operational accountability.
• Preferred Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Industrial Management, or a related field.
  • Experience with carbon intensity (CI) awareness and pathway optimization.
  • Continuous improvement, Lean, or operational excellence experience in process manufacturing.

Benefits

• 401(k) matching
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Wellness program
• Bonus Program

Application Instructions

Please apply at www.conestogaenergy.com. Complete the application and upload your resume and the job questionnaire.