Plant Operations Manager- Next-Generation Production Facility

Coastal Wave Recruiting; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid time off and holidays

Equity participation

Job summary

Coastal Wave Recruiting seeks a Plant Operations Manager to lead a first-of-its-kind production facility focusing on CO₂-to-fuel tech. You will direct production, maintenance, safety, and reliability while building scalable plant processes from the ground up.

Ideal candidates have 10+ years in chemical/industrial operations, strong safety knowledge, and a track record in budgeting and KPI management. Bachelor's in a STEM field is preferred, with relocation support and equity offered.

Qualifications

• 10+ years leading operations in chemical, refinery or industrial plant environments.
• Strong background in hydrocarbon, naphtha, fuel production processes.
• Experience managing plant budgets, KPIs and performance.
• Experience building plant processes and systems from scratch in startups/scaling.
• Strong leadership with ability to develop plant teams.
• Deep understanding of safety regulations and industry standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead all operations of a commercial production facility, including production, maintenance, reliability, and safety
• Build plant processes, policies, and procedures from the ground up
• Manage plant performance, production targets, and budget to ensure safety, efficiency, and financial success
• Monitor KPIs and implement improvements to optimize throughput and reliability
• Establish and champion a strong safety culture, including audits, training, and emergency response planning
• Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing plant team
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, leadership, and external partners
• Stay ahead of industry trends, regulations, and emerging technologies

Skills

Industrial operations

Hydrocarbon production

Budget & KPIs management

Process development startup

Team leadership

Safety compliance

Emergency response

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM; Chemical Engineering preferred

Job description

Job Description

Help Build the Future of Fuel

A cutting-edge manufacturing company is transforming how critical materials and fuels are produced—moving away from legacy methods and toward more sustainable, forward-thinking solutions.They are now building out a flagship facility and are seeking a Plant Operations Manager to help bring this next-generation operation to life.

What You'll Do

• Lead all operations of a commercial production facility, including production, maintenance, reliability, and safety
• Build plant processes, policies, and procedures from the ground up
• Manage plant performance, production targets, and budget to ensure safety, efficiency, and financial success
• Monitor KPIs and implement improvements to optimize throughput and reliability
• Establish and champion a strong safety culture, including audits, training, and emergency response planning
• Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing plant team
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, leadership, and external partners
• Stay ahead of industry trends, regulations, and emerging technologies

Why This Role Stands Out

• Lead operations at a first-of-its-kind production facility
• Opportunity to build and scale plant operations from the ground up
• Work on cutting-edge technology transforming CO₂ into sustainable fuel
• High-impact leadership role with visibility across the organization

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years of experience leading operations in a chemical, refining, or industrial plant environment
• Strong background in hydrocarbon, naphtha, fuel, or similar production processes
• Experience managing plant budgets, KPIs, and operational performance
• Experience building plant processes and systems from scratch in a startup or scaling environment
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing plant teams
• Deep understanding of safety regulations, compliance, and industry standards
• Ability to respond effectively in high-pressure or emergency situations in a plant environment
• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field; Chemical Engineering or a related field preferred

Benefits

• Relocation assistance available
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid time off and holidays
• Equity participation