Refinery Lead

Ingredion Incorporated; Salem (OR); On-site; USD 84,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Ingredion Incorporated in Salem, Oregon is seeking a Refinery Lead to own the Refinery Department and ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation. You will be accountable for safety, quality, production, cost, and employee development, with a focus on continuous improvement and regulatory compliance.

Lead cross-functional teams, guide daily operations, analyze performance data, and drive improvements using root cause analysis and project management best practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required.
• 5+ years in corn wet milling operations or refinery leadership.
• Strong decision-making and project management skills.
• Experience applying GMP, ISO 9001, HACCP and related regulatory standards.

Responsibilities

• Own overall Refinery Department performance including safety, quality, production and cost.
• Drive accountability with clear performance expectations, monitoring results and coaching.
• Lead daily operations and coordinate cross-functional teams to meet objectives.
• Champion safety, compliance, and food quality across SHE programs and standards.
• Analyze performance data and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop high-performing teams through workforce planning and training.

Skills

Leadership

People development

Analytical skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory & quality awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Job description

About Ingredion

Join Ingredion, where innovation impacts lives worldwide! Without even realizing it, you’ve experienced our work in your favorite chocolate, your pet’s food, the paper you write on, and your everyday snacks. As a global powerhouse across more than 60 industries, we harness the potential of natural ingredients to transform lives. Whether you’re just starting your career or bringing years of experience, there's a place for you here to make a real difference. Be part of our team that values a wide range of perspectives and is committed to shaping a better world with every product we create.

Location: Winston Salem, North Carolina

Workplace type: Onsite

Ingredion is looking for a Refinery Lead to lead and provide ownership of the Refinery Department to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the area. Accountable for departmental performance including safety, quality, production, cost, employee development, continuous improvement, and compliance.

What You Will Do

• Own overall Refinery Department performance, ensuring excellence in safety, quality, production, reliability, cost management, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Drive operational accountability and execution by establishing clear performance expectations, monitoring results, and providing coaching, development, and corrective actions as needed.
• Lead and support daily operations, coordinating cross-functional teams to resolve issues, troubleshoot processes, and achieve production and cost objectives.
• Champion a culture of safety, compliance, and food quality, ensuring adherence to SHE programs, ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, HACCP, GMP, and other regulatory requirements.
• Analyze performance data and optimize processes to improve efficiency, product quality, reliability, and facility performance through operational and capital improvement initiatives.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities, leveraging technical expertise, root cause analysis, innovation, and project management best practices.
• Develop and empower high-performing teams through workforce planning, succession planning, training, coaching, and fostering a collaborative, team-oriented culture.

What You Will Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field, with manufacturing experience; or 5+ years of experience in corn wet milling operations.
• Knowledge of refinery operations.
• Knowledge of Corn Wet Milling manufacturing processes, operations, and customer requirements.
• Decision-making, planning, time management, and project management capabilities.
• Ability to manage manufacturing operations effectively, including during high-pressure situations, emergencies, and crisis events.
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience applying project management best practices to implement and sustain improvements.
• Ability to learn, apply, and maintain GMP, Quality, Safety, and regulatory standards.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Who You Are

• Demonstrated experience leading and developing both salaried and hourly employees in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence culture, drive engagement, and achieve results through others.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across functions and organizational levels.
• Ability to build consensus, foster positive relationships, and drive teamwork.
• Resilience and composure under pressure, with the ability to lead effectively during challenging situations.
• Collaborative mindset with a focus on influencing, coaching, and empowering others.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills that support organizational success.

Why Join Ingredion?

Discover Why Ingredion Is The Ideal Place To Advance Your Career With Our Exceptional Rewards And Benefits Package Designed To Help You Thrive. Create The Future With Us And Enjoy:

• Total Rewards Package – Competitive salary and performance-based pay recognizing your contributions to our success
• Comprehensive Benefits & Wellness Support – Health, long-term savings, and resources for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being
• Career Growth – Learning, training, and development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement
• Employee Recognition Program – A culture of real-time appreciation, with personalized recognition rewards globally
• Employee Discount Program – Provides exclusive discounts on everyday products, services, and travel

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. Ingredion seeks to provide a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. We will not tolerate any form of discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, handicap or disability—mental or physical—marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability resulting from military service, or any other classification protected by law (“protected classifications”). We are committed to establishing and maintaining a work environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Ingredion provides accommodations to job applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If a job applicant requires an accommodation during the application process or through the selection process, we will work with the applicant to meet the job applicant's accommodation needs.

Ingredion uses AI-enabled tools to support parts of the recruitment process, including resume screening and interview scheduling. These tools help match candidate skills to job requirements and streamline communication. All AI-assisted decisions are reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team to ensure fairness and compliance with applicable laws. By applying, you acknowledge that AI may be used to support your application journey.

Relocation Available: Yes, Within Region

Pay Range: $84,400.00-$112,533.33 Annual

This pay range is not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Final base salary will be determined based on several factors which may include but are not limited to responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data and applicable bargaining agreement (if any).

Incentive Compensation: As a part of the total compensation package, this role may be eligible for the Ingredion Annual Incentive Plan or a role-specific commission/bonus.

Benefits: Full-time roles are eligible for our comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental and vision coverage as well as a 401(k) plan with an competitive company match.