Ethanol Plant Manager — Biorefinery Operations
Location: Southwest Kansas (Liberal, KS area) — Relocation Assistance Provided
Salary Range: $200,000–$260,000 ($200,000 base + 20-30% bonus)
Job Type: Full-Time
Industry: Ethanol / Biorefinery / Renewable Fuels
Requirements at a Glance
- Prior leadership experience running an ethanol production plant
- 10+ years industrial or plant operations experience, including supervisory responsibility
- Experience leading a lean-staffed site (small direct-report team, no heavy middle-management layer)
- Strong safety, maintenance, and production systems background
- Willing to relocate to southwest Kansas
- Bachelor's degree preferred, not required
The Opportunity
A 110-million-gallon-per-year ethanol production facility is hiring a Plant Manager to lead daily operations for a ~50-person team through four direct reports (Production, Maintenance, Grain/Rail, Lab Managers).
Compensation: $200,000 base, 20–30% annual target bonus (total cash $240K–$260K+), full relocation package, full benefits (health, retirement, PTO).
Responsibilities
- Manage daily plant operations to meet production and quality targets
- Monitor equipment/process performance to improve efficiency, reduce downtime, optimize yield
- Lead plant safety culture and ensure environmental/regulatory compliance
- Coach and develop plant supervisors and shift leads
- Set performance expectations; conduct evaluations
- Partner with Maintenance leadership on preventive/corrective maintenance planning
- Serve as the operational link between corporate leadership and plant staff
- Manage plant budget (staffing, overtime, supplies, maintenance)
- Own carbon intensity (CI) scoring and pathway management, coordinating with the commercial team
Qualifications
Required
- Prior ethanol production plant leadership experience
- 10+ years industrial/plant operations experience with supervisory responsibility
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and decision-making skills
- Valid driver's license; ability to travel occasionally
Preferred
- ICM plant technology experience
- Carbon intensity (CI) scoring / pathway management familiarity
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, Agriculture, or related field
- Background in chemical processing, grain handling, milling, or biodiesel (secondary to ethanol experience, not a substitute for it)
This employer is an equal opportunity employer.