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.