Plant Manager; Chemical

Plant Manager – Biofuel / Ethanol Operations

Morris, MN

• Experience managing operations in an ethanol, biofuel, or chemical processing plant
• Strong leadership experience supervising operations, maintenance, and technical teams
• In-depth knowledge of ethanol production processes and related technologies
• Understanding of regulatory compliance including environmental, safety, and operational standards
• Experience managing budgets, plant performance metrics, and operational efficiency
• Ability to lead plant safety programs and maintain compliance with local, state, and federal regulations
• Strong communication, organizational, and team leadership skills

Our client, a well-established and growing organization within the agriculture and biofuel sector
, is seeking an experienced Plant Manager to oversee the daily operations of a chemical/biofuel processing facility in Morris, Minnesota.

This leadership role is responsible for managing plant operations, maintenance, safety, and quality while leading teams to achieve production goals, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. The Plant Manager will play a key role in developing staff, improving processes, and ensuring the facility operates safely and efficiently.

• Oversee daily plant operations, maintenance activities, and quality control functions
• Coordinate plant production activities with department supervisors to meet manufacturing goals efficiently and cost-effectively
• Lead, train, and develop plant personnel, including process operators, boiler operators, maintenance, and operations staff
• Assist with and approve hiring of plant personnel
• Maintain programs and policies that support a high-performing and motivated workforce
• Initiate and lead continuous improvement projects that increase efficiency, reduce operating costs, and improve environmental and safety performance
• Ensure full compliance with city, county, state, and federal regulatory requirements
• Direct and enforce plant safety programs, review safety records, and maintain high safety standards across the facility
• Maintain plant facilities and equipment, including preventive maintenance planning and spare parts management
• Facilitate communication and collaboration between operations, maintenance, lab, and leadership teams
• Review operational reports from supervisors and monitor plant performance
• Participate in maintenance planning, project management, and future capital improvement scheduling
• Plan and coordinate plant shutdowns and maintenance outages
• Conduct employee performance evaluations for supervisory staff and ensure effective performance management practices
• Establish policies and procedures that maintain plant organization, cleanliness, and operational standards
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the Director of Operations

• Bachelor’s degree (B.S. or B.A.) in Engineering, Operations, or related field preferred but not required
• Prior leadership experience in ethanol, biofuel, chemical processing, or similar industrial manufacturing environments
• Strong understanding of plant operations, production planning, and process optimization
• Experience working with budgets, financial reporting, and operational performance metrics

• Directly supervise personnel across operations, laboratory, and maintenance departments
• Responsible for hiring, training, scheduling, and performance management
• Plan, assign, and direct work while supporting employee development
• Address operational challenges, employee concerns, and resolve issues effectively

• Proficiency with standard office software, including email, spreadsheets, and word processing
• Ability to review and interpret operational reports and plant performance data

This role offers the opportunity to lead a critical operation within a growing agricultural and biofuel organization
, where you can directly impact plant performance, team development, and operational excellence.