Plant Manager (Internal)

Position Summary:

The Plant Manager is responsible for all day-to-day operations, maintenance, engineering, safety, fiscal, and administrative functions of RBFs bio-diesel facility while achieving Company goals. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to providing engineering, operations, maintenance, quality assurance and production processes management and technical support related to the plant while ensuring continual process improvement, optimization and reliability. Perform all other Plant Manager duties as assigned.

Position Responsibilities:

• Provide coordination with various engineering services on bio-diesel processes and process/refinery systems to ensure safe, environmental compliance, process reliable, economical operation, and optimal and efficient systems.
• Provide technical process expertise to plant operations, maintenance, and other groups to assure full optimization of refinery systems and processes.
• Complete planning of refinery needs and future maintenance programs.
• Prepare operational plans and implement production schedules.
• Provide direction to assure all maintenance and operational requirements are achieved to optimize equipment performance;

• Develop plans, and process specifications for the efficient operation of new and existing processes.
• Takes all necessary actions to protect the facilitys operation permit.
• Identify productivity improvement opportunities to benefit plant Areas of emphasis include: manufacturing cost reduction, waste handling and reduction, raw material and utility consumption/cost/supply, process reliability and capacity expansions.

• Remain appraised of new designs or techniques to bio-diesel optimum plant efficiencies and processes and feedstocks yield.
• Conduct evaluations of plant operations and utility systems, screen options, identify and investigate process bottlenecks and constraints, map system capability and rank solutions through cost-benefit analyses.

• Identify, develop and design improved operating and control strategies to achieve productivity objectives. Develop tracking programs and metrics for plant optimization and efficiency; monitor the targets against budget/expected performance.
• Analyze plant performance, develop and install systems that ensure plant operators and line management understand the optimal run-point for each process to achieve efficiency targets.

• Develop project scope, support project cost estimating, prepare funding request documents, and propose an execution strategy that best matches the resources and benefits Execute productivity projects as a member of a project team.
• Work with the plant staff and line management to identify, communicate and adopt and transfer best Engage the operations team to identify opportunities, report the ideas, and screen and prioritize for implementation. Support and execute plant productivity assessments.
• Provide support for the plant process, safety, and environmental activities: implement management of change, participate in operating plant hazard review revalidations and complete action items, conduct project hazards reviews, and support
• Provide direction to the Port Neches staff to help troubleshoot and resolve operating and reliability problems, and product and raw material quality issues.
• Oversee process safety management ( PSM) conducting process hazard analysis ( PHA), management of change ( MOC), and emergency relief design.
• Lead project management including project scope, equipment and process design, technical evaluation, equipment procurement, project implementation, project cost management, and as appropriate update process flow diagrams ( PFD's), piping and instrumentation diagrams ( P&ID's), maintenance records, and PSM equipment files.

• Manage OSHA regulations and requirements, safety program initiatives and training, and reporting and record-keeping compliance.

• Carries out all responsibilities under EPA legislation; follows proper procedures, reporting requirements, assures proper training, and promotes awareness for the environment.

• Prepares and is responsible for the execution of emergency plans.
• Research and ensure projects are in compliance with all Federal and State regulations.

• Continuously monitor facility financial economics and efficiency.
• Provide prompt, timely and accurate financial reporting as required by RBF policy.

• Prepare annual budgets, operating plans, and measures for operating at scheduled levels, providing justification for any variances.
• Works with accounting to review budget variances on a regular basis and updates schedules as necessary.
• As requested, provides guidance on proper execution of commercial contracts and assists in bringing solutions to any argument that may arise.
• In coordination with corporate human resources, oversee all plant personnel matters including, recruiting, performance management, disciplinary issues, compensation, training, company policy compliance, and all other associated responsibilities.
• Regularly communicates with management and other RBF team members for exchange, consultation, guidance and required approvals.
• Maintains relations with suppliers, customers, designers and equipment manufacturers, authorities and contractors.
• Responsible to be personally involved and to take innovative actions to ensure good public and community relations on behalf of the facility and the company.

Required Business Skills:

• Strong leadership skills.
• Ability to make significant independent judgments.

• Ability to manage all groups, interacting with engineering, plant operators, laboratory technicians, maintenance and I&E technicians, production engineers.
• Ability to generate precise and accurate data/reports without significant supervision; ability to error-check own work products.
• Strong project management, analytical, communication, presentation skills, including advanced technical design and related computer program proficiency.
• Utilize a computer based automated maintenance management system to organize and implement equipment and system commissioning, operational and maintenance history files, identify trends and take corrective action to maintain equipment performance to maximize plant capacity factor, availability, performance and efficiency

• Ability to use computer software for planning, budgeting, inventory control and database management.
• Must be flexible, focused and have the ability to work well in a lean, fast-paced work environment.
• Excellent command of the English language, both verbally and written.

Experience/Education:

• BS in or MS Engineering required, chemical or mechanical degree Comparable engineering degree with experience in plant operations, refinery process, or biodiesel will be a factor
• Minimum ten ( 10) years working experience processing/engineering in biofuels, petroleum, or chemicals.
• Prior experience running plant trials and conducting process plant optimization preferred.
• Expert knowledge of chemical plant and/or refinery processes.
• Prior experience supporting execution of capital projects including planning spreadsheet and scope development, design, execution, and start-up/commissioning.
• Prior experience using process instrumentation and controls, in addition to simulation and modeling applications ( e.g., Chemcad, ASPEN).
• Exposure to cost engineering and evaluating benefits.
• Familiarity with process safety tools and risk analysis.