Heartwell Renewables - Manager of Refinery Operations - Hastings, NE

Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores•Hastings, NE

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Heartwell Renewables is hiring an Operations Manager to oversee the strategic and day-to-day operational performance of a single renewable diesel facility in Hastings, Nebraska. The role leads production and processing activities across the Pretreatment Area, Renewable Diesel Unit (RDU), and Load/Unload Area, with responsibility for safety, regulatory and environmental compliance, product quality, operational reliability, efficiency, and financial results. The facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Operations Manager leads and develops operations supervisors, operators, and support staff; ensures staffing, training, and competency development; collaborates with maintenance, engineering, EH&S, and other departments; and uses operational data and KPIs to drive continuous improvement. The position also manages operational and capital budgets, capital investment strategy, incident investigations, root-cause analyses, corrective actions, and efficiency programs. It makes talent-management decisions in collaboration with organizational managers and supervisors. The role is primarily on-site, with limited remote-work flexibility, and requires availability to respond to operational issues, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Travel up to 10% may be required. Candidates must complete pre-employment drug and alcohol screening, a background check, physical fitness assessment, respiratory fit test, and pulmonary function test as needed. The work environment may include loud areas, extreme temperatures, dust, heights, confined spaces, and chemical or atmospheric hazards requiring PPE. Physical requirements include extended walking and standing, lifting at least 40 pounds, and climbing ladders and stairs or working on elevated platforms.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Chemical Processing, Industrial Technology, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
At least 5 years of operations experience in a refinery, chemical plant, renewable fuels facility, or similar continuous-process industrial environment.
At least 3 years of leadership or supervisory experience, preferably overseeing multi-unit or complex process operations.
Budgeting and operations planning experience.
Demonstrated experience with process safety management (PSM), OSHA requirements, and environmental compliance standards.
Strong understanding of industrial process operations, ideally including feedstock pretreatment, hydroprocessing, or related unit operations.
Willingness to perform incipient fire response and other emergency response activities as trained.
Fitness to perform essential job functions and comfort working in industrial environments that may include loud areas near operating equipment, extreme temperatures, dust, heights, confined spaces, and chemical or atmospheric hazards requiring appropriate PPE.
Ability to walk and stand for extended periods, lift a minimum of 40 pounds, climb ladders and stairs, and work from elevated platforms.
Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English, including job-specific technical language, sufficiently to perform the duties.
Willingness to relocate to Nebraska and become a Nebraska resident, if applicable.
Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Must pass pre-employment drug and alcohol screening, background check, physical fitness assessment, respiratory fit test, and pulmonary function test as needed.
Other minimum qualifications may apply.

Nice To Haves

At least 7 years of experience in refinery, chemical processing, or renewable fuels operations, with direct oversight of multiple production units.
Experience with turnaround planning, unit startups and shutdowns, and major maintenance activities.
Experience managing operations in a PSM-regulated facility, including process hazard analysis, management of change, and incident investigation.
Strong financial acumen, including operating budgets, cost control, and performance forecasting.
Experience in a rapidly growing, innovative, and/or startup-like operational environment.
At least 5 years of supervisory experience.
Lean Six Sigma.
Experience in renewable diesel, steam reformation, hydroprocessing, and/or a PSM-regulated facility.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage day-to-day facility operations, including the Pretreatment Area, Renewable Diesel Unit (RDU), and Load/Unload Area.
Ensure production and operating facilities operate safely and comply with regulatory requirements and corporate safety and environmental programs and standards.
Oversee consistent, quality product execution and reliability-centered manufacturing operations.
Execute operational strategy; manage and ensure compliance with capital and operating budgets; and oversee capital investment project strategy and spending.
Conduct and support incident investigations, root-cause analyses, and corrective-action planning.
Lead, coach, and develop operations supervisors, operators, and support staff across operational units.
Ensure adequate staffing, training, and competency development for safe and reliable operations.
Foster cross-functional collaboration with maintenance, engineering, EH&S, and other plant departments.
Use operational data and KPIs to evaluate system performance and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
Lead implementation of operational efficiency programs and track and report results.
Build and champion a culture of operationally sound, safe, and efficient plant operation and maintenance.
Develop plans and deliver results in a fast-changing business or regulatory environment while leading and developing experienced professionals and supervisors.
Collaborate with managers and supervisors on hiring, performance, and disciplinary decisions to align staffing with current and future needs.
Work primarily on-site to collaborate directly, respond promptly to operational needs, and provide hands-on support.
Be available to respond to calls for assistance, direction, and troubleshooting of complex continuous operations, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Perform other duties as assigned.