Regional Operations Manager - Biomass

Job Summary

Location: Various, United States

This position is responsible for managing all operating aspects of multiple dairy to Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facilities which reside primarily in Wisconsin; potential to also manage landfill to RNG facilities. Key accountabilities include safety, quality, delivery, cost, morale, and environmental (SQDCME) management; represent DTE Vantage for public relations and ensure contract compliance. This position will report to the Director of Operations for DTE Biomass Energy.

Key Accountabilities

• Create and sustain a strong safety culture that consistently values employee safety over production
• Create operating and capital budgets; meet or exceed budgets
• Support business development by providing technical expertise and operational insight
• Ensure data integrity and confirm all data/documentation required for state and federal program compliance supports successful validation audits
• Pro-actively identify and prevent environmental permit exceedances
• Manage a team of highly talented and engaged individuals capable of running sites without day- to-day guidance
• Lead continuous improvement efforts to improve SQDCME and develop talent of staff
• Manage a positive collaborative relationship with farms/landfill hosts, customers, the public, and regulators
• Conduct ad-hoc financial analysis, engineering analysis, contract reviews, and public relations presentations
• Work with industry trade groups and other ROM's to move the entire industry forward
• Make concise, well-thought recommendations to senior management on performance, staffing, and capital improvements
• Project manage small plant capital optimization and efficiency projects, including completion of Capital Expenditure Approval (CEA) documentation.
• Meet all federal, state, and local permit obligations
• Meet program audit and (re)certification objectives for RFS and LCFS
• Ability to work independently with little or no supervision

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline, and the knowledge and capabilities typically acquired through at least five years of technical related experience or,
• Associate degree or industry-recognized certificate (i.e., the completion of a core group of courses designated by the institution) in a job-relevant discipline, and the knowledge and capabilities typically acquired through at least ten years of technical experience or,
• High School diploma and knowledge and capabilities typically acquired through at least fifteen years of related technical experience demonstrating continuous growth

Other Qualifications

Preferred:

• Understanding of OSHA requirements, experience developing an engaged safety culture, and implementing safety improvements
• Experience with dairy and/or landfill to RNG experience and secondarily natural gas small scale power generation strongly preferred
• Strong industrial skill set — electrical troubleshooting, PLC knowledge, screw compressor maintenance and operations, flow meter operations, valves, pumps, breakers, etc.
• Strong administrative skills — budgeting, Microsoft Office, forecasting, managing vendors
• Strong logistical skills — inventory management, maintenance planning
• Excellent interpersonal skills — ability to maintain a good relationship with the dairy host, the community, management, and employees
• Experience with budgeting, construction, and commercial agreements
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to efficiently handle competing priorities and tasks
• Willingness to work outside of normal work hours as necessary to assist with 24-7

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

The physical demands characterized here epitomize those that must be met by an employee to properly perform the integral functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. In order to properly perform the integral functions of this job, the employee is required to:

• Successfully complete pre-employment physical including ability to utilize respiratory protection and all other safety requirements, drug screen and background check
• Occasionally stand or walk and stoop or kneel. Frequently, the employee is required to sit
• Talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use wrists, hands and/or fingers in a repetitive motion; and reach with hands and arms extensively
• Sit, stand, or walk for 8–14-hour shifts, including walking long distances, up and down stairs and on uneven ground
• Hear conversations (in person or via 2-way radio) in noisy environments
• Occasionally lift objects up to 30 pounds
• Use computers with exposure to video display terminals; and some repetitive motion associated with data entry, the use of a computer mouse, and while using other office equipment
• Vision requirements for this position include close vision, color vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus

The employee performs job duties primarily in a work from home capacity and periodically from a climate-controlled office environment, with a moderate noise level. However, on an occasional basis the employee will work within the vicinity of a municipal solid waste disposal facility where noise levels and environmental conditions may vary.

Additional Information

Incumbents may engage in all or some combination of the activities and accountabilities and utilize a variety of the competencies cited in this description depending upon the organization and role to which they are assigned. This description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by incumbents in this job. It is not intended as an all-inclusive list of accountabilities or responsibilities, nor is it intended to limit the rights of supervisors or management representatives to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.