What are the responsibilities and job description for the Control Operator position at Chief?
Oversees and controls the ethanol production process from a centralized control room. This role ensures safe, efficient, and continuous operation of plant equipment through monitoring systems, data analysis, and coordination with field operators.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
- Monitor plant operations using DCS systems, including fermentation, distillation, evaporation, drying, and utilities.
- Adjust process parameters (flows, temperatures, pressures, chemical dosing) to maintain optimal production.
- Respond to alarms and troubleshoot process deviations in real time.
- Communicate with field operators to coordinate equipment inspections, manual adjustments, and maintenance activities.
- Record operational data including production rates, energy usage, equipment status, and downtime events.
- Start up and shut down equipment following established procedures.
- Ensure safety compliance by following SOPs, lockout/tagout, confined space, and emergency protocols.
- Collaborate with maintenance to report equipment issues and support repairs.
- Maintain product quality by monitoring lab results and adjusting processes accordingly.
- Participate in shift handovers with clear documentation and verbal briefings.
- Strong understanding of industrial process operations (ethanol, chemical, or power preferred).
- Ability to interpret P&IDs, process trends, and instrumentation data.
- Ability to work rotating shifts, including nights and weekends.
Education:
- High school diploma, or GED, required.
The Company:
Putting the needs of customers first has taken Chief Industries, Inc. from a small construction company in 1954, to a highly diverse company with a reputation for manufacturing quality products and offering unparalleled customer service. Through its many divisions and subsidiaries, Chief Industries employs over 1,400 skilled and dedicated employees who produce a wide variety of products, many of which are used around the world.
A Brand of Chief Industries, Chief Ethanol is committed to producing quality renewable fuel and produces approximately 140 million gallons of ethanol annually. Chief Ethanol Fuels, Inc. was Nebraska’s first dry-mill ethanol plant and remains committed to producing renewable fuel and high-quality feed today. The plant is a continuous flow Vogelbusch process.
Our Benefits:
This full-time position is eligible for full company benefits, including
- Paid vacation/time off policies
- 401(k) retirement plan plus company match
- Company-paid life insurance
- Company-paid short-term disability benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Financial wellness coaching
- Employee assistance program
- Paid holidays (8)
- Employee discounts
- Education assistance
- And much more.