Heartwell Renewables - Manager of Refinery Operations - Hastings, NE

Req ID: 495349

Welcome to Heartwell! Heartwell Renewables manufactures and distributes renewable diesel fuel. Through our core values, we lead the safe production of renewable fuel to transport everyday products more sustainably. We are recruiting an Operations Manager to oversee the strategic and day-to-day operational performance of a single renewable diesel facility. This role is responsible for driving excellence across all production and processing activities, ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards while optimizing operational efficiency and supporting strong financial results. The facility operates 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Successful candidates will be required to pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening, background check, physical fitness assessment, respiratory fit test, and pulmonary function test (as needed).

Job Functions:

• Lead and manage day-to-day operations across the facility, with direct oversight of the Pretreatment Area, Renewable Diesel Unit (RDU), and Load/Unload Area.
• Lead and ensure all production and operating facilities operate safely and in compliance with regulatory and corporate safety and environmental programs standards and goals.
• Oversee the execution of consistent and quality product while driving reliability centered manufacturing operations.
• Responsible for strategy execution, management and compliance of capital/operating budgets, and oversee the strategy of capital investment projects, including spending.
• Conduct and support incident investigations, root-cause analyses, and corrective-action planning.
• Lead, coach, and develop operations supervisors, operators, and support staff across all operational units.
• Ensure adequate staffing, training, and competency development to support safe and reliable operations.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration between maintenance, engineering, EH&S, and other plant departments.
• Utilize operational data and KPIs to evaluate system performance and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead and own strategic implementation of operational efficiency programs, including tracking and reporting results
• Champion a culture that builds, operates, and maintains plants that are operationally sound, safe, and efficient.
• Develop plans and deliver results in a fast-changing business or regulatory environment, while leading and developing a team of experienced professionals and supervisors, coaching.
• Making decisions related to talent management hiring, performance and disciplinary actions by collaborating with managers and supervisors in your organization to ensure staffing decisions align with current and future needs.
• Perform duties primarily on-site to ensure direct collaboration, timely response to operational needs, and hands-on support, with limited remote work flexibility.
• Available to respond to calls for assistance, direction and troubleshooting of complex continuous operations, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Travel up to 10% of the time may be required.
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Chemical Processing, Industrial Technology, or a related field or equivalent work experience
• 5+ years of operations experience in a refinery, chemical plant, renewable fuels facility, or similar continuous-process industrial environment.
• 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 other related unit operations.
• Willingness to perform incipient fire response and other emergency response activities as trained
• Be fit to perform the essential functions of the job. Be comfortable working in an industrial environment that may include loud areas near rotating, operating, or heavy equipment, extreme temperatures, dust, work at heights, entry into confined spaces, and other potential chemical or atmospheric hazards requiring the use of appropriate PPE.
• Ability to walk and stand for extended periods of time, lift minimum 40 lbs., climb ladders, stairs and work from elevated platforms.
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English, including job specific technical language, sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.
• Willing to relocate to Nebraska and become Nebraska resident (if applicable)
• Must be legally eligible to work in the US without sponsorship.
• Other minimum qualifications may apply

Preferred Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in refinery, chemical processing, or renewables fuels operations, with direct oversight of multiple production units.
• Demonstrated experience with turnaround planning, unit startups/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 experience with operating budgets, cost control, and performance forecasting.
• Experience working with rapidly growing, innovative and/or startup-like operational environment is a plus.
• 5+ years of supervisory experience
• Lean Six Sigma
• Experienced in Renewable Diesel, Steam Reformation, Hydro processing and/or a PSM regulated facility

Heartwell Renewables is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for career growth and development.

Our Culture: 

Fueling customers' journeys since 1964, innovation leads the way for this family-owned and operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City. With nearly 40,000 team members, travel stops are the core business along with products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, traveling public, RVers, alternative energy and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities and an inclusive workplace are hallmarks of the award-winning culture.

Love's is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Veterans encouraged to apply.