Process Operations Manager

Job Title: Process Operations Manager 
Reports to: Site Manager
Location: San Bernardino, California (Rancho Cucamonga)
Job Type: Permanent, Full- Time, Exempt

NES Fircroft is a leading global technical recruitment company providing professional contract and permanent staff to a diverse worldwide client base across the energy, industrial, and process manufacturing sectors. Our client, an innovative industrial processing and resource recovery company, has a permanent opportunity for a Process Operations Manager - Liquids Recovery & Process Development based in Rancho Cucamonga/ San Bernardino, California.

Position Summary

The Process Operations Manager will oversee daily liquids recovery operations, plant reliability, and process optimization for future technologies, supporting the liquids recovery facility in San Bernardino. This position will lead plant-floor execution, supervise operations personnel, coordinate maintenance activities, and support future process development initiatives tied to industrial liquids management and recovery technologies.

This is a highly visible onsite leadership role with direct operational accountability across safety, throughput, uptime, and process performance, while also supporting early-stage evaluation of future technologies including, but not limited to, anaerobic digestion, membrane separation, biomethane production, and related recovery systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily operation of the ethanol recovery and liquids processing systems
• Supervise and support hourly process operators and laboratory personnel
• Drive safe, reliable, and efficient plant performance across operations
• Monitor and improve throughput, recovery efficiency, uptime, product quality, and operating cost
• Troubleshoot process and equipment issues in real time
• Coordinate maintenance priorities and support site equipment reliability initiatives
• Establish and manage preventative maintenance schedules
• Maintain SOP compliance, operating discipline, and process documentation standards
• Partner with site leadership while independently managing the process operations area
• Coordinate environmental compliance activities alongside onsite EH&S leadership
• Identify opportunities for operational optimization and continuous improvement
• Support evaluation of future liquids-management technologies and recovery processes
• Provide operational assumptions and technical input for feasibility studies and pro forma analysis
• Interface with third-party vendors, engineering firms, and technical service providers as required

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related process engineering discipline required
• 7+ years experience working within ethanol recovery, solvent recovery, distillation, industrial wastewater, specialty chemicals, fuels, or related process operations is a plus
• 5+ years supervising or directing hourly plant operators in an industrial environment
• 5+ years with strong hands-on process troubleshooting and operational problem-solving experience (i.e. maintenance & reliability with boilers, cooling towers, distillation systems, heat exchangers, compressors, pumps, etc.)
• Experience coordinating maintenance activities and supporting daily plant reliability
• Experience supporting continuous improvement initiatives and plant optimization efforts
• Strong understanding of plant safety, process discipline, and operational procedures
• Ability to operate independently with strong ownership and accountability
• Comfortable working in a hands-on industrial plant environment with regular floor presence

Preferred Experience

• Exposure to ethanol distillation, solvent recovery, wastewater treatment, fermentation, organics processing, biogas, RNG, or industrial liquids treatment systems
• Experience evaluating new process systems or operational expansion opportunities
• Experience working with outside engineering firms, vendors, and third-party technical providers
• Background supporting smaller or mid-sized industrial facilities with cross-functional operational responsibilities
• Working knowledge of maintenance and reliability programs
• Certifications: Six Sigma, DACOM Analysis, or related industrial/process improvement certifications preferred
• Bilingual Spanish speaker is a plus

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel
• Experience utilizing standard industrial reporting and operational systems

Why Work Here

• Unique hybrid role supporting both daily plant operations and future capital technology initiatives
• Direct ownership of critical live industrial processes influencing operational strategy, process improvements, and long-term growth projects
• Exposure to emerging technologies including anaerobic digestion, biomethane, and industrial liquids recovery
• Broad operational scope across maintenance & reliability, process optimization, and continuous improvement
• High autonomy role with visibility to VP and C-level leadership
• Strong career progression potential within a growing and evolving operation

This is an excellent opportunity to become part of a leading innovative industrial environmental services company. The successful applicant will receive a competitive annual compensation package, bonus, strong medical benefits, PTO, matching 401K, holidays, and more. Candidate must have the authorization to work in the US without a visa or ongoing work permit. For more information on this opportunity or others, please contact Mishu Ventura. 

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.