Grain Systems Engineer

Job Overview: As the Grains Systems Engineer, you will oversee all day-to-day aspects of grain operations for all of Green Plains locations while striving to meet/exceed the demands of the customer. You will be responsible for the short-term and long-range planning of grain operations with an eye on continuous improvement, in coordination with plant managers and the grain procurement team. This role is expected to be a hands-on strategic leader with deep grain management knowledge and a strong operations background. The Grains Systems Engineer will provide leadership, with functional support over human safety, engineering, grain quality assurance programs, inventory management and control, maintenance, budgeting & forecasting, and talent development. The Grains Systems Engineer is ultimately responsible for driving grain facility efficiencies, managing costs, and creating a culture of safety and continuous improvement throughout the entire grain management system.

Essential Job Functions:

• Responsible for working with EH&S to establish, support, and manage an effective safety and leading-edge housekeeping program across all areas of responsibility, where all positions will follow training under the “Company Guideline Requirements”.
• Responsible for ensuring the functionality of all Grain HazMon systems and responding appropriately to any system alarms or deficiencies.
• Ensure the effective and efficient operation of all GP grain facilities, including the management of all grain operations personnel and related third-party contractors.
• Work with commercial and operational teams and plant managers to establish clear and consistent standards for grain operations, including but not limited to:

• Ensuring locations have consistent and documented standards (SOPs) for the customer experience (e.g., customer scheduling, grading, and unloading) ensuring that all grain can be offloaded daily in a minimum of 8 hours
• Monitors efficiency of the unloading process and truck turnaround times in the plant to ensure the most effective utilization of assets and best supplier delivery experience.
• Maintaining grain care standards, including storing, quality maintenance, aeration, temperature and moisture control, and blending to optimize grain costs and yield. Monitors grain quality parameters during storage and works in coordination with QA/QC departments to ensure proper finished product quality parameters from the plant are within specifications.
• Ensures locations coordinate and engage in unloading, loading, storing, grading, and blending of grain as well as inspecting grain to determine grading requirements and moisture, directs processing of grain to prepare grain for milling.
• Regular maintenance and care of all GP grain equipment and facilities to the highest industry standards for maximizing uptime, efficiency, and speed.

• Establish GP guidelines for all near-term and long-term grain infrastructure requirements and upgrade plans, to maximize utility, including grain dumps, grain leg sizing, and speed, storage type and design, aeration, temperature and safety controls, grain sweeps, etc.
• Responsible for working with commercial, operational, engineering, and financial teams to justify and approve grain infrastructure upgrades and modifications to ensure effective capital returns and ongoing ability to meet GP/OSHA standards of safety, care and uptime.
• Establishing an effective formal training program for grain grading, licensing, grain maintenance, grain conditioning practices, operational grain safety, lockout/tagout, first aid awareness, mobile equipment handling, grain and grounds housekeeping, etc.
• Assists all teams (e.g., plant manager, grain buyers, and material handlers) with the effective management of labor resources on all day-to-day activities, as the need arises
• Develop and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for the entire scope of facility operations and leverage analytics to drive efficiency improvements and lead best practice efforts with a deep understanding of external benchmarks.

Education & Experience:

• BA/BS degree in Business, Operations, Supply Chain/Logistics, Engineering, or related professional field
• 10+ years of experience in agricultural plant operations
• 5+ years of managing employees in a multilocation grain elevator operation.
• Strong analytical aptitude and understanding of engineering and finance
• MBA or related Master’s degree desirable
• Proven experience championing strategic continuous improvement programs
• Demonstrated competency in strategic planning and critical thinking
• Excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills
• Aptitude in decision-making and problem-solving

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience working with environmental/health/safety strategies and regulations
• Ability to set comprehensive goals for performance and growth
• Expertise in the use of process improvement tools
• Strong strategic, transformational thinking and decision-making
• Strong project / change management and leadership abilities
• Evaluate performance by analyzing and interpreting data and metrics
• Ability to build productive working relationships
• Solid business acumen and broad-based understanding of business operations and practices
• Ability to effectively communicate technical information
• Outstanding organizational awareness

Green Plains Inc. offers competitive pay: a generous benefit package including business casual work environment, health, dental, vision, life insurance, paid holidays, Paid Time Off (PTO) and a 401(k) retirement plan with immediate vesting and company safe harbor matching. All potential employees of Green Plains Inc. will be required to successfully pass a pre-employment drug screening and background check prior to employment.

 Equal Opportunity Employer

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned.

Company Description Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) is a leading biorefining company focused on the development and utilization of fermentation, agricultural and biological technologies in the processing of annually renewable crops into sustainable value-added ingredients. This includes the production of cleaner low carbon biofuels, renewable feedstocks for advanced biofuels and high purity alcohols for use in cleaners and disinfectants. Green Plains is an innovative producer of Ultra-High Protein and novel ingredients for animal and aquaculture diets to help satisfy a growing global appetite for sustainable protein. The Company also owns a 48.9% limited partner interest and a 2.0% general partner interest in Green Plains Partners LP.