Career Overview
Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.
Also Known As
- Biofuels Production Manager
- Plant Manager
- Production Coordinator
- Production Manager
Alternate Job Titles
- Biodiesel Operations Manager
- Biodiesel Plant Manager
- Biodiesel Plant Superintendent
- Biofuels Operations Manager
- Biofuels Plant Manager
- Biofuels Plant Superintendent
- Biofuels Production Manager
- Ethanol Operations Manager
- Industrial Manager
- Industrial Production Manager
- Manufacturing Manager
- Plant Manager
- Plant Operations Coordinator
- Power Resources Manager
- Production Coordinator
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Supervise production employees in the manufacturing of biofuels, such as biodiesel or ethanol.
- Manage operations at biofuels power generation facilities, including production, shipping, maintenance, or quality assurance activities.
- Provide direction to employees to ensure compliance with biofuels plant safety, environmental, or operational standards and regulations.
- Confer with technical and supervisory personnel to report or resolve conditions affecting biofuels plant safety, operational efficiency, and product quality.
- Review logs, datasheets, or reports to ensure adequate production levels or to identify abnormalities with biofuels production equipment or processes.
- Monitor meters, flow gauges, or other real-time data to ensure proper operation of biofuels production equipment, implementing corrective measures as needed.
- Adjust temperature, pressure, vacuum, level, flow rate, or transfer of biofuels to maintain processes at required levels.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Production and Processing
- Administration and Management
- Mechanical
- Engineering and Technology
- Chemistry
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Coordination
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Speech Clarity
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Written Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Inductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Independence
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Air monitoring equipment
- Ball valves
- Belt conveyor systems
- Desktop computers
- Dust and particulate respirators
- Electric timing devices
- Emergency alarm systems
- Fermentation processing vessels
- Flow control valves FCV
- Forklifts
- Gate butterfly valves
- Glass graduated cylinders
- Gravity convection ovens
- Hand sampling pumps
- Hazardous material spill kits
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Salary & Job Market
Wages reported for the broader Industrial Production Managers occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Biofuels Production Managers.
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $74,900 |
| Median | $121,440 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $197,310 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 234,380
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Biofuels Processing Technicians
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $61,710
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $167,740
Biomass Power Plant Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $121,440
Geothermal Production Managers
Education: Some College Courses
Median Salary: $121,440
Biomass Plant Technicians
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $99,670
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.