Senior Production Operator

Northeast Biodiesel, LLC is a biofuel manufacturing plant committed to producing high quality renewable fuel in a sustainable way. Its majority owner, Co-op Power, is a sustainable energy cooperative owned by consumers in New England and New York, primarily in Massachusetts. 

Position Overview

The Senior Production Operator carries out activities as a worker-owner of a worker-cooperative, biodiesel production facility to obtain optimum efficiency and economy of operations, to produce high quality fuel, and maximize profits.

We are seeking workers interested in starting up a cooperative worker owned manufacturing business making biodiesel from used cooking oil in the Greenfield Massachusetts Industrial Park. The biodiesel we make will be used in oil heat systems and diesel engines.

The plant is already built, permitted, and ready to launch once final financing has been secured and the processor is commissioned. New hires need to be in place before our launch date, which is anticipated to be late Summer. Prior to launching the business, the prospective worker members would need to meet together (at mutually convenient times), for co-op training and to set up the worker co-op.

The federal government voted in December 2019, to give a one dollar a gallon credit for each gallon of biodiesel produced, so we will be launching the plant under very good financial conditions.

The plant will be owned by both our partner Co-op Power, an energy cooperative, and the people who work at the plant. This is a great opportunity to be an active owner in your workplace. In addition to salary or hourly wages, all worker owners will share in the profits each year and participate in major decisions impacting the business. Workers become owners by purchasing an equity share, which can be paid over time. Equity contributions may also be made now with sweat equity by helping with start-up activities.

Note: Hiring and Start date are dependent on availability of funding. Fundraising is on-going.

Responsibilities

• Work with General Manager to determine day to day production priorities.

Work with Production Operators:

• Determining hour by hour production priorities.
• Instruct and inform Production Operators in all aspects of their work.
• Operating plant equipment,performing all operationsinvolved in biodiesel production from raw feedstock through to finished product ready for shipment.
• Receiving feedstock, reagents, and other supplies, filing all receipts and backorders. Doping inventory control to prevent out-of stocks.production planning, and maintenance to effect operational efficiency and economy.
• Operating biodiesel production processors and making modifications to recipes, processes and production system software.
• Ensuring biodiesel processing equipment is well maintained. see that building and grounds are kept clean and secure at all times.
• Learning and applying principles of chemistry and physics to produce high quality biodiesel.
• Learning and implementing safety protocols and maintaining safety trainings and inspection schedules.
• Operating equipment to control movement, storage, disposal and shipment of products and by-products and waste products.

Work as a member of the Production Team:

• Analyzing operating procedures and equipment and machinery functions to increase product quality and reduce processing time and cost.
• Arranging operations so as to balance process requirements, economic evaluation, operator effectiveness, and physical and health hazards.
• Reviewing activity, operating, and product quality reports to determine changes in operations required.
• Share the responsibilities of a worker-owner in a worker-owned cooperative with a democratic decision-making structure. Participate in creating a collaborative, cooperative and democratic work environment. Participate in leadership development in all co-op members.

Note: Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

We are looking for:

• Willingness to learn about and implement cooperative business structures, finances, regulations, and decision-making processes.
• Experience in working in a team.
• Willingness to share responsibility and authority in decision making.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to learn and perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above 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.

Education and/or Experience:

• Required:
  • High School Diploma or GED, previous manufacturing experience.
  • Thorough working knowledge of US customary units of weights and measures.
  • Reading and recording data directly from guages, from system monitor screen and/or computer printout.
• Preferred:
  • Previous manufacturing experience, especially experience with biodiesel production technology; knowledge of organic chemistry; self-directed work team experience; worker-cooperative experience.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• This position requires a person to inspect manufacturing equipment, climb a ladder, stoop, and carry 50 pounds for 20 feet.
• Hauling and connecting heavy hoses is routine part of job.
• Physical Work Environment:
  • The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
  • Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • The work environment is a manufacturing facility. Staff will get greasy and dirty. There are hazardous materials and foul odors in the plant from time to time.
  • Some noise produced by electric pump motors and vent fans.
  • This plant will operate on a 24-hour basis, so some of positions will involve night work.
  • Shifts:
    • We will run 24 hours per day in two 12-hour shifts, with two-person teams, each team working 3 days on, 3 days off, 4 days on, 4 days off.

Compensation

• Pay: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour, with bonuses.