Ethanol Technology Manager - Cedar Rapids, IA

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Job Title: Ethanol Technology Manager - Cedar Rapids, IA
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA, Midwest United States, USA

Company: Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM)
Industry Sector: Agribusiness
Industry Type: Input Retail, Cooperative and Related Crop Services
Job Type: Full Time

Job Description: Job Description

Ethanol Technology Manager - Cedar Rapids, IA

This is an exempt level position

Position Summary

The Ethanol Technology Manager supports plant process areas related to the production and optimization of ethanol, distillers grains, corn oil, and co-products within dry and wet mill operations.

Primary process areas include:

Grain handling and preparation
Liquefaction and saccharification
Fermentation
Distillation and dehydration
Evaporation and drying systems (DDGS/Fiber/HSW/etc..)

These products and systems are produced through core unit operations such as:

Enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation
Distillation and molecular sieve dehydration
Evaporation and thermal drying
Centrifugation and separation
Heat integration and energy systems
CIP and chemical treatment systems

This role focuses on continuous improvement, optimization, and reliability of ethanol plants, while collaborating across multiple facilities to standardize best practices and drive performance.

The technology manager will act as a resource for all plant operations leader and organizational engineers in the application of engineering principles to process design, troubleshooting, and deployment of new technologies, ensuring plant systems operate at safe, optimal, and cost-effective conditions.

This position plays a key role in achieving production targets, yield maximization, energy reduction, and carbon intensity improvements.

Essential Job Functions

Demonstrate technology leadership and promote a strong process safety culture.
Benchmark ethanol plant performance (yield, energy, uptime) against internal and external best-in-class operations and drive improvements.
Standardize and replicate best practices across ethanol sites, including fermentation efficiency, dryer performance, and energy usage.
Manage and prioritize a portfolio of process improvement and capital projects across site operations.
Collaborate with corporate and plant teams to align on technology deployment, modernization, and automation opportunities.
Evaluate and implement new process technologies (e.g., enzyme systems, fermentation controls, heat integration, CO capture).
Provide hands-on support in troubleshooting process bottlenecks (fermentation upsets, distillation inefficiencies, dryer constraints).
Establish and track KPIs: ethanol yield, DDGS quality, energy usage (BTU/gal), uptime, and chemical usage.
Work closely with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to implement reliability and efficiency improvements.
Mentor plant engineers and operators on process optimization and best practices.
Establish and maintain regular contact and communications with the managers and superintendents at the target support facilities

Required Skills

Strong commitment to process safety and operational excellence.
Deep understanding of ethanol-related unit operations:
- Fermentation kinetics
- Distillation & molecular sieve systems
- Evaporation and drying
- Centrifugation and separation
- Heat exchangers, utilities, and energy systems
Experience in process optimization and yield improvement using data analytics and plant KPIs.
Ability to work effectively across operations, engineering, and leadership teams.
Working knowledge of PFDs, P&IDs, mass & energy balances, and control strategies.
Willingness to work in plant environments and travel to support multiple sites.
Results-driven with strong problem-solving capability.

Required Education

Bachelor's degree in:

Chemical Engineering
Bioprocess Engineering
Agricultural Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
or related technical field

Required Experience

Minimum 10 years of experience in ethanol and or bioprocessing operations
Strong background in process engineering, operations support, or plant leadership

Desired Experience

Experience in ethanol plant operations leadership or advanced process technology roles
Exposure to:
- Advanced process control (APC)
- Fermentation optimization / enzyme technology
- Energy reduction initiatives
- Carbon intensity / CO capture strategies

Excited about this role but don't think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.

REF:110487

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Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM's efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments - environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career. We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together.

We welcome everyone to apply. We are committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, language, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law

To apply please click on APPLY TO THIS POSITION

Job Post Date: 07/01/26