About This Career

Manages biofuels production and plant operations. Collects and processes information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

This career is part of the Business Management and Administration cluster Operations Management pathway.

A person in this career:

• Supervises production employees in the manufacturing of biofuels, such as biodiesel or ethanol.
• Manages operations at biofuels power generation facilities, including production, shipping, maintenance, or quality assurance activities.
• Provides direction to employees to ensure compliance with biofuels plant safety, environmental, or operational standards and regulations.
• Confers with technical and supervisory personnel to report or resolve conditions affecting biofuels plant safety, operational efficiency, and product quality.
• Reviews logs, datasheets, or reports to ensure adequate production levels or to identify abnormalities with biofuels production equipment or processes.
• Monitors meters, flow gauges, or other real-time data to ensure proper operation of biofuels production equipment, implementing corrective measures as needed.
• Adjusts temperature, pressure, vacuum, level, flow rate, or transfer of biofuels to maintain processes at required levels.
• Provides training to subordinate or new employees to improve biofuels plant safety or increase the production of biofuels.
• Shuts down and restarts biofuels plant or equipment in emergency situations or for equipment maintenance, repairs, or replacements.
• Monitors transportation and storage of flammable or other potentially dangerous feedstocks or products to ensure adherence to safety guidelines.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
• Exposed to conditions such as high voltage electricity, combustibles, explosives, and chemicals more than once a month
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Overtime work
• Rotating shift work
• Weekend work