Plant Technician

About POET

POET is committed to being good stewards of the Earth by converting renewable resources into energy and other valuable goods as efficiently as possible. For over thirty‑five years we have become the largest producer and marketer of bioethanol and a leader in sustainable products worldwide.

The Plant Technician is responsible for the operation of all plant processing equipment and performing routine basic maintenance in a highly automated chemical facility. In maintenance, Plant Technicians handle the safe and efficient maintenance, basic repair, and cleaning of all equipment associated with bioprocessing processes. Plant Technicians may be asked to assist Maintenance Technicians in more technical and complex maintenance procedures.

• Operate and maintain all processes associated with the plant.
• Perform maintenance and basic repairs of plant equipment and document these activities.
• Operate the DCS (Distributed Control System) for the plant.
• Safely perform basic electrical troubleshooting.
• Follow procedures for plant start‑up, shut‑down, cleaning, and batching.
• Maintain accurate and timely logs.
• Collect and test quality control samples, interpret QA/QC results, adjust to optimize plant operations, and enter results into the PI data system.
• Assist in removal, installation, rebuild, and performance of preventive and predictive maintenance on all equipment associated with plant processes.
• Help keep the plant clean by following the sanitation schedule and completing all tasks as assigned.
• Notify the management team of safety, environmental, quality and production concerns, problems and opportunities.
• Maintain a safe, compliant, and team‑oriented environment and champion POET in the community.
• Maintain food safety and quality standards to deliver a best‑in‑class culture of quality.

High school diploma or equivalent required.

• Plant Technician I: experience in a production environment preferred.
• Plant Technician II: documented successful performance as a Plant Technician I or equivalent work experience required.
• Plant Technician III: documented proficiency in the skills listed in the Plant Technician III Skills Checklist.

Working knowledge in math, reading comprehension and mechanical reasoning required. Strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills are required. Experience with software systems such as Maximo preferred. Excellent organizational, time‑management, and communication skills. Ability to embrace change and learn new programs.

Successful candidates will have:

• High level of personal integrity.
• Interpersonal skills – ability to effectively interact with individuals at all levels within and outside the organization.
• Ability to embrace and promote change.
• Innovative mindset.
• Objective thinking.
• Self‑awareness in the face of uncertainty.
• Team‑centered.

• Wear PPE such as hard hats, gloves, safety glasses, steel‑toed boots, hazardous material suit, hearing protection, and harness.
• Work at extreme heights (approximately 150ft), in confined spaces, and in temperatures from ‑20 to +100°F, indoors and outdoors.
• Areas can be dusty at times.
• Use equipment such as forklifts, power washers, pallet jacks, hoist systems, scissor lifts, JLG lifts, telehandlers, front‑end loaders, various hand tools, and computers.
• Frequent duties include sitting in the control room while operating the plant, walking indoors and outdoors over uneven surfaces, carrying up to 15lbs, climbing stairs or ladders, standing for cleaning, reaching at arm’s length, using awkward postures, and repetitive arm motions.
• Occasional lifting up to 50lbs, carrying 40lbs, pushing 10lbs, pulling up to 85lbs, bending, twisting, turning, kneeling, or crouching while holding medium‑weight objects.
• Drug screening and random drug/alcohol testing during employment.

• Individual and family plans for health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous employer Health Savings Account contribution.
• Quarterly profit‑sharing bonuses and bi‑annual incentive bonuses.
• Competitive pay, including shift premium pay for qualifying positions.
• 401K with company match.
• Paid time off and paid…