Refinery Plant Operator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Overview

Santa Maria Road Materials (“SMRM”) is seeking an experienced Refinery Manager / Operations Superintendent to provide comprehensive on-site leadership and strategic direction for our asphalt refinery in Santa Maria, CA.  This role ensures safe, reliable, environmentally sound and cost-efficient operations by managing all aspects of refinery performance, including operations, production optimization, maintenance, health and safety, environmental compliance, personnel development, and budget management. The Refinery Manager ensures alignment with corporate goals and objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Champion a zero-incident safety culture by strictly adhering to Process Safety Management (PSM), OSHA regulations, and site-specific safety protocols.
• Provide overall leadership and accountability for day-to-day refinery operations, including safety, production, maintenance, engineering, logistics, and site services.
• Ensure safe operation in compliance with regulatory requirements and facility goals.
• Ensure all permit requirements are met, and reporting is accurate and timely.
• Oversee the execution of consistent and quality production while driving reliability centered operations.
• Oversee process optimization, debottlenecking, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee turnaround planning and execution, including scope development, contractor management, and post-turnaround reviews.
• Lead and direct compliance with operating and capital budgets.
• Manage capital investment projects and spending.
• Provide accurate and timely production and inventory reports.
• Provide required updates and communications to SMRM’s leadership, which may include attendance at regular and special meetings and presentations.
• Collaborate with commercial teams to plan procurement, production and sales.
• Collaborate with middle and back-office personnel to ensure integrity of overall business operations for SMRM’s enterprise.
• Enforce Process Safety Management (PSM) systems, including hazard analysis (PHA/HAZOP), management of change (MOC), and incident investigation.
• Provide leadership to develop and manage talent including forecasting resource needs, recruiting, hiring, performance management, and training.
• Ensure optimal plant performance through effective coordination between operations, maintenance, technical and commercial functions.
• Monitor process parameters and key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify and resolve production and people issues promptly.
• Represent SMRM in the local community.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline or commensurate experience. 
• 12+ years of progressive experience in refining, petrochemical or manufacturing operations.
• 7+ years of leadership or management experience in refining, petrochemical or manufacturing operations.
• Strong understanding of unit operations, utilities, and refinery-style process equipment and systems.
• Experience and responsibility for budgets and staff resource planning.
• Self-driven with technical and commercial strengths to lead an asphalt refinery and deliver commercial success.
• Be fit to perform the essential functions of the job including working in an industrial work environment that may include loud areas, work around rotating equipment/operating equipment/heavy equipment, extreme temperatures, dust, work at heights, entry into confined spaces, and other potential chemical/atmospheric hazards that require use of appropriate PPE.
• Requires ability to perform physical tasks including frequent walking, standing for extended periods of time, climbing ladders or stairs, and lifting or carrying items weighing up to 40 lbs.
• Must be legally eligible to work in the US without sponsorship.
• Other minimum qualifications may apply.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with asphalt refining and marketing strongly preferred.
• Experience managing a brownfield restart or major expansion project.
• Advanced degree (MBA or Master’s in Engineering or related field).
• Lean Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing or other continuous improvement certifications.
• Strong familiarity with reliability-centered maintenance and asset management systems.

Why Join Us?

Santa Maria Road Materials is restarting an asphalt production business with close to 100 years of history operating on the Central Coast of California. SMRM is committed to becoming the premier provider of asphalt binder, asphalt emulsion and associated materials / products for the whole state of California. Joining SMRM now as a Refinery Manager / Operations Superintendent provides an excellent opportunity for a technically gifted and dedicated professional to build an exciting career with an entrepreneurial and fast growing organization as part of a team dedicated to your success.

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person