Who is Aztalan Bio?

Aztalan Bio, a ClonBio Group company, operates in the village of Aztalan—just outside Jefferson, WI—after ClonBio acquired Wisconsin’s largest ethanol plant in 2022. The facility processes up to 40 million bushels of locally grown feed corn each year, producing corn oil, ethanol, corn germ, bran, and distillers’ grains. These outputs support a wide range of markets including food production, animal nutrition, and renewable energy.

Aztalan’s sister facility, Pannonia Bio in Hungary, is one of the most technologically advanced grain biorefineries in the world. Over the coming years, Aztalan will undergo a similar transformation, investing hundreds of millions of dollars to create a next generation biorefinery tailored to Wisconsin’s agricultural strengths.

Owned by the family-run ClonBio Group, Aztalan Bio benefits from a long-term vision centered on innovation and people. Our internal team of engineers and scientists—spanning 23 countries and 5 continents—is a key reason ClonBio’s facilities are global leaders in biorefining technology. Join us as we continue building something extraordinary in the heart of Wisconsin.

Position Overview

The Purchaser is primarily responsible for procuring goods and services required for operations. This includes equipment, chemicals, spare parts, and other supplies critical to the plant’s operations. The role requires working closely with various departments, suppliers, and stakeholders to ensure a smooth and cost-effective supply chain.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Procurement Management:
    • Research, evaluate, and source vendors for materials and supplies required for production.
    • Negotiate pricing, terms, and contracts with suppliers to ensure cost-effective procurement while maintaining product quality and delivery schedules.
    • Monitor market trends and supply availability to proactively address potential shortages or price fluctuations.
  • Inventory Control:
    • Maintain accurate inventory records and track materials to prevent shortages or overstocking.
    • Coordinate with management teams to ensure timely reordering of materials before stock runs low.
    • Implement and manage safety stock levels, reorder points, and lead times for critical materials.
    • Assist in providing warehouse support as needed, including receiving, stocking, and material issuance to maintain accurate inventory control.
  • Supplier Relationships:
    • Build and maintain strong, positive relationships with vendors and suppliers to ensure reliable delivery and high-quality products.
    • Address any supplier performance issues such as late deliveries, product quality problems, or discrepancies in invoicing.
    • Evaluate supplier performance regularly and implement corrective actions as needed.
  • Logistics and Shipping Coordination:
    • Work closely with internal teams to schedule deliveries, track shipments, and ensure materials arrive on time to avoid production delays.
    • Ensure compliance with shipping regulations, plant requirements, and quality standards for incoming goods.
  • Budget Management:
    • Assist in the preparation of procurement budgets, ensuring that purchasing activities stay within allocated budgets.
    • Monitor spending and make adjustments to procurement practices to achieve cost savings and improve profitability.
  • Documentation and Reporting:
    • Maintain accurate purchasing records, purchase orders, invoices, and receipts for audit and reporting purposes.
    • Prepare and submit regular procurement reports to management detailing orders, inventory levels, budget adherence, and supplier performance.
  •  Collaboration:
    • Collaborate with the plant’s operations, engineering, and maintenance teams to understand material needs and prioritize procurement based on production schedules.
    • Support project teams with special material requirements for plant upgrades, maintenance shutdowns, and new projects.

Qualifications

  • High School Diploma or GED required.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
  • Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in procurement or purchasing, preferably in manufacturing, chemicals, or energy-related industries. Experience in an ethanol plant or similar process-based facility is a plus.
  • Strong negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, etc.) and purchasing software or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
  • Knowledge of the ethanol production process and related materials is a plus.
  • Ability to independently direct their own work.
  • Ability to prioritize, focus, and distinguish between urgent and important.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

  • When in the plant environment, employee may be exposed to moderate to high noise.
  • Personal Protective Equipment such as safety glasses, steel-toed boots, flame-resistant clothing, and hearing protection will regularly be required (or may be required)
  • Regularly required to walk, sit, talk, and hear. 
  • The employee is occasionally required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and may occasionally be required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. 
  • The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. 
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 
  • The employee will be required to do some walking/climbing stairs and occasional use of ladders.
  • The employee must be able to climb ladders.
  • Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.    

Aztalan Bio LLC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.