ABOUT CLARKSON GRAIN

For over 50 years, Clarkson has been an industry pioneer in the production and supply of identity-preserved grains, oilseeds, and ingredients for food and feed industries worldwide. We work directly with end users to identify, select, and supply hybrids, varieties, and performance characteristics that improve end-product quality, enhance market access, increase process yield, and strengthen client differentiation.

Clarkson’s transparent and fully traceable system connects Midwest farmers to premium domestic and international markets. Through our aggregation and cleaning facilities, corn and soybeans are prepared for final use; cleaned, conditioned, and shipped in bulk or bagged for delivery worldwide.

The ‘Clarkson Way’ is our long-proven approach to serving customers, supporting farmers, and managing quality with care, consistency, and integrity. It reflects the discipline, practicality, and customer-driven problem-solving that have defined Clarkson for more than five decades.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Plant Manager puts ‘The Clarkson Way’ into practice by delivering reliable, high-quality operations, building trust through consistency, understanding customer needs, and leading the plant with an unwavering commitment to safety, performance, and excellence.

  • PRODUCTION SCHEDULING: Develops and manages production and inventory schedules to support efficient plant throughput, maintain product availability, and ensure timely fulfillment of customer orders. Coordinates proactively with Merchandisers when production needs, shortages, or demand shifts require inventory or sourcing adjustments.

  • QUALITY ASSURANCE: Ensures the quality of corn meets or exceeds Clarkson’s internal standards, certification requirements, and customer expectations. Oversees inbound and outbound grading and monitors product flow, drying, and blending to maximize yield and minimize shrink. Partners with the QA/Scale Lead, Production Supervisor, Operators, and Merchandisers to maintain consistent grading, quickly resolve quality variances, and ensure the efficient, effective, and timely movement of product through the facility.

  • PEOPLE MANAGEMENT: Coaches, trains, develops, leads, and manages a team of 15-20 plant personnel to perform their roles safely, efficiently, and consistently. Builds a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. Partners with Operations Leads (i.e. Production Operations Supervisor, QA/Scale Lead, Maintenance Lead, Operators) to:

    • Temporarily reassign headcount to support shifting operational needs.  
    • Conduct performance reviews and provide ongoing coaching and feedback.
    • Monitor individual performance, development, and readiness for advancement; ensure appropriate training, cross-training, and succession planning.
    • Reinforce safety expectations, ensure training completion, and model safe work practices.
    • Promote teamwork, communication and alignment with quality, production, and compliance goals.

  • TRACEABILITY, DOCUMENTATION & CERTIFICATION COMPLIANCE: Ensures all traceability, product-segregation, and certification requirements (Non-GMO, Organic, HACCP, AIB) are met through accurate, complete, and timely documentation. Oversees production, quality, inbound/outbound, and facility records to maintain audit readiness and support customer and regulatory compliance. Partners with QA/Scale Lead and Operations Leads to ensure paperwork, logs, and digital records are completed correctly and consistently.

  • COMMERICAL COORDINATION & GROWTH SUPPORT: Partners with the Corn Product Line Manager to ensure plant operations are aligned with market demand, customer programs, and new product opportunities. Provides timely operational insight on production capabilities, constraints, and lead times to support volume growth, customer expectations, and commercial commitments. Ensures communication flows efficiently between Operations and Merchandising so production schedules, inventory planning, and order fulfillment remain efficient, cost-effective, and responsive.

  • SAFETY LEADERSHIP: Ensures a safe working environment by leading all plant-level and company-wide safety programs, training, and compliance activities. This includes both North Plant operational safety and corporate safety oversight, aligned with OSHA, GMP, and Clarkson standards.

    North Plant Safety Responsibilities

    • Ensures all health and safety protocols, procedures, inspections, and documentation are completed accurately and followed throughout every stage of production.
    • Leads North Plant safety committee meetings, conducts regular safety training, and oversees accident/incident investigations, including root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
    • Monitors daily safety practices across plant personnel to promote a culture of consistent, proactive safety behaviors.

    Corporate Safety Responsibilities

    • Serves as Clarkson’s corporate safety lead, maintaining and continually improving company-wide safety programs.
    • Conducts periodic audits across facilities, identifies hazards and improvement opportunities, and ensures compliance with OSHA and GMP expectations.
    • Develops and delivers standardized safety training, supports cross-plant safety initiatives, and ensures audit readiness.

  • LOGISTICS COORDINATION: Partners with Grain Merchandisers, the Production Supervisor, and Operators to plan and coordinate inbound and outbound truck movements. Ensures efficient plant flow, minimizes downtime, and meets customer delivery schedules through accurate sequencing, timely communication, and proactive problem-solving.

  • OTHER DUTIES, AS ASSIGNED (i.e. skillfully serves as the back-up for all roles throughout the plant, as required; oversee Cerro Gordo bin site, contribute in cross-plant initiatives)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

  • Strong understanding of grain handling, drying, blending, and storage systems.
  • Demonstrated experience maintaining Non-GMO, organic, HACCP, and/or AIB certifications and supporting food safety or SQF compliance.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, required; experience with ERP or grain management systems, preferred.
  • Experience applying Total Quality Management (TQM), Lean Manufacturing, or Kaizen process improvement principles in an operational setting, preferred.
  • Prior experience in a food-grade, traceable, or identity-preserved grain environment, preferred.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Aligning Performance for Success

Build Partnerships

Communication

Safety Leadership

Delegation and Empowerment

Facilitating Change

Decision Making

Execution

Drive for Results

Initiating Action

Guiding Team Success

Inspiring Others

Monitoring Information

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

  • Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or business-related field or equivalent experience required
  • 7-10 years of relevant experience as a plant manager or supervisor in grain elevator, food ingredient, or feed processing operations
  • 3-5 years of experience managing, coaching, and leading a team (of no less than 5 people)

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Requires a valid operator’s license to travel within the trade territory. 

SUPERVISORY REQUIREMENTS

  • Manages, leads and oversees a plant with 15+ employees (full time and temporary).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

These physical demands represent the requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the described essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee must have the ability to regularly use arms, hands, and fingers to handle, feel, reach, grasp, turn, lift, move, twist or bend. This position frequently requires the ability to stand for long periods of time, as well as walking, climbing ladders and stairs, balancing at heights, and the ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 55.2 pounds. 

Specific sensory ability required include:

  • Talking and hearing to communicate with employees and respond to equipment sounds
  • Vision including close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
  • Smell, to identify facility or product-related issues.

When operating grain-handling equipment or vehicles, the employee must be able to react quickly with hand, arm, or foot movements in response to signals, sound, lights, or moving objects; maintain spatial awareness; and repeatedly adjust machinery controls with precision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee will work in an environment typical of grain-handling and food-grade processing facilities. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

The employee may be exposed to:

  • Variable temperatures including hot, cold, wet, humid and dry conditions.
  • Grain dust, airborne particles, and odors
  • Moderate to loud noise levels from equipment and machinery
  • Moving mechanical parts, conveyors, dryers, and grain-handling systems
  • High, precarious places such as catwalks, ladders, and platforms
  • Confined or enclosed spaces such as bins or tunnels
  • Outdoor conditions during inspections or loading/unloading operations

Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required to safely perform these duties.