Job Description

Vitol Biomethane, part of the global Vitol group, is at the forefront of sustainable energy by transforming landfill gas into clean, usable natural gas. We collaborate with landfill owners across the US, installing and operating advanced facilities directly on-site to deliver renewable energy into the nation’s pipeline system.

Join us and help drive the transition to a cleaner energy future. Learn more about us here

The Area Manager is a key leadership position responsible for overseeing the safe and efficient operation, maintenance, and performance of multiple Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) plants within a defined region. This role is based at a centralized location in close proximity to at least one (1) facility and manages three (3) or more operating facilities. The Area Manager ensures operational excellence, compliance with safety and environmental standards, and strong team performance across all assigned sites. This individual collaborates with plant personnel, corporate management, and external stakeholders to ensure that operational goals are achieved while maintaining Vitol’s commitment to safety, reliability, and continuous improvement.

This position requires moderate travel per month, varying based on maintenance, outages, and startup activities as plants transition from construction to operation.

Key Accountabilities:

• Responsible for daily operations across facilities within region, ensuring consistent performance in landfill gas capture, RNG production and system uptime.
• Account for and mentor Plant Managers, providing guidance on operational strategies and resource allocation to meet production targets and KPI’s.
• Monitor plant performance KPI’s, addressing deviations, process inefficiencies, equipment downtime in coordination with Plant Managers.
• Provides overall guidance to Plant Managers who plan, direct, and schedules routine maintenance and inspection of plant equipment.
• Coordinate with Plant Managers to execute daily tasks, including maintenance schedules, staff training and equipment inspections.
• Analyze operational data (e.g., production logs, daily reports, maintenance reports, etc.) to identify trends and recommend enhancements.
• Collaborates with management to create and maintain annual operating budgets for assigned plants.
• Participates in the employee hiring, onboarding, and training processes.
• Ensures employees are properly trained on operational and safety requirements.
• Reviews, approves, and submits employee timesheets and expense reimbursements.
• Provides timely and constructive feedback, coaching, and mentorship to employees.
• Conducts annual performance reviews and sets developmental goals for operations staff.
• Evaluates operations, maintenance practices, and plant performance to identify improvement opportunities.
• Performs equipment testing and develops action plans to optimize performance and reliability.
• Leads or assists in special projects to enhance safety, efficiency, and production quality.
• Ensures compliance with company policies, industry standards, and state/federal regulations.
• Prepares and submits weekly and monthly operational reports.
• Serves as a primary contact for utility companies, landfill operators, and other external partners.
• Maintains strong professional relationships with landfill and facility stakeholders.
• Conducts regular visits to assigned plants, balancing time between all facilities.
• Hosts weekly or biweekly regional calls to review performance and coordinate activities.
• Assists other Area Managers and corporate operations teams on cross-regional projects as needed.

* This list is not exhaustive. Area Managers may be required to perform additional duties as directed by management.

Qualifications

• Flexible, resourceful, and adaptable in dynamic environments.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills to motivate diverse teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technical, or a related field preferred.
• 5–7 years of plant operations and maintenance experience in RNG, power generation, or chemical processing industries.
• 4+ years of management experience or demonstrated leadership in operations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven capability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.).
• Demonstrated sound judgment and decision-making in operational settings.
• Commitment to Vitol’s standards of safety, integrity, and excellence.
• Ability and willingness to periodically travel up to 75% of the time to assigned facilities as needed.

Additional Information

Key Performance Outcomes:

• Safety Excellence: Zero recordable incidents or environmental violations across assigned facilities; consistent adherence to Vitol safety policies and procedures.
• Operational Reliability Achieve and maintain >95% plant uptime and availability across all sites.
• Compliance Performance: Full compliance with all applicable state, federal, and local regulations, with zero missed or late reports.
• Budget Management: Operate plants within approved budget parameters, demonstrating cost discipline and operational efficiency.
• Employee Development: 100% completion rate of required training for all technicians; measurable improvements in safety awareness and technical proficiency.
• Maintenance Execution: Timely completion of all preventive and corrective maintenance tasks with minimal deferred work orders.
• Stakeholder Satisfaction: Positive feedback from landfill partners, utilities, and internal stakeholders; proactive communication and issue resolution.
• Continuous Improvement: Implementation of annual initiatives to enhance plant performance, reduce downtime, or improve safety and environmental outcomes.
• Team Engagement: Measurable improvement in employee engagement scores and retention rates within assigned region.