Refinary Lead

About Ingredion: Join Ingredion, where innovation impacts lives worldwide! Without even realizing it, you’ve experienced our work in the foods you eat, the paper you write on, and countless everyday products. As a global leader across more than 60 industries, we transform natural ingredients into solutions that improve lives. Whether you’re launching your career or bringing years of experience, you’ll find opportunities to make a meaningful difference.

Location: Winston Salem, North Carolina
Workplace type: Onsite
Relocation Available: Yes, Within Region

About the role

Ingredion is looking for a Refinery Lead to lead and provide ownership of the Refinery Department, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the area. You will be accountable for departmental performance including safety, quality, production, cost, employee development, continuous improvement, and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Own overall Refinery Department performance, ensuring excellence in safety, quality, production, reliability, cost management, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Drive operational accountability and execution by establishing clear performance expectations, monitoring results, and providing coaching, development, and corrective actions as needed.
• Lead and support daily operations, coordinating cross-functional teams to resolve issues, troubleshoot processes, and achieve production and cost objectives.
• Champion a culture of safety, compliance, and food quality, ensuring adherence to SHE programs, ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, HACCP, GMP, and other regulatory requirements.
• Analyze performance data and optimize processes to improve efficiency, product quality, reliability, and facility performance through operational and capital improvement initiatives.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities, leveraging technical expertise, root cause analysis, innovation, and project management best practices.
• Develop and empower high-performing teams through workforce planning, succession planning, training, coaching, and fostering a collaborative, team-oriented culture.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field, with manufacturing experience; or 5+ years of experience in corn wet milling operations.
• Knowledge of refinery operations.
• Knowledge of Corn Wet Milling manufacturing processes, operations, and customer requirements.
• Decision-making, planning, time management, and project management capabilities.
• Ability to manage manufacturing operations effectively, including during high-pressure situations, emergencies, and crisis events.
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience applying project management best practices to implement and sustain improvements.
• Ability to learn, apply, and maintain GMP, Quality, Safety, and regulatory standards.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading and developing both salaried and hourly employees in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence culture, drive engagement, and achieve results through others.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across functions and organizational levels.
• Ability to build consensus, foster positive relationships, and drive teamwork.
• Resilience and composure under pressure, with the ability to lead effectively during challenging situations.
• Collaborative mindset with a focus on influencing, coaching, and empowering others.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills that support organizational success.

Benefits

• Total Rewards Package: Competitive salary and performance-based pay recognizing your contributions to our success.
• Comprehensive Benefits & Wellness Support: Health, long-term savings, and resources for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
• Career Growth: Learning, training, and development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement.
• Employee Recognition Program: A culture of real-time appreciation, with personalized recognition rewards globally.
• Employee Discount Program: Provides exclusive discounts on everyday products, services, and travel.

Pay

Pay Range: $84,400.00-$112,533.33 Annual

This pay range is not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Final base salary will be determined based on several factors which may include but are not limited to responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data and applicable bargaining agreement (if any).

Incentive Compensation: As a part of the total compensation package, this role may be eligible for the Ingredion Annual Incentive Plan or a role-specific commission/bonus.

Benefits: Full-time roles are eligible for our comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental and vision coverage as well as a 401(k) plan with a competitive company match.