Corn Wet Milling Technology Manager (Illinois OR Iowa Plant location)

Corn Wet Milling Technology Manager - Decatur, IL; Clinton, IA; or Cedar Rapids, IA
This is an exempt level position.

Position Summary
The Corn Wet Milling Technology Manager supports plant process areas related to the production and optimization of starches, sweeteners, corn oil, gluten feed, gluten meal, ethanol, and other corn-derived co-products within corn wet milling operations.

Primary process areas include:

• Corn receiving, handling, and storage
• Steeping and sulfur dioxide systems
• Germ separation and corn oil recovery
• Fiber washing and separation
• Gluten separation and protein concentration
• Starch washing and purification
• Starch conversion and sweetener production
• Evaporation, drying, and co-product systems

These products and systems are produced through core unit operations such as:

• Size reduction and milling
• Steeping and extraction processes
• Centrifugation and separation technologies
• Hydro cyclone starch washing systems
• Evaporation and thermal drying
• Enzymatic starch conversion
• Heat integration and utility systems
• Water treatment, CIP, and chemical treatment systems

This role focuses on continuous improvement, optimization, and reliability of corn wet milling facilities, while collaborating across multiple sites to standardize best practices and drive operational performance.
The Technology Manager will lead plant and organizational engineers in the application of engineering principles to process design, troubleshooting, debottlenecking, and deployment of new technologies, ensuring plant systems operate at safe, optimal, and cost-effective conditions.
This position plays a key role in achieving capacity expansion, yield maximization, product quality improvements, energy reduction, water conservation, and manufacturing cost reduction objectives.

Essential Job Functions

• Demonstrate technology leadership and promote a strong process safety and operational excellence culture.
• Benchmark wet milling performance (yield, recovery, energy, water usage, and reliability) against internal and external best-in-class operations and drive improvements.
• Standardize and replicate best practices across wet milling sites, including steeping performance, starch recovery, gluten separation efficiency, and drying operations.
• Manage and prioritize a portfolio of process improvement, debottlenecking, and capital projects across site operations.
• Collaborate with corporate and plant teams to align on technology deployment, modernization, digitalization, and automation opportunities.
• Evaluate and implement new process technologies related to starch extraction, separation systems, corn oil recovery, sweetener production, energy efficiency, and water management.
• Provide hands-on support in troubleshooting process bottlenecks including steep losses, starch recovery challenges, separation inefficiencies, evaporation constraints, and product quality variations.
• Establish and track KPIs including starch yield, product recovery, corn oil yield, utility consumption, water usage, throughput, product quality, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Work closely with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to implement reliability, quality, and efficiency improvements.
• Mentor plant engineers and operating teams on wet milling technology, process optimization, troubleshooting methods, and best practices.
• Support strategic growth initiatives through feasibility studies, process design reviews, and technology assessments.
• Lead technology efforts supporting sustainability initiatives, including water reduction, energy optimization, emissions reduction, and waste minimization.

Required Skills

• Strong commitment to process safety, food/feed safety, and operational excellence.
• Deep understanding of corn wet milling unit operations, including:
  • Corn steeping systems
  • Germ separation and oil recovery
  • Fiber recovery and washing
  • Gluten separation and concentration
  • Starch washing and purification systems
  • Evaporation and drying operations
  • Utility and energy systems
• Experience in process optimization, debottlenecking, and yield improvement using data analytics and plant KPIs.
• Strong understanding of mass balance, process control, product quality, and manufacturing economics.
• Ability to work effectively across operations, engineering, maintenance, commercial, and leadership teams.
• Working knowledge of PFDs, P&IDs, mass and energy balances, process simulations, and advanced control strategies.
• Willingness to work in plant environments and travel to support multiple sites.
• Strong problem-solving, project management, and leadership capabilities.
• Knowledge of food, feed, and industrial starch product quality requirements is preferred.

Required Education
Bachelor's degree in:

• Chemical Engineering
• Agricultural Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Biological Engineering
• Or related technical field

Required Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience in corn wet milling, starch manufacturing, sweetener production, or related corn processing operations
• Strong background in process engineering, manufacturing support, operations leadership, or process technology management
• Proven experience leading cross-functional process improvement initiatives

Desired Experience

• Experience in corn wet milling operations leadership or advanced process technology roles
• Exposure to:
  • Advanced Process Control (APC)
  • Starch and sweetener manufacturing technologies
  • Separation and centrifugation systems
  • Corn oil recovery optimization
  • Capacity expansion and debottlenecking projects
  • Energy and water reduction initiatives
  • Digital manufacturing and process analytics
  • Sustainability and environmental performance improvement programs

Key Performance Measures

• Corn grind throughput
• Starch recovery and yield
• Sweetener and starch product quality
• Corn oil yield
• Gluten feed and gluten meal yields
• Energy consumption
• Water consumption
• Manufacturing cost reduction
• Reliability and uptime
• Safety and environmental performance
• Technology deployment success across the enterprise

This version aligns the role to a multi-site ADM Corn Wet Milling Technology Manager scope, emphasizing steeping, separation, starch recovery, sweeteners, corn oil, and co-product optimization rather than fermentation and ethanol production.

Before applying for an exempt, non-exempt or hourly job opportunity, you are expected to initiate a discussion and share your intentions with your supervisor.  * If you’ve been in your current position for more than 18 months, supervisor approval is not required.  * If you’ve been in your current position for less than 18 months, verbal supervisor approval is required.  
​Hiring Manager- Jason Stahr  ​
Recruiter- Vicky Luciano 

 

Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours.

If hired, employees will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

The pay range for this position is expected to be between:

About ADM

At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.