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POET

POET

Bioethanol production and bioproducts producer.

Materials Manager

Full-TimePosted on 9/17/2026
No salary listed
Mid
Cloverdale, IN, USA
In Person

About the job

Requirements
  • A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
  • Knowledge of rail car loading, truck loading and unloading, grading grain to United States Department of Agriculture specifications, weighing, inventory management, and safe grain handling is preferred.
  • Experience operating heavy machinery, skid loaders, or other associated heavy loading or material-moving equipment is preferred.
  • Department of Transportation certification is preferred.
  • Knowledge of the basics of Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn new programs.
  • Ability to understand technical and day-to-day operations of a bioprocessing facility.
  • Ability to perform the stated physical duties, including climbing, walking over uneven or wet surfaces, reaching, bending, lifting, pulling, kneeling, crouching, and operating powered industrial vehicles.
  • Ability to wear required personal protective equipment and work at heights, in confined spaces, and in temperatures from -20 to +100 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Ability to operate hand tools, skid loaders, scoop shovels, pipe wrenches, impact wrenches, air hoses, shuttle wagons, payloaders, and Trackmobiles after training.
  • Ability to pass a pre-employment physical and drug screen and comply with random drug and alcohol testing during employment.
  • Ability to effectively interact with individuals at all organizational levels.
  • Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
  • Organizational, time-management, written, and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to work in a team environment.
Responsibilities
  • Supervise and assist with daily loading and unloading of grain and ethanol co-products.
  • Supervise and assist with ethanol transfers to storage tanks, trucks, and rail cars while meeting Federal Railroad Administration standards.
  • Establish and maintain inventory tracking systems acceptable to management and regulatory agencies.
  • Communicate commodity operations status to the Commodity Manager daily.
  • Attend weekly and monthly meetings and complete required reports in a timely manner.
  • Ensure work areas are clean and organized according to United States Department of Agriculture and Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements.
  • Identify and assist with equipment maintenance.
  • Ensure all plant policies for the commodities department are met.
  • Operate a front-end loader or tele-handler to assist with dried distillers grains or wet cake loading.
  • Recruit, select, orient, and train team members.
  • Delegate work and manage team-member performance and career development.
  • Manage the condition of grains-department equipment and coordinate with other departments to keep it operational and safe.
  • Manage sanitation and cleanliness in the grains building, surrounding areas, railroad tracks, and tank farm.
  • Foster teamwork, delegate responsibility, and hold team members accountable.
  • Recognize and engage department team members.
  • Monitor dried distillers grains storage, ethanol storage, loading, and logistics processes.
  • Maintain records and submit all required reports accurately and on time.
  • Maintain confidentiality regarding business-related matters.
  • Maintain a high level of customer service and a friendly atmosphere.
  • Foster safe behavior and environmental compliance.
  • Maintain and advance the food safety and quality of POET’s products and processes.
  • Perform other uses of skills as needed to support teamwork and operational goals.
Desired Qualifications
  • One to three years of supervisory experience in grain-handling operations or a related field.
  • Experience and knowledge in rail car loading, truck loading and unloading, grading grain to United States Department of Agriculture specifications, weighing, inventory management, and safe grain handling.
  • Experience and knowledge operating heavy machinery, skid loaders, or other heavy loading and material-moving equipment.
  • Department of Transportation certification.

About the company

POET produces bioethanol, distillers grains, and other eco-friendly bioproducts to power sustainable fuels and animal feed. Its bioethanol comes from fermenting corn into ethanol, while the co-products, like distillers grains, are sold to farmers, livestock producers, and industries seeking low-emission options. The process relies on bioprocessing facilities that convert corn into fuel and by-products, with a focus on higher ethanol blends to expand market adoption. POET differentiates itself through large-scale grain-based biofuel production, a wide portfolio of bioproducts, and a strong emphasis on supporting agriculture, rural jobs, and local economic development. The company's goal is to reduce emissions and promote sustainability by expanding bioethanol use and creating value from corn.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Late Stage VC

Total Funding

$53.8M

Headquarters

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Founded

1983

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • POET’s Shelbyville expansion started in March 2026 and doubles output by Q4 2027.
  • POET expects 5-6 million gallons of lower-carbon ethanol from its CF Industries pilot.
  • EPA’s 2026 nationwide E15 waivers expand ethanol blending and support POET’s demand outlook.

What critics are saying

  • POET Biorefining Albert Lea paid a $52,805 air-permit fine, signaling compliance vulnerability.
  • CF Industries and POET’s low-carbon pilot depends on fertilizer certification and 2026 policy execution.
  • If EPA E15 waivers lapse, POET’s growth thesis weakens and Obion-scale capacity faces margin pressure.

What makes POET unique

  • POET owned 35 bioprocessing facilities after Obion closed in September 2025.
  • POET and Antora commissioned a 5GWh thermal battery at Big Stone City in 2026.
  • NASCAR named POET Official Bioethanol Partner on February 13, 2026, boosting brand reach.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Paid Parental Leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Relocation Assistance

Profit Sharing

Wellness Program

Gym Membership

Discounted Home and Auto Insurance

Employee Discounts

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

6%

1 year growth

6%

2 year growth

6%
South Dakota Hall of Fame
Aug 8th, 2026
South Dakota Hall of Fame receives POET grant.

South Dakota Hall of Fame receives POET grant. The South Dakota Hall of Fame is honored to have been awarded a Community Impact Grant from POET, the world's largest producer of biofuel and a global leader in sustainable bioproducts. The POET Community Impact Grant is a one-time grant, designed to support local nonprofits, schools, churches, earth-friendly groups, and individuals committed to leading projects that will benefit their communities. The grant will support the 10-year anniversary celebration of the Dignity of Earth & Sky sculpture, taking place Sunday, September 20. The celebration honors community and children by bringing people together to celebrate culture, heritage, and shared values, with space intentionally created for youth recognition and engagement. August 8, 2026

Metric Media LLC
Jun 12th, 2026
POET Bioprocessing awards City of Marion $3,000 community grant for Rec Center scholarships.

POET Bioprocessing awards City of Marion $3,000 community grant for Rec Center scholarships. The City of Marion announced on June 12 that it received a $3,000 grant from POET Bioprocessing to support free scholarships at the Rec Center. The funding will be used to help sustain operations and ensure that the Rec Center remains free for all teens. A statement from city officials said, "We are so thankful for POET Bioprocessing awarding the City of Marion $3,000 in grant funding to support free scholarships at the Rec Center. This funding will go towards sustaining operations to enable the Rec to stay free for all teens!" Officials also emphasized the importance of local partnerships in supporting community initiatives, saying, "Community partnerships like this are why we Love Our City!" No additional background information was provided about POET Bioprocessing or further details on how the scholarship program operates. The city has not yet announced when applications for these scholarships will open or how teens can apply.

Associated Press
May 19th, 2026
World's largest thermal energy storage plant launches in South Dakota

POET has partnered with Antora Energy to launch a 5-gigawatt-hour thermal energy storage facility in Big Stone City, South Dakota, making it among the world's largest energy storage plants. The system stores excess wind energy in carbon blocks heated to 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which can later power POET's adjacent ethanol plant. The facility, Antora's first commercial production site, was built in under a year and supported 300 construction jobs. It aims to increase ethanol production efficiency, expand markets for South Dakota corn growers, and reduce fossil fuel reliance. The project received bipartisan support and was funded primarily through private investment led by Grok Ventures. The plant is already providing power to POET's facility, which produces 92 million gallons of ethanol annually, and should be fully operational by October.

Business Wire
May 19th, 2026
POET and Antora commission 5GWh thermal battery to power South Dakota biofuel plant

POET, the world's largest biofuels producer, and Antora Energy have commissioned a 5 gigawatt-hour thermal energy storage system at POET's Big Stone City, South Dakota facility. The project advanced from construction to delivering energy in under 12 months and ranks among the world's largest energy storage projects by capacity. Antora's thermal batteries store electricity as heat in carbon blocks, providing POET with around-the-clock energy under a long-term agreement. The system enables increased bioethanol production and creates tens of millions of dollars annually in new market opportunities for South Dakota farmers. The project supported over 300 manufacturing and construction jobs across South Dakota and California. Grok Ventures provided project-level financing as the sole external investor. The system will be fully operational later this year.

Associated Press
Jan 26th, 2026
CF Industries and POET launch low-carbon fertiliser pilot to cut ethanol production emissions

CF Industries and POET have launched a pilot project with major agricultural cooperatives to develop a low-carbon fertiliser supply chain. The initiative aims to reduce the carbon intensity of corn and enable production of low-carbon ethanol for motor fuel and export. The pilot includes WinField United, NuWay-K&H, New Cooperative and Farmer's Cooperative. Participants will track low-carbon fertiliser from CF Industries' production through retail distribution to corn growers across Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska. POET will then use the corn to produce an estimated 5-6 million gallons of lower carbon intensity ethanol. CF Industries produces low-carbon ammonia at its Donaldsonville Complex by capturing and permanently storing carbon dioxide emissions underground. At full capacity, the facility can produce up to 1.9 million tonnes annually, meeting fertiliser requirements for 19-22 million acres of planted corn.