Plant Operator

Company Description

Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. is a company of diverse businesses unified by shared values and vision. We serve the agriculture, mining, industrial and water reclamation markets with a broad range of products and technologies, worldwide. Serving these customers well is a passion and a commitment-one that the people of Tessenderlo Kerley find rewarding, empowering and meaningful.

If you want the work you do to make a positive impact on the world in which we live, and work alongside innovative, quality-focused people of vision, Tessenderlo Kerley is the right place for you.

Job Description

Schedule:12-hour shifts | 7 days on / 7 days off (rotating days & nights as qualified)

Are you a hands-on operator who thrives in a safety-first industrial environment? Do you enjoy working outdoors, operating equipment and being part of a high-accountability team that keeps critical plant logistics moving? If so, this is your opportunity to step into the Operator D role at our Ponca City, Oklahoma facility and begin a progressive career path in plant operations!

This is the entry point into our structured operator progression model, with clear advancement opportunities to C-Operator (SRU qualified), B-Operator (DCS/board relief) and A-Operator (primary board operator).

Why Join Us?

🛠️ Build a Career in Operations – Start as a D-Operator and progress through structured qualifications into higher-level unit and board operations roles.

⚠️ Safety-First Culture – Work in an environment where compliance, PPE, LOTO, confined space procedures and regulatory standards are non-negotiable.

🚂 Critical Plant Role – Be responsible for the safe loading and unloading of trucks and railcars, handling products such as anhydrous ammonia, molten sulfur and ammonium polysulfide solution (APS).

📈 Growth Through Qualification – Receive formal and hands-on training with defined first-year objectives and advancement expectations.

🤝 Team-Based Environment – Collaborate closely with Operations and Maintenance teams and external truck drivers to ensure safe and efficient product movement.

What You’ll Do:

✅ Safely load and unload trucks and railcars in compliance with OSHA, EPA, DOT, railroad and HAZWOPER regulations.

✅ Handle hazardous materials, including anhydrous ammonia, molten sulfur and APS with strict adherence to regulatory and site procedures.

✅ Complete required documentation, including Bills of Lading, inspection forms, sampling and transfer logs.

✅ Monitor gauges, meters and process equipment to verify quality and quantity specifications.

✅ Perform routine inspections, identify equipment issues, and report irregularities for corrective action.

✅ Support plant projects, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) activities, confined space entries and startup/shutdown operations.

✅ Maintain clean and orderly loading, storage and containment areas.

✅ Participate in emergency response activities and safety meetings.

✅ Progress through structured training and testing toward Concentrate Unit and SRU qualification.

Qualifications

What You’ll Bring:

✔ High school diploma or GED required.

✔ Prior hands-on experience in chemical plant, refinery, oilfield, gas plant or industrial operations is strongly preferred.

✔ Experience with maintenance, construction or industrial mechanical work.

✔ Strong safety mindset and familiarity with LOTO, confined space, hazardous material handling or similar regulated environments

✔ Ability to read and interpret procedures, drawings and P&IDs.

✔ Basic computer proficiency (Microsoft Office and digital documentation systems).

✔ Willingness to work 12-hour rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, holidays and overtime.

✔ Physical ability to lift 50 pounds, climb ladders and stairs, work at heights, and perform confined space work while wearing required PPE.

✔ HAZWOPER Technician level certification required.

Work Environment & Expectations:

This is a field-based, industrial role. Work is performed both indoors and outdoors and includes exposure to:

• Heat, cold, wind, rain and industrial noise.
• Hazardous chemicals and process equipment.
• Elevated work platforms (up to 150 feet).
• Confined spaces.

Additional Information

Why join Tessenderlo Kerley:

Working at Tessenderlo Kerley

• Work/life balance
• Fun and rewarding environment
• Learning, development and teamwork
• Community involvement/outreach
• Challenging and meaningful work

Benefits & Rewards:

• Medical-Dental-Vision-Prescription (Low employee premiums!)
• 401(k) plan with dollar-for-dollar matching up to the first 5% of employee contribution
• 401(k) company retirement contribution at year-end, equal to 4% of annual base salary
• Short-term incentive awards based on measured performance criteria
• Life Insurance (2x annual base salary)
• Paid vacation and sick time, and 10 paid holidays per year
• Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $5,000 per calendar year (non-taxable)
• Adoption Assistance: Up to $7,500 in reimbursement assistance
• Paid maternity and parental time off
• Business Travel Life & Accident Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Telemedicine program for you and your dependents
• Long-Term Disability insurance
• Company referral program

Tessenderlo Kerley is part of Tessenderlo Group, an industrial group that focuses on agriculture, valorizing bio-residuals, machinery, mechanical engineering, electronics, energy, and providing industrial solutions with a focus on water. With its headquarters in Belgium, the group is active in over 100 countries, and it has a global team of more than 7,000 employees. Its belief that “Every Molecule Counts” is at the heart of the strategy of the group: Tessenderlo Group continually strives to valorize its products and processes to the maximum and to add value to everything it does. For more information about Tessenderlo Group, its people, and its brands, please visit www.tessenderlo.com.

Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.