RNG Operations Manager

Summary

The RNG Operations Manager provides high-level technical leadership and operational oversight for Clean Energy Fuels’ renewable natural gas production facilities. This role is accountable for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of RNG assets across multiple sites and regions, supporting 24/7 operations.

The position combines hands-on engineering expertise with operational leadership, including mentoring field personnel, supporting plant managers, driving performance optimization, ensuring compliance with Clean Energy and OSHA safety standards, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives. The RNG Operations Manager plays a critical role in commissioning new facilities, maintaining operational excellence, and sustaining Clean Energy’s leadership position in the RNG industry.

Competitive benefits and compensation between $125,000-$135,000.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

 

Operational & Technical Leadership

• Provide technical and operational leadership for RNG plants operating 24/7/365.

• Serve as a senior technical escalation resource for complex safety, operational, mechanical, electrical, controls, or process-related issues.

• Support day-to-day operations, troubleshooting, repairs, and performance improvements to ensure optimal plant availability, safety, and reliability.

• Assist in the development, implementation, and enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs), best practices, and engineering standards across RNG operations.

• Produce regular reports on the status of facilities for upper leadership

• Direct the resolution of corrective actions by internal and external parties while working cross-departmentally with the RNG Engineering department

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Asset Performance, Reliability & Continuous Improvement

• Analyze operational, performance, and maintenance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for optimization.

• Collaborate with engineering, operations and maintenance teams to plan, execute, and verify preventive and predictive maintenance activities.

 

 

• Review downtime events, inspection results, and maintenance activities to ensure optimal plant performance.

• Analyze plant data and prepare plant performance reports in conjunction with Engineering.

• Lead or support formal root cause analyses and drive corrective and preventive actions to completion.

• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance plant efficiency, safety, reliability, and lifecycle cost management.

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Safety, Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Champion Clean Energy’s safety culture by ensuring all activities comply with Clean Energy, OSHA, and site-specific safety requirements.

• Respond to, report, and escalate incidents, near-misses, or unsafe conditions in accordance with company procedures.

• Support regulatory compliance related to environmental permits, pipeline interconnects, and operational requirements.

• Conduct or support periodic in-person site reviews and audits to confirm compliance with Clean Energy standards and maintenance requirements.

• Participate in quality assurance reviews of newly constructed RNG plants, reviewing site reports, commissioning documentation, and punch lists to ensure timely and complete resolution.

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Field Support & Site Knowledge

• Provide hands-on field support as required, including diagnosing equipment issues, advising on repairs, and verifying proper plant operation.

• Ensure strong technical understanding of assigned sites, including: 

o Equipment and systems installed

o Site ownership model 

o Maintenance contract type and scope of services

o Key customer, vendor, and stakeholder contacts

• Provide feedback to technicians, operators, plant managers, and supervisors regarding field observations, performance, and opportunities for improvement.

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Cross-Functional Collaboration & People Development

• Work closely with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, SCADA, Asset Management, and Project Development teams.

• Provide technical input during project design, construction, commissioning, and operational turnover to ensure operability and maintainability.

• Mentor and support operators, technicians, plant managers, and supervisors through coaching, guidance, and technical training.

• Support supervisory staff with technical guidance related to performance reviews, training needs, and corrective actions when requested.

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Travel & Regional Support

• Travel up to 75% to RNG facilities to support operations, commissioning, troubleshooting, audits, and performance optimization.

• Provide occasional after-hours or emergency support as business needs require.

 

Supervisory Responsibilities                   

This position has no current supervisory responsibilities.

             

Qualifications 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

Education and Required Experience                   

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, or related Engineering discipline.

• 7+ years of experience in operations engineering, plant engineering, or technical operations within RNG, natural gas, biogas, or industrial process facilities.

• Strong knowledge of gas processing systems, upgrading, compression, dehydration, controls/SCADA, and pipeline interconnections.

• Proven ability to analyze data, diagnose complex problems, and drive execution in a field-based environment.

• Demonstrated commitment to safety and regulatory compliance.

• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel up to 75%

 

Preferred

• Direct experience with RNG, landfill gas, or anaerobic digester facilities.

• Experience supporting 24/7 industrial operations.

• Experience with commissioning and startup of new energy or gas-processing facilities.

• Experience mentoring or leading technical and operations personnel.

 

Language Skills                   

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

 

Mathematical Skills                   

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.  Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

 

Reasoning Ability                   

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

 

Computer Skills                   

Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.                

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations 

Valid driver’s license and clean driving record required.

Physical Demands 

Physical demands are customary for this type of position. Always practice good judgment and refer to the safety guidelines. The employee is frequently required to walk and sit. The employee is regularly required to stand, climb and constantly drive.  Regularly use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally move up to 75 pounds.  Lifting over 50 pounds may require mechanical and/or second technician assistance.  Moving over 75 pounds will require mechanical means, or additional employee assistance.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Work Environment 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Always practice good judgment and refer to the safety guidelines.

The noise level in the work environment is regularly exposed to moderate to high noise areas. The work environment requires vigilance in reducing the possibility of exposure to hazardous substances.