Performance Management Lead - Decatur, IL
Are you a data-driven operations leader ready to influence performance within the NA Corn Processing business unit? ADM is seeking a Performance Management Lead to own and drive data analysis, insights, and site-specific action planning for our Decatur Corn and Cogen plants. This highly visible role will be embedded within our operations leadership structure and plays a pivotal role in accelerating our Operational Excellence agenda. It's also a developmental opportunity for experienced operations leaders to strengthen financial acumen, project management capabilities, and broaden exposure across the network. This role will be based in the Decatur, IL, corn processing plant.
Key Responsibilities
- Own end-to-end performance reporting at the Decatur Corn & Cogen sitesestablish consistent KPIs, reporting cadence, and visualization tools.
- Analyze data such as throughput, yields, energy and chemical usage, operating costs, unplanned downtime, and OEE / TEEP to identify key drivers and performance gaps.
- Proactively develop insights from multiple data sources (PowerBI, PI, Maximo, accounting reports) to uncover trends and guide decision-making.
- Serve as the single point of accountability for consolidating and interpreting site performance data to support strategic planning and execution.
Strategy & Action Planning
Partner with operations leaders to set annual and quarterly performance targets, ensuring alignment with BU strategic goals and X-matrix priorities.Lead the creation of site-level action plans tied to performance opportunitiesassign ownership, define timelines, and track execution.Monitor ongoing progress and provide coaching, feedback, and course correction recommendations to drive accountability and results.Operational & Financial Integration
Act as a key link between operations and financetranslating operational realities into financial implications and vice versa.Coordinate and perform month end close responsibilities, including inventory, load, and usage reconciliation.Engage with accounting and operations on streamlining month end close procedures to aid in accuracy and timeliness of results.Partner with Operational, Commercial, & Finance teams to maintain financial & volume forecasts.Lead plant cost analysis and variance reviews in collaboration with Finance; drive operational responses to budget and forecast deviations.Support annual planning activities by preparing, validating, and communicating production assumptions, usage forecasts, and capital justifications.Champion an "ownership mindset" within site teams for financial and operational performance metrics.Leadership & Influence
Serve as a thought partner and performance coach to operations leaders, building leadership capability in data-driven decision making.Create transparency and accountability by communicating clear performance expectations and leading regular performance reviews.Engage in cross-site learning by sharing best practices, lessons learned, and successful improvement initiatives.Present Decatur Corn & Cogen performance topics in operations forums, leadership reviews, and planning sessions.Performance Systems & Tools
Lead the design and continuous improvement of performance management systems, dashboards, and scorecards.Partner with IT, GBS, and Technical Centers to enhance data accuracy, availability, and ease of use for plant teams.Evaluate and implement new tools or methodologies to improve how we track, analyze, and act on performance data.Capital Planning & Technical Evaluation
Assist Technical Centers and site leaders with capital investment proposalsensuring robust financial justification and ROI modeling.Participate in post-project lookbacks to assess whether benefits have been realized and identify process improvements for future investments.Performance Excellence & Capability Building
Embed performance excellence methodologies like Zero Loss Thinking, Focused Improvement, and Root Cause Analysis into daily routines.Provide coaching and training to plant teams on performance reporting, cost management, and continuous improvement practices.Contribute to capability development by mentoring new Performance Engineers or Operations Leaders interested in broader impact roles.Education and Experience Desired
Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field (MBA or financial coursework a plus)5+ years of manufacturing or operations experience with demonstrated financial and performance management acumenStrong ability to interpret data, identify gaps, and develop clear recommendations for actionEffective communicator and influencer with experience engaging across all organizational levelsSelf-starter who thrives in cross-functional environments and is comfortable managing across multiple sitesProficient in data visualization and performance tools (e.g., PowerBI, Excel, PI, Maximo)Knowledge of corn wet milling process or similar industrial manufacturing preferredWhy Join Us? This role offers the opportunity to :
Influence site-level performance across a major business unitDevelop the skills and visibility needed to grow into a broader operations or commercial leadership roleHelp shape the future of our North America Corn network through continuous improvement and talent developmentRelocation Assistance is available with this position. Excited about this role but don't think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings. ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.