Chief Wastewater Operator
Overview
An innovative industrial wastewater treatment facility is seeking an experienced Chief Wastewater Operator to oversee daily operations of a high-strength industrial pretreatment system utilizing anaerobic digestion and advanced biological treatment processes. This leadership role is responsible for ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant operation of the facility while maximizing treatment performance, biogas production, and overall plant reliability.
The facility treats complex industrial wastewater streams from food and beverage processing operations and operates a combination of anaerobic digesters, biological treatment systems, solids handling processes, and energy recovery equipment. The Chief Operator will lead plant personnel, optimize treatment processes, and ensure compliance with all environmental permit requirements.
Responsibilities
- Lead daily operations of the wastewater treatment facility, ensuring safe and compliant plant performance.
- Supervise and mentor operators, technicians, and maintenance personnel.
- Monitor and optimize anaerobic digestion, biological treatment, nutrient removal, and solids handling processes.
- Ensure compliance with discharge permits, environmental regulations, and safety requirements.
- Analyze process data, laboratory results, and operational trends to improve plant performance and reliability.
- Coordinate preventative maintenance activities and equipment troubleshooting.
- Manage process upsets, operational challenges, and emergency response activities.
- Maintain accurate operating records, compliance documentation, and regulatory reporting.
- Work closely with facility management, engineering teams, and industrial clients to support treatment objectives.
- Oversee chemical usage, operating budgets, spare parts inventory, and contractor coordination.
- Support commissioning, startup, and process optimization initiatives as needed.
- Promote a strong culture of safety, environmental stewardship, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
- 7+ years of wastewater treatment operations experience, including supervisory or leadership responsibilities.
- Strong experience operating industrial wastewater treatment systems.
- Hands-on knowledge of anaerobic digestion and biological treatment processes.
- Experience managing permit compliance, regulatory inspections, and environmental reporting.
- Understanding of process controls, SCADA systems, instrumentation, and troubleshooting.
- Experience supervising plant personnel and coordinating maintenance activities.
- Ability to interpret laboratory data and make process adjustments to optimize treatment performance.
- Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Willingness to respond to operational emergencies and support plant operations as required.
- Appropriate state wastewater operator certification or ability to obtain certification.
Preferred Experience
- High-strength industrial wastewater treatment, particularly food and beverage manufacturing waste streams.
- Anaerobic reactors such as UASB, EGSB, IC, or other high-rate anaerobic systems.
- Biogas production, gas handling systems, and energy recovery operations.
- Startup, commissioning, or optimization of industrial treatment facilities.
- Nutrient removal, dissolved air flotation (DAF), sludge dewatering, and solids management systems.
- Experience managing direct reports in a 24/7 operating environment.
- Knowledge of process safety management and industrial facility safety programs.
What You'll Work On
- Operation and optimization of anaerobic pretreatment systems treating high-strength industrial wastewater.
- Management of biological treatment processes designed to reduce BOD, COD, TSS, and nutrient loading.
- Maximizing plant performance, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
- Supporting food and beverage manufacturing clients through effective wastewater treatment operations.
- Biogas generation and energy recovery initiatives.
- Continuous improvement projects focused on process efficiency, sustainability, and operational excellence.
- Leadership of a skilled operations team at a technically advanced industrial wastewater treatment facility.
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