Lead Plant Operator

Company Description

A subsidiary of Veolia group, Veolia North America (VNA) is the top-ranked environmental company in the United States for three consecutive years, and the country’s largest private water operator and technology provider as well as hazardous waste and pollution treatment leader. It offers a full spectrum of water, waste, and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education, and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent.

www.veolianorthamerica.com

Job Description

The Lead Plant Operator is instrumental in driving the Annacis Island Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) Demonstration Facility to meet the stringent Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) outlined in the operations agreement. Because the HTL process is highly experimental and relies on strict data integrity, this position is heavily focused on ensuring that all products, byproducts, and testing protocols strictly align with the client’s performance objectives.

The duties of the Lead Plant Operator are as follows, but not limited to:

• Reporting & Data Compliance: Leads the facility's Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) programs. 
• KPI Management & Process Optimization: Directly monitors and optimizes process metrics to guarantee the facility meets contractual KPIs. This includes achieving 90% solids capture in the sludge dewatering centrifuge and consistently pumping two dry tonnes of solids per day
• Product Quality Control: Oversees the oil/water separation process to successfully achieve the strict KPI of less than 1% water in the Biocrude oil phase and less than 1% oil in the aqueous water phase.
• Waste Solid & Precipitate Validation: Manages precipitate blowdown operations and storage to meet the KPI of maximum 1% oil content and maximum 60% water content in the precipitate totes.
• Feedstock Parameter Control: Ensures dewatered sludge meets targeted Total Solids (TS) KPIs under different test scenarios.
• Guarantees that at least 95% of all daily and weekly operational and laboratory reports are delivered accurately and on time, which is a critical KPI.
• Operational Integration: Supports the facility's broader goals of maintaining a minimum of 80% operational availability and safely executing at least 80% of the prescribed Intended Operation Conditions (which include running 30 different test scenarios for two weeks each).
• Laboratory & Data Validation: Oversees data quality control, validates external laboratory data (confirming surrogates, matrix spikes, and holding times), and ensures flawless data entry and management within the DeltaV Historian software.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) in similar industrial facilities involving high-temperature and high-pressure environments. Ideally wastewater and sludge treatment knowledge/experience.
• Extensive experience with environmental laboratory sampling protocols, analytical data validation, and Certificate of Analysis (COA) interpretation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an ability to interpret process information, manage non-conformances, and troubleshoot technical deviations with operational teams to bring operations back within KPI targets.
• Proficiency with Process Control Systems, SCADA, Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), and specific experience using data historians (e.g., DeltaV Historian) is highly desirable.
• Effective time management, decision-making, and organizational skills.

Hours of Work and Working Conditions: 

The facility operates on a 24/7 basis, requiring continuous coverage.

Shift workers and Lead Operators will be required to work rotating shifts (including nights, weekends, and holidays).

Work involves exposure to industrial environments with high-temperature (up to 425°C) and high-pressure (up to 263 bar-g) equipment, hazardous waste, biocrude, and chemicals.

Use of comprehensive Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including personal hydrogen sulfide (H2S) monitors, is strictly required.

Please note that this position is for a short-term, 24-month assignment supporting a demonstration facility; however, upon the successful completion of the contract term, there may be opportunities for select personnel to be offered employment directly with the client's team.

Total Compensation Package:

• Base Salary: $100,000 - $120,000 (commensurate with experience)
• Performance-based annual bonus
• Full benefits including health, dental, vision, retirement plan, and more

Additional Information

Why join our Resourcers team? Come and Resource the World with us!

• Acting today to create tomorrow's world;

• A company in constant growth;

• A multitude of large-scale projects where you can put your talent to good use;

• Challenges to suit you and the absence of routine;

• The opportunity to develop your career according to your professional goals;

• Internal and external training and coaching programs;

• Competitive compensation, pension and benefits;

• Multidisciplinary work teams and an OHS-oriented work environment.

We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Veolia North America is committed to equal opportunity employment and advancement for all employees and potential employees, and to a work environment free from discrimination and harassment.

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.