Plant Operator

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.

Job Description

This document outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Process Supervisor at the AD Plant. The supervisor is responsible for overseeing operations, ensuring safe and efficient plant functioning, optimizing production processes, and ensuring compliance with environmental and safety regulation.

Plant Operation Oversight

1. Adjust and Control Systems: Oversee and adjust critical systems including pumping systems, blowers, sludge handling equipment, and chemical metering equipment to ensure steady-state operation.
2. Daily Rounds: Perform daily rounds to monitor plant equipment and operations, noting any deficiencies, safety concerns, and operational anomalies. Report all issues to the Plant Manager.
3. Maintenance Coordination: Create maintenance work requests for any faulty equipment and coordinate with the Plant Manager and Maintenance Manager for corrective actions. Ensure timely completion of repairs.
4. Work Order Completion: Ensure assigned work orders and repairs are completed on schedule, providing feedback to the maintenance administrator for process improvements.
5. Shift Meetings: Lead pre-shift meetings and shift changeover discussions to promote clear communication. Ensure all operational updates and team suggestions for improvement are shared effectively.
6. Transportation: Coordinate residual and digestrate trailers transportation 
7. Chemical Inventory: Perform chemical inventory on a daily basis and order chemicals as necessary.

Production Coordination and Optimization

1. Lead Production Optimization Efforts: Coordinate and lead efforts for improving production efficiency and resolving any operational bottlenecks.
2. Performance Monitoring: Continuously monitor plant parameters and ensure all operations are within the established design specifications.
3. Continuous Improvement: Identify and lead initiatives for process optimization and troubleshooting.

Environmental Compliance

1. Ensure all activities comply with relevant environmental regulations, including spill control, discharge limits, and proper reporting protocols for spills and gas releases.

Safety and Housekeeping

1. Safety Compliance: Ensure all activities are performed in accordance with Veolia’s safety standards, including the proper use of PPE, adherence to SOPs, risk assessments, life-saving rules, and general housekeeping.
2. Housekeeping Standards: Maintain cleanliness in critical areas including the Digester Management Buildings, Centrifuge room, Residue Management Room, and Wastewater Buildings. Ensure that materials are sorted and stored properly, and report any minor spills for cleanup.

Team Leadership and Communication

1. Direct, supervise, and evaluate Operations PersonnelTrain new employees assigned to the respective work area/team
2. Lead daily pre-shift meetings to establish clear communication across teams.
3. Provide guidance, training and support to team members, ensuring effective teamwork and conflict resolution.
4. Regularly meet with the Plant Manager to discuss plant performance and suggest improvements.
5. Review team member vacation/time off requests and ensure adequate shift coverage. Coordinates with other Process Supervisors to establish vacation rules are followed and process impact minimized. 
6. Provide shift coverage during vacation, training, sick time and staff shortage

Preventive Maintenance and Optimization

1. Ensure all relevant maintenance tasks are completed during the shift, including predictive maintenance, planned repairs, and troubleshooting.
2. Research, investigate and analyze equipment failure or breakdowns to reach the root cause of the malfunctions. Develop a plan and strategy to correct them.
3. Assist in updating plant documentation and operational procedures as needed.
4. Regularly review existing SOPs and propose modifications if necessary

Specific Area Operations and Maintenance Management:

• Pulpers Operations:
  • Regularly monitor pulper performance, checking feed rates, and addressing any unusual signs such as noise or vibrations.
  • Report any persistent issues to the Plant Manager or Maintenance Manager.
• Grit Removal System (GRS):
  • Monitor water pressure (above 60 kPa) and flow (around 70 m³/hr) in the GRS system.
  • Perform laboratory analysis for volatile solids tracking on grit, ensuring data is submitted accurately.
• Suspension Buffer Tank:
  • Manage tank volume (0-2200 m³). Notify engineers and the Plant Manager if the volume exceeds 2150 m³.
• Digester Operations:
  • Adjust flow rates to maintain digester volume between 4850-5300 m³.
  • Ensure sample collection for lab analysis (pH, ammonia, nitrite, total suspended solids) is completed before 10 am.
  • Report any digester volume irregularities above 5300 m³ to the Plant Manager.
  • Maintain and monitor six open and balanced lances, ensuring timely clean-outs when necessary.
• Digester Management Buildings:
  • Building 1: Ensure heat exchanger rate is maintained between 17 and 20 m³/hr.
  • Building 2: Manage oil filling and inspect process equipment regularly.
  • Building 3: Clean and maintain the digesters' feeding pipes weekly.
• Residue Management:
  • Ensure proper cleanliness of the belly and trenches.
  • Support trailer switching activities.
  • Perform sample collection for lab analysis of total solids and fast-settling solids before 10 am.
• Biogas System:
  • Monitor critical biogas parameters including methane content (above 60%), methane production rate (around 66 Nm³/Wet tonne SSO), non-CO2 inerts (less than 1%), H2S concentration (below 500 ppm), and flare temperature (above 875°C).
• Centrifuge Operations:
  • Monitor cake total solids (above 22%).
  • Ensure centrifuge feed lines, polymer systems, and associated equipment are cleaned as necessary.
  • Ensure sample collection for lab analysis of solids and centrate properties.
• Water Management:
  • PW1: Maintain water levels below 1700 m³, performing sample collection for COD, ammonia, and solids analysis.
  • PW2: Manage water levels below 14 m.
• Aeration Tanks:
  • Ensure aeration tank levels are kept below 7 m, conducting sample analysis for pH, ammonia, nitrites, and total suspended solids.
• DAF Systems:
  • Ensure no flowrate issues and collect samples for COD, nitrites, ammonia, phosphorus, and suspended solids analysis.
• Wastewater Building Operations:
  • Manage, train, supervise and monitor performance of wastewater plant operations to ensure safe and proper operation of equipment.
  • Adjust equipment, ensure no leaks in the system, and regularly clean lines and equipment as required.

Qualifications

• High School education or equivalent with the ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally (operational, process, safety and quality instructions).
• Associate's degree in a science or technical area preferred;
• Over five years experience in a related position and environment with knowledge of the methods, techniques, and practices of water/wastewater treatment.
• Must have an understanding of the BTA Processes including Digesters, wastewater treatment process, water quality assurance, maintenance strategy and laboratory procedures.
• Must demonstrate effective skills in troubleshooting, problem solving and team building.
• Ingenuity and initiative are required to coordinate problem resolution and to execute the schedule requirements within a team environment.
• Have general knowledge of budget preparation and understanding of cost control.
• Demonstrated good verbal communications and interpersonal skills in order to interface with and motivate all levels of personnel.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare accurate, timely, effective, complete and easily understood written communications and reports.
• Proficiency in the care and use of all site specific, facility required PPE (Personal Protection Equipment).
• Ability to use computer systems such as Email, VNA University, SCADA trending and data retrieval.
• Must be able to respond to emergency calls as needed and work extended hours to accommodate site needs.
• Demonstrated commitment to compliance with applicable laws and regulations, the Company's Code of Business Conduct and other Company policies and procedures.

Work Environment:

Work Conditions and Physical Capabilities:

• Fast-paced environment, Repetitive tasks, physically demanding, and attention to detail.

Work Site Environment:

• Can get dusty, recycling odour.

Transportation/Travel Information:

• Own transportation

Shifts (2):

• Monday - Friday; 6:00 AM– 2:30 PM & 2:30 PM – 10:30 PM,
• Overtime; two weeks days then switch to two weeks afternoons. Possible extending to 3 shift operation in the future.

Salary:

• $26 - $31 per hour

Additional Information

Why join our Resourcers team? 

• A company in constant growth that creates the world of tomorrow; 
• A multitude of large-scale projects where you can use your talent;
• Challenges to your measure and the lack of routine;
• The opportunity to develop your career to meet your professional objectives;
• Training and support programs, both internal and external;
• Very competitive compensation, pension and benefits; 
• Multidisciplinary work teams and an OHS-oriented work environment.

We thank all applicants for their application, however, only successful applicants will be contacted.

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.