Wastewater Operations Specialist in El Segundo, CA at Veolia North America

Job Description

About Veolia North America

A subsidiary of Veolia group, Veolia North America (VNA) 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. Please visit our website www.veolianorthamerica.com.

Job Description

Hourly Pay: $46.00 - $50.00 Per Hour

BENEFITS

Veolia's comprehensive benefits package includes paid time off policies, as well as health, dental and vision insurance. In addition, employees are also entitled to participate in an employer sponsored 401(k) plan, to save for retirement.  Pay and benefits for employees represented by a union are outlined in their collective bargaining agreement.  

Position Purpose: 

The Operations Specialist is the journey-level position requiring sufficient knowledge and experience to resolve issues in a timely manner. Incumbents primarily ensure that the Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Microfiltration (MF) equipment and systems within the facility are operated, optimized and maintained in a safe and efficient manner and in compliance with all local, state and federal regulations.

Responsibilities include inspecting and performing daily inspections of all RO and MF equipment and systems, performing cleaning of the MF and RO systems as assigned, provide operational oversight of district Capital Improvement Projects, a wide variety of tasks in the operation, maintenance, and initiating repair as necessary for the RO and MF systems to ensure compliance with GWRR regulations.

Within the requirements of a 24/7 operation this position is responsible for planning, organizing, or providing operational functions within the plant or satellite facilities. Under general direction from the Operations Supervisor, participates in the more complex and difficult work for operating, monitoring, and maintaining plant equipment including motors, compressors, and pumps to control unit processes; performs adjustments and repairs to plant equipment; collects samples and performs laboratory tests; and performs minor maintenance.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities:

The following essential job functions are typical for an Operations Specialist, these functions may be modified to include additional or different job functions from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices:

• Provide technical guidance and training to employees involved in the operation and control of the treatment plant or satellite facilities; work with supervisors to formulate work plans; delegate tasks to be performed and monitor performance.
• Participate in overseeing the operations of an assigned area; perform assigned rounds including adjusting process controls to daily required parameters under the guidance of the Operations Supervisor and under the approval of the Chief Plant Operator, inspecting, monitoring and documenting plant operations by reading plant equipment gauges, dials, graphs and other instrumentation; ensure that the waste treatment plant operates within regulatory guidelines.
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
• Develop, edit and revise Standard Operating Procedures for approval by the Chief Plant Operator.
• Perform operational tasks on equipment; reports malfunctions to appropriate department; perform emergency repair work on plant operation equipment, as directed, or assist other divisions with repairs. These duties include:
• Mange CIP wastes – coordinate MF/ RO CIP’s and waste discharge accordingly.
• Monitor PDT/ LRV’s daily – report and take action when necessary.
• Perform air leak/ PDT/ bubble testing on MF units – initiate work orders for pinning/ valve/ manifold integrity.
• Oversee and manage the SWPPP program.
• Coordinate and perform MF CIP’s.
• Coordinate and perform RO CIP’s.
• Perform UV lamp checks and troubleshooting as necessary.
• Perform hydrogen peroxide dose checks.
• Perform conductivity profiles.
• Optimize MF/ RO filtrate/ permeate setpoints.
• Monitor/ adjust scale inhibitor/ sulfuric acid dosing.
• Perform MF valve timing checks and adjustments.
• Assist in planning and overseeing the operation of various maintenance and construction projects.
• Respond to maintenance and construction requests to facilitate process operation equipment by performing isolations, shut-downs, tag-outs and start-ups of plant operation equipment before and after testing, maintenance and emergency repairs are performed.
• Record data related to plant operation processes; complete daily operating logs of routine and unusual operating or maintenance conditions encountered and any repair work performed; initiate work orders, memos and requests for maintenance repairs as necessary.
• Read and review a variety of pertinent data connected with plant operations
• Maintain, compile, and update a variety of plant operations logs, reports and lists including round sheets, spreadsheets, monthly summaries, data sheets, timesheets, overtime reports, spill reports, odor complaint reports, standby lists, emergency notification lists, shutdown lists, and equipment lists; gather data for Monthly Summary of Operations and submit to supervisor.
• Participates in continuous improvement programs.
• Reports to the Operations Supervisor.
• No direct reports are associated with this role.
• May be required to supervise the work of crew members as needed.
• Coordination of special projects with other department members and may need to supervise/direct the work of contractors/vendor.
• Performs other projects/tasks/duties as needed.

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is:

• Regularly exposed to outside weather conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• The employee may be exposed to silica, dust, fumes, smoke, gases, greases, oils, electrical energy, solvents and vibrations.
• The employee may work on slippery/uneven surfaces, around machinery with moving parts, moving objects/vehicles, and ladder/scaffolding, below ground and may be exposed to water and other liquid materials.

Qualifications

Education/Experience/Background:

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.
• Associates Degree or higher is preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years experience in wastewater/water treatment operations.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of wastewater treatment plant operations.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of collection system operations and maintenance.
• Knowledge of and ability to utilize the materials, methods, tools and equipment used in the construction, maintenance and operation of wastewater treatment systems.
• Knowledge of the laws and regulations relating to wastewater system operations.
• Knowledge and ability to analyze data and maintain computer records.
• Knowledge of and ability to perform standard laboratory sampling and testing.
• Available for stand-by duty and emergencies as needed.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals and/or SOPs.
• Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as chemical dosing, flow calculations, pipe or tank capacity.
• Ability to define problems, collects data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and factual variables.
• Ability to operate and manage manual and computerized information systems.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simulateneously.
• Knowledge of MS Office Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint and other software commonly used for Operations.

Required Certification/Licenses/Training:

• Must have and maintain a valid CA Driver’s License.
• SWRCB Grade III or higher Wastewater/Water Treatment Certification as required by facility being operated.   

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and/or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand for extended periods; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs or ladders or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision as well as the ability to distinguish color and shades. Technical dexterity is required in performing chemical and instrumental analytical procedures. Employee may be required to lift/move up to 50 pounds.

Additional Information

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer! All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

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.