Water Operator Trainee Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

Veolia in North America 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. Veolia helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Veolia has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across North America.

Position Purpose: 

In coordination with Plant Manager the incumbent will be responsible for providing the day to day oversight of department staff, shift operations, troubleshoot equipment problems and generate work orders as needed,  as well as providing operational, commercial and personnel leadership to the plant shift operating teams to maintain efficient and cost effective facility operations while maintaining compliance with all Corporate and Regulatory environmental, health and safety rules and requirements.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Must possess and maintain a NYS 3A wastewater certification - ability to be delegated as Operator in charge.
• Supervises a staff of Plant Operators – trainees, 1A licensed Operators, 2A licensed Operators and 3A licensed Operators and directs their daily duties in accordance with the requirements of the Plant.
• Work with other plant departments, Engineering, and contractors to coordinate projects.
• Lead and guide shift crews to monitor all facets of plant operations and incoming data.
• Ability to stand watch on an assigned Operation station in the event of emergency or staffing issues.
• Reviews all operations station worksheets for anomalies and errors.
• Checks worksheets prior to entering data or turning over for data entry into Hach Wims.
• Assists operations staff with troubleshooting operational issues.
• Performs visual observations of the various process areas over the course of the shift to ensure all compliance and safety measures are being met.
• Ability to process laboratory data to make process control change suggestions.
• Ability to calculate MCRT, SVI, Detention Time, Hydraulic Loading and other related process control measures.
• Maintains a logbook for plant operations during assigned shift.
• Manage, evaluate, schedule, and develop the O&M staff and always ensure adequate staffing.
• Coordinate alternate staff in the event of absences following the Overtime equalization policy.
• Provides leadership and directing in response to alarms and abnormal conditions and lead emergency response actions.
• Independently evaluates and/or supervises the evaluation of the operation, maintenance and performance of wastewater treatment facilities, processes, systems, and equipment.
• Reviews, and supervises implementation of system improvements including analyzing and optimizing existing system designs and operating parameters, supervising performance testing and troubleshooting and resolving complex operational, equipment and instrumentation problems.
• Reviews designs and constructed facilities and makes and approves recommendations for operational improvements.
• Oversees construction management personnel in implementing changes required during facilities upgrades and startup, supervises the work of operational services, treatment plant construction personnel in startup and initial operation of new or upgraded wastewater treatment facilities, processes, systems, and equipment.
• Participate in the development and compliance of operating policies ensuring compliance to all environmental and safety rules.
• Complete reports which document plant status, equipment, operating data, and operational events.
• Collect data on unplanned outages and make recommendations to minimize the probability of similar events.
• Serves as the real-time shift interface with the Commercial Group with respect to plant operations, outages, fuel, generations schedules.
• Perform Issuer and Verifier functions utilizing the approved Lock Out/Tag Out systems to help ensure that safe systems are always in place.
• Manage Department contract deliverables and scheduling.
• Responsible for ordering of materials and supplies.
• Ensures all equipment and processes are well maintained and functioning properly.
• Ensure that workstations and Treatment plant facilities are clean and safe in accordance with all regulatory requirements.
• Maintain proper operational documents and records.
• Assure work is performed in a safe and professional manner by following all corporate and regulatory policies, procedures, and emergency response procedures.
• Operates equipment and processes manually and through instrument control panels. 
• Work an assigned shift which may include weekends and holidays, respond to emergencies, work additional hours to complete required tasks as/and when needed.
• Operate company and client owned vehicles.
• Carries out other duties as assigned.

Work Environment:

• Work is performed both inside and outside with exposure to all kinds of weather conditions. 
• Incumbents may be occasionally exposed to some noise, sewage, silica, dust, fumes, smoke, gasses, greases, oils, electrical energy, solvents, and vibrations. 
• Incumbents 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.

Education/Experience/Background: 

• High School Diploma or GED, bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Environmental Science, Engineering, Biology/Laboratory, or related fields preferred.
• 5+ years of experience working in a plant operations position.
• Experience with maintenance systems, project contract administration in the water/wastewater utilities industry is preferred.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: 

• Strong process control knowledge is a must.
• Excellent reading, math, writing, scientific, and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational, scheduling, and prioritizing skills and abilities.
• Ability to read and interpret data from maps, engineering drawings, blueprints, gauges and graphs.
• Ability to understand/execute written and oral instructions, read/understand complex technical instructions.
• Ability to read, interpret, and record data from meters, gauges, scales, panels, and computer consoles.
• Ability to interpret service manuals and drawings and write SOPs.
• Excellent troubleshooting/problem solving skills, provides input for corrective actions and implements corrective actions as needed.
• Proficient in Windows, MS Office Suite, Google Workspace, OPS, EAM & CMMS, and other computer-based systems.
• Working knowledge of computerized PLC/SCADA systems, DCS control systems, computerized operating data acquisition and historical trending systems.
• Working knowledge and skills of equipment specific to departmental needs and requirements.
• Knowledge of and ability to perform standard laboratory sampling, testing, and documenting and maintaining all related records and reports.
• Knowledge of normal and abnormal process and equipment conditions and capable of taking appropriate, safe actions.
• Ability to operate complex controls, processes, and equipment.
• Knowledge of wastewater treatment plant equipment and processes.
• Knowledge of wastewater treatment plant regulations, requirements & reporting.
• Knowledge of proper Environmental, Health and Safety policies, procedures, and requirements.
• Must be capable of being assigned in responsible charge of the facility with the ability to react to unplanned events.
• Must have the ability to maintain effective working relations w/management, supervisors and staff.
• Must have the ability to make decisions with no supervision.
• Proven ability to successfully manage time and prioritize work.
• Must be able to communicate well w/individuals at all skill, knowledge and experience levels.
• Must be able to lead by example, lead, train and mentor all staff and team support personnel.
• Must have the ability to lead the department/team effectively in all situations under any conditions.
• Must be able to work closely with local contractors and vendors.
• Must be able to work as a team in a teamwork-oriented environment.
• Must be safety conscious and able to work independently with no supervision.

Required Certification/Licenses/Training: 

• Valid NYS Driver’s license and the ability to meet risk management guidelines.
• Possess a valid NY State Grade 3A Wastewater Treatment License, 4A license desired.

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. 
• The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hand to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl or smell. 
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this include close vision and distance vision.

Pay Range: $100000 to $105000 per year.

Benefits: Veolia’s comprehensive benefits package includes paid time off policies, as well as health, dental, vision, life insurance, savings accounts, tuition reimbursement, paid volunteering and more. In addition, employees are also entitled to participate in an employer sponsored 401(k) plan, to save for retirement.

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.