Distillation & Utilities Operator

3V Sigma USA•Georgetown, SC

5d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a safety-focused Distillation & Utilities Operator to support solvent recovery and chemical manufacturing operations at our Georgetown facility. This position operates distillation systems, manages plant utility equipment, and monitors environmental-control systems, including the thermal oxidizer (TOX), ground flare, and related solvent-recovery equipment. The ideal candidate will have industrial process experience, strong mechanical aptitude, and the ability to safely monitor and adjust multiple operating systems.

Requirements

Previous experience in chemical manufacturing, distillation, solvent recovery, plant utilities, wastewater treatment, refining, or a similar industrial process environment.
General knowledge of pumps, valves, heat exchangers, condensers, rupture discs, pressure-relief devices, and other common process equipment.
Ability to read gauges, follow operating procedures, maintain accurate records, and respond appropriately to changing process conditions.
Mechanical aptitude and the ability to safely use basic hand tools.
Strong commitment to workplace safety, environmental compliance, and established operating procedures.
Ability to communicate and coordinate effectively with Production, Maintenance, Environmental, and other plant departments.
Ability to work rotating days, evenings, overnight shifts, weekends, and holidays as scheduled.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience operating distillation columns or solvent-recovery systems.
Experience with thermal oxidizers, flares, steam strippers, cryogenic condensers, or wastewater-treatment systems.
Familiarity with industrial utility systems, including steam, cooling water, chilled water, nitrogen, and compressed air.
Experience using an ERP or maintenance-management system such as JD Edwards, SAP, or Oracle.
Experience working under safe work permit, hot work, line-break, lockout/tagout, and confined-space-entry procedures.

Responsibilities

Operate distillation units used to recover solvents from chemical manufacturing processes.
Connect feed, product, and sludge tanks and adjust heat supplied by plant boilers to maintain safe and efficient operation.
Operate and monitor three distillation columns and associated process equipment.
Charge and discharge pot stills according to batch requirements and product specifications.
Monitor plant utilities, including steam and condensate, cooling water, chilled water, nitrogen, process water, air dryers, and compressors.
Operate and monitor environmental-control equipment, including the thermal oxidizer, ground flare, steam stripper, and cryogenic condenser.
Monitor temperatures, pressures, flow rates, tank levels, and other process conditions, making operating adjustments when necessary.
Complete hourly operating logs, batch sheets, logbooks, and other required production records.
Collect representative liquid samples from process operations for testing.
Enter work orders into the company’s ERP system and coordinate equipment repairs with the Maintenance Department.
Perform basic mechanical tasks, including breaking piping or process lines apart, installing gaskets or packing, bolting flanges, and using common hand tools.
Follow established procedures for safe work permits, hot work, line breaks, lockout/tagout, and confined-space entry.
Identify and report equipment problems, process deviations, environmental concerns, and unsafe conditions.