Environmental Systems Control Operator Lead

Radius Recycling•Tacoma, WA

About The Position

The Environmental Control Systems Operator Lead (ECSOL) implements company policies and procedural plans for environmental media, including air, stormwater, groundwater, solid waste, and hazardous waste, as applicable. The role directs, assigns, and evaluates Environmental Systems Control Operators (ESCOs) at the facility to promote compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, standards, permits, and other agreements. The ECSOL records facility compliance with permit conditions and provides accurate information to the Regional Environmental Manager (REM) and facility managers upon request. The position directly operates environmental control systems (ECSs), conducts field sampling and monitoring, observes and records environmental data, and assists with planning, design, installation, maintenance, and effective operation of ECSs and associated measuring devices. It may assist the REM with urgent responses to system upsets, incidents, spills, releases, and accidents, and provides notifications to management and regulatory agencies in consultation with the REM or national environmental staff. The role operates within flexible parameters, with the primary goal of safely and efficiently maintaining and operating ECSs in compliance with regulations and applicable permits, orders, and agreements. The ECSOL has direct oversight of ESCOs’ daily activities. The work is performed in an office and active industrial field environment, with approximately 80% of time spent in the field. The role may involve troubleshooting and maintaining equipment, routine system operation, collecting air and water samples, working at heights and outdoors in inclement weather, and occasional urgent responses outside normal hours or on weekends and holidays. Frequent local and regional travel by automobile or airplane may be required.

Requirements

Extensive applied environmental or manufacturing control system operational experience.
Three to five years of experience operating environmental or manufacturing control systems, including PLC programming and use, routine maintenance and troubleshooting, air and water sampling, permit compliance activities, and maintaining permit-required operating records.
Experience leading and mentoring personnel.
Valid driver’s license and ability to drive an automobile.
Ability to apply logical and scientific reasoning to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions in controlled situations.
Ability to read and understand engineering plans and specifications, evaluate system performance, and rapidly and effectively repair control-system malfunctions when necessary.
Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, including professional communication in person and through documents, email, text, and phone.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, environmental management systems, ECS testing or analytical programs, and PLC operation packages.
Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds frequently and up to 50 pounds occasionally; remain mobile in office and field environments; operate an automobile; climb and negotiate uneven surfaces; sit, stand, and walk for extended periods; and keyboard for up to several hours per day.
Visual acuity for reading, examining documents, equipment maintenance, field sampling, driving, and operating a laptop.
Ability to travel frequently by automobile or airplane to local and regional locations.
Ability to work in an active industrial facility, including isolated areas, at heights, on uneven surfaces, and outdoors in inclement weather.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or another applied science discipline; preferred but not required.
Experience operating and maintaining environmental or manufacturing control systems and maintaining associated permit-required compliance documentation.
Knowledge of local, state, and federal environmental programs and regulations, including approved sampling techniques and procedures.
Possession of, or ability to obtain, a Grade 2 Wastewater Treatment Operator License if applicable to the location.
Certification, or ability to obtain certification, to assess visual emissions for opacity using EPA Method 9 criteria.

Responsibilities

Plan daily assignments, conduct briefings, direct and assign ESCO work, and document its completion.
Model service excellence, review ESCO practices, conduct employee meetings and training, and maintain training records.
Participate in interviewing external candidates and internal candidates for transfers or promotions.
Manage vendor relationships and contracts, negotiate pricing, uphold service and product agreements, and coordinate equipment purchases and maintenance with Procurement Services.
Train employees to use company computer applications, including email, time and attendance systems, and required training modules.
Recommend improvements to environmental control systems to maintain regulatory compliance, improve efficiency, and reduce capital and operating costs.
Implement maintenance of ECSs and retain and manage contractors when needed.
Assist with developing and implementing environmental procedures applicable to ECSs and ensure compliance with company and divisional health, safety, and environmental standards.
Help provide a safe environment for employees, customers, and visitors.
Spend approximately 80% of work time in the field to support effective and efficient ECS operation.
Prepare and maintain permit-required environmental records and reports; collect, evaluate, and share information about ECS compliance requirements and maintain reference files.
Recommend procedural, design, or equipment changes when necessary and perform other assigned environmental duties, such as site inspections and spill-response preparedness.
Review construction plans for adequate pollution-control provisions and provide technical guidance for installation of pollution-control equipment.
Collaborate with project management, contractors, equipment suppliers, and operational departments on ECS installation and management of waste materials generated by ECS operation and maintenance.
Assist the REM with ECS equipment permitting as appropriate.
Maintain on-site ECS records and budgets and schedules for ongoing operating expenses and capital improvements.
Support internal controls by understanding, communicating, and complying with controls and recommending improvements to policies, procedures, and controls.
Communicate operational challenges, company policy violations, and regulatory compliance issues to a supervisor, senior Environmental Department staff, or the Compliance Department.
Directly oversee ESCOs’ daily activities at the facility.
Occasionally respond to urgent situations outside normal working hours, including weekends and holidays.