Lead Thermal Operator-1
Republic Services•Robstown, TX
•Onsite
About The Position
The Lead Thermal Operator is responsible for the safe, efficient, and compliant operation of a thermal desorption unit. This role leads shift activities, monitors critical process conditions, coordinates startup, steady-state operations, shutdowns, and upset response. Support environmental, health, and safety compliance across the facility. The position serves as the on-shift technical resource for operators, ensuring production targets, quality standards, equipment reliability, and regulatory requirements are consistently met.
Requirements
- Strong commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance.
- Knowledge of industrial hazards including hot surfaces, pressurized systems, rotating equipment, chemical exposure, fire and explosion risks, heat stress, and confined spaces.
- Ability to make sound operating decisions under pressure and respond effectively to alarms, changing process conditions, and emergency situations.
- Effective leadership, communication, and training skills with the ability to direct work and reinforce operating discipline across a shift team.
- Mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting capability for diagnosing process and equipment performance issues.
- Ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple activities, and maintain attention to detail in a fast-paced operating environment.
- Ability to work independently with limited supervision while maintaining strong coordination with operations, maintenance, laboratory, and management personnel.
- Working knowledge of pumps, motors, conveyors, burners, heat transfer systems, valves, instrumentation, and control systems.
- Experience reading gauges, trends, operating instructions, P&IDs, and basic process flow information.
- Ability to use computers and handheld devices for logs, inspections, training records, and production reporting.
- Must be able to complete site-specific training for hazardous waste operations, emergency response, and safe equipment operation.
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel locally within the South Texas region, if needed.
- Minimum 3-5 years of experience in industrial plant operations.
- Experience in thermal desorption, waste treatment, remediation, oilfield waste processing, chemical processing, or similar continuous-process operations.
Nice To Haves
- Previous lead operator, senior operator, or shift leadership experience.
- Forklift, loader, manlift, or similar mobile equipment experience preferred, where applicable.
Responsibilities
- Lead daily operation of the thermal desorption unit, associated material handling systems, burners, heaters, condensers, emissions control equipment, and support utilities in accordance with operating procedures and permit requirements.
- Direct and support shift operators during startup, shutdown, changeovers, normal operations, and emergency or upset conditions.
- Monitor and adjust key process parameters such as temperature, feed rate, residence time, pressure, flow, and moisture conditions to optimize throughput, product quality, and system performance.
- Review process trends, alarms, and operating data; identify abnormalities; troubleshoot equipment and process issues; and implement corrective actions in coordination with maintenance, laboratory, and supervisory personnel.
- Accurately complete operating logs, shift reports, inspection rounds, production records, sampling documentation, and incident or deviation reports.
- Perform and verify pre-startup checks, lockout/tagout compliance, equipment isolation, line-up verification, and safe work permit requirements before maintenance or non-routine work begins.
- Promote a strong safety culture by enforcing use of personal protective equipment, safe work practices, hazard recognition, housekeeping standards, and stop-work authority.
- Support compliance with applicable environmental and hazardous waste requirements, including waste handling, labeling, storage, inspection, spill prevention, and contingency response procedures.
- Coordinate with supervisors and maintenance teams on planned maintenance, equipment readiness, outage preparation, and return-to-service activities.
- Train, coach, and mentor operators on standard operating procedures, troubleshooting methods, emergency response expectations, and proper operation of site equipment such as loaders, forklifts, pumps, conveyors, and control systems.
- Participate in safety meetings, toolbox talks, audits, incident investigations, job hazard analyses, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Maintain readiness to respond to alarms, spills, fires, equipment failures, and other plant emergencies in accordance with site response plans.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned in support of safe and efficient facility operations.
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical benefits coverage, dental plans and vision coverage.
- Health care and dependent care spending accounts.
- Short- and long-term disability.
- Life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment insurance.
- Employee and Family Assistance Program (EAP).
- Employee discount programs.
- Retirement plan with a generous company match.
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
