Sr. Approvals Chemist

Veolia•Arkadelphia, AR

3d•Onsite

About The Position

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: Conduct thorough reviews of waste profiles, safety data sheets (SDS), and waste materials to ensure worker safety and regulatory compliance while maximizing approved waste volume for revenue generation. Provide senior technical leadership, mentorship, and strategic oversight of waste approval processes and compliance operations.

Requirements

Bachelor degree preferred
8+ years of relevant experience
Regulatory and Compliance
Analytical Chemistry and Testing
Hazardous Waste Classification
Incinerator Operations and Chemistry
Waste Acceptance Criteria
Chemical and Physical Properties of Chemicals/Waste
Industry-Specific Knowledge
SOP development
Strong Leadership and communication skills
Strong Technical skills
Project Management experience
Computer skills including Microsoft or Google suite, Industry-Specific Technical expertise
Accountability, integrity, continuous improvement, regulatory awareness

Responsibilities

Review WIP, SDS, and waste profiles with meticulous attention to detail to prevent unsafe materials from entering operations
Conduct advanced chemical composition analysis and hazard characterization assessments
Establish and maintain chemical acceptance criteria, thresholds, and approval protocols
Develop and implement waste approval standards and best practices
Mentor and supervise junior technical staff on waste analysis methodologies
Provide senior-level technical authority on complex or high-risk waste streams
Lead continuous improvement initiatives for approval processes
Identify, track, and resolve off-specification waste issues in FMS and Salesforce systems
Conduct root cause analysis on compliance failures and safety concerns
Develop corrective action plans and preventive measures
Supervise investigation of discrepancies and ensure timely resolution
Escalate critical safety or compliance issues to management
Maintain comprehensive audit trails and documentation
Conduct detailed audits and reviews of labpack shipments prior to acceptance
Establish and maintain audit protocols, quality standards, and acceptance criteria
Review and approve high-risk or complex waste materials
Supervise and train staff on labpack audit procedures
Ensure all materials meet acceptance criteria prior to operational intake
Provide technical guidance on packaging and labeling compliance
Maintain and enhance approval data in FMS database
Develop and maintain chemical compatibility matrices and reference databases
Create and update technical documentation and approval guidelines
Implement system improvements to enhance data quality and accessibility
Ensure accurate, complete, and traceable records of all waste approvals
Lead database optimization and standardization initiatives
Provide timely feedback to branches and customers regarding waste opportunities
Communicate acceptance/rejection decisions with clear technical justification
Identify and communicate waste stream opportunities to maximize approved volume
Serve as senior technical liaison between operations and external stakeholders
Build and maintain strong customer relationships
Represent technical department in customer negotiations and discussions
Support field operations with drum segregation oversight and chemical/waste compliance verification
Develop and implement quality assurance protocols for waste acceptance
Conduct periodic audits of approval processes and compliance
Monitor and report on approval metrics and performance indicators
Recommend process improvements to enhance safety and efficiency
Supervise quality assurance activities and staff
Serve as technical resource for incineration and landfill operations; assist or backup process planners as needed
Provide expert technical guidance on waste processing and disposal methods
Support complex operational decisions with advanced analysis
Conduct training and provide technical mentorship to operations staff
Lead technical problem-solving initiatives
Serve as subject matter expert for regulatory and compliance matters