Wastewater Operator/Supervisor

Wastewater Supervisor PFAS Treatment (Oil & Gas Refinery)

HPC Industrial is a leading provider of industrial and environmental services supporting mission-critical operations across the United States. As part of the National Water Services Group, we deliver safe, reliable, and compliant water and wastewater treatment solutions to complex industrial facilities, including oil and gas refineries. We are committed to a strong safety culture, operational excellence, and providing our teams with the tools and training to grow their careers. Based in Commerce City, CO (on-site at an oil & gas refinery).

Job Summary

The Wastewater Supervisor oversees day-to-day operations of PFAS-focused wastewater treatment systems at a refinery client site, ensuring safety, regulatory compliance, and treatment performance. This role leads an on-site team, manages pilot testing and capital upgrades, schedules carbon changeouts, maintains accurate logs and invoicing, and serves as the primary customer point of contact. The ideal candidate brings hands-on industrial wastewater expertise, deep knowledge of PFAS treatment technologies (e.g., GAC, ion exchange, high-pressure membranes), and a continuous improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Customer Communications: Serve as the primary on-site liaison; provide regular performance updates, KPIs, and treatment reports; align scope, schedule, and expectations; promptly communicate risks, deviations, and corrective actions.
• Invoicing & Daily Logs: Maintain accurate daily logs of operator hours, system performance, flows, sampling events, and consumables; submit daily force reports and ensure timely, accurate invoicing and supporting documentation.
• Pilot Test Management: Plan and execute pilot testing for PFAS treatment optimization (e.g., media selection, contact time, breakthrough curves); coordinate sampling plans; analyze results to recommend full-scale process adjustments.
• Capital Equipment Upgrade Management: Lead scope, schedule, and contractor coordination for upgrades (pumps, vessels, instrumentation, controls); manage commissioning, punch lists, and as-built documentation.
• Carbon Changeout Scheduling: Forecast media life using throughput and breakthrough data; schedule GAC/ION exchange changeouts with vendors; oversee safe vessel isolation, changeout, loading/unloading, and waste profiling/disposition.
• Safety Management of On-Site Team: Champion safe culture; conduct JSAs, tailgate talks, and audits; ensure compliance with OSHA, refinery site policies, lockout/tagout, confined space, hot work, and respiratory protection.
• Regulatory Compliance: Operate systems to meet permit and client requirements (e.g., NPDES/indirect discharge limits); ensure compliant PFAS sampling/handling; maintain records for audits; support regulatory reporting.
• Operational Excellence: Monitor SCADA/LIMS data; track KPIs (flow, pressure, media differential pressure, effluent quality); troubleshoot upsets; implement root-cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
• Team Leadership: Schedule, mentor, and develop operators/technicians; assign tasks; verify competency on SOPs; conduct performance check-ins; foster a diverse, inclusive, high-performing team culture.
• Planning & Inventory: Manage media and filter inventory, spare parts, and consumables; create PM schedules; generate and close work orders; coordinate vendor services and deliveries.
• Quality & Documentation: Maintain SOPs, batch records, MOCs, P&IDs, and as-builts; ensure calibration and instrument maintenance; uphold data integrity and document control standards.
• Emergency Response & Reliability: Lead response to process upsets or spills; coordinate with refinery and internal EHS; maintain contingency plans and readiness (backup pumps, redundancy, bypass protocols).

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of industrial wastewater operations experience, preferably in oil & gas/refinery environments, including PFAS or other emerging contaminant treatment.
• 2+ years of supervisory or lead experience directing on-site operators/technicians.
• Hands-on knowledge of PFAS treatment technologies such as granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion exchange (IX), including media breakthrough and changeout planning.
• Working knowledge of applicable regulations and permits (e.g., NPDES/indirect discharge, refinery site requirements) and best practices for PFAS sampling/handling.
• Strong skills in Excel and data analysis for trend tracking and reporting.
• Colorado Wastewater Operator certification (Class B or higher) or ability to obtain within 12 months (or equivalent transferable certification).
• Excellent communication and customer service skills; ability to present technical information clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Physical/Work Requirements: Ability to lift 50 lbs., climb stairs/ladders, stand for extended periods, and work in outdoor/industrial conditions; ability to wear required PPE and pass respirator fit testing; willingness to work occasional off-shifts, weekends, or on-call as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering; Environmental Science; or related technical field.
• Experience managing carbon/IX systems at refineries or chemical plants, including vendor management and waste profiling/disposal coordination.
• Demonstrated success leading pilot studies and scaling recommendations to full-scale systems.
• Knowledge of continuous improvement (Lean/6S) and reliability-centered maintenance practices.
• Project management experience (scheduling, cost control, change management); PMP a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive base hourly rate.
• Comprehensive health benefits: medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and sick time.
• Company-paid and reimbursed training, certifications, and career development opportunities.
• All required PPE provided; safety boots and prescription PPE allowances where applicable.
• Opportunities for advancement within the National Water Services Group and broader organization.