SABINE - Assistant Plant Manager

Aquatech tackles the challenges of water scarcity and complexity by leveraging technology, expertise, and financing to deliver comprehensive solutions that reduce carbon and recycled water footprint. As a leading global provider of water and process technology solutions, we help the world's most recognized companies achieve their sustainability and operational goals through innovative approaches for water reuse, desalination, minimal and zero liquid discharge, and critical minerals recovery.

About the role

The Assistant Manager O&M will be a full-time, exempt employee based in Sabine, LA. The ideal candidate will be highly organized, technically knowledgeable, a strong communicator, and a problem solver with a team-oriented mindset. This role requires previous experience managing team members in an industrial setting or similar environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage WTP-WWTP plant operations, ensuring maximum uptime, monitoring incoming and outgoing water quality, and tracking water production quantity.
• Schedule plant activities such as water analysis, ion exchange regeneration, and filter press cleaning.
• Ensure operations staff conduct water analysis at predefined frequencies and maintain logs.
• Guide the maintenance crew and ensure availability of tools and spare parts.
• Plan maintenance schedules and track inventory of spare parts.
• Train employees on safety, process, automation, and chemistry.
• Ensure housekeeping and adherence to all safety protocols (e.g., chemical hazards, confined space entry, Lockout-Tagout, electrical safety).
• Conduct daily morning meetings with O&M staff to plan the day’s work and perform Job Safety Analysis.
• Develop a safety and teamwork culture while ensuring discipline among employees.
• Conduct experiments in support of technology development objectives.
• Develop training documents and perform advanced problem-solving for complex issues or excursions.
• Implement corrective actions from system excursions.
• Coordinate construction activities with contractors working on IWS systems.
• Plan and execute system shutdowns for module or factory upgrades.
• Participate in design reviews for proposed system upgrades and provide input on sustainability.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Basic knowledge of chemistry, with the ability to quickly learn water chemistry.
• Experience with water treatment equipment such as filters, membrane systems, ion exchange resin systems, clarifiers, softening equipment, and sludge handling equipment.
• Experience with thermal process equipment (e.g., heat exchangers, evaporators, crystallizers, condensers) is desired but not required; ability to quickly learn these processes is required.
• Proven ability to manage manpower for plant and project operations while ensuring profitability.
• Aptitude for learning water treatment technology and industrial/municipal markets.
• Proficiency in MS Office, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint.
• Strong customer relationship skills; responsive and presentable.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time.
• Willingness to relocate anywhere in the U.S.

Candidates with similar skills from other chemical industries or engineers from OEM firms specializing in water treatment will also be considered.

Qualifications

• BS or Associate’s degree in Chemistry, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering.
• Six (6) years of experience in the operation and maintenance of an industrial water treatment facility or water utility plant, preferably in a supervisory role.
• In-depth understanding of water chemistry and water analysis techniques.
• Experience with clarifiers, chemical precipitation processes, media filtration, pre-filters, ion exchange systems, analytical instruments, and solids handling systems, including chemical injection.
• Experience with wastewater discharge permits and/or monitoring wastewater quality.
• Experience supervising shift operators, chemists, mechanics, electricians, and control technicians.
• Prior experience in material handling, inventory, and procurement.
• OSHA-10 certification preferred; ability to foster a safety-focused culture.
• Experience scheduling and managing maintenance on the Maximo platform.
• Proven ability to implement and execute daily scheduled work, prioritizing critical tasks.
• Familiarity with budget processes and assisting the O&M manager in budgeting and resource prioritization.
• Ability to provide input on employee development and assist in articulating developmental needs.
• Commitment to developing and fostering a safety-first environment.

Physical Demands

• Lifting, carrying, and moving objects (weight not specified).
• Climbing ladders and working at heights.
• Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while on site.
• Sitting at a desk for extended periods.
• High degree of concentration in a busy environment.