Technical SME – Water Chemistry

Duties And Responsibilities

• Training and Development of Personnel
• Partner with Operations leadership to ensure personnel understand system design intent and water quality risks.
• Provide ongoing education and mentorship to improve enterprise-wide understanding of water chemistry management.
• Analyze water quality data and trends to identify risks to system reliability, efficiency, and equipment life.
• Provide technical interpretation of vendor-generated reports and ensure appropriate corrective actions are identified and executed.
• Define and monitor KPIs related to water quality, system performance, and vendor effectiveness.
• Drive improvements in water usage efficiency, chemical optimization, and overall system reliability.
• Support site teams during abnormal conditions, excursions, or incidents related to water quality or system degradation.
• Maintain awareness of industry advancements in water treatment technologies, sustainability practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate and recommend new solutions to improve water conservation, treatment effectiveness, and operational efficiency.
• Communicate complex water chemistry concepts and risks to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Support customer-facing discussions as needed, ensuring alignment with contractual and operational expectations.

Global Support to Site Operations Teams

• Establish and enforce Aligned’s water chemistry program standards, and reporting requirements across all sites.
• Provide oversight and governance of third-party water treatment vendors.
• Ensure all sites operate within defined water chemistry parameters and escalate deviations as required.
• Develop standard reporting frameworks to ensure consistency across vendors and sites.
• Monitor local and national compliance through audits, performance reviews, and data validation.
• Support site teams during abnormal conditions, excursions, or incidents related to water quality or system degradation.
• Participate in root cause analysis efforts and provide subject matter expertise for incident investigations involving water chemistry.

Forward vision

• Maintain awareness of industry advancements in water treatment technologies, sustainability practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate and recommend new solutions to improve water conservation, treatment effectiveness, and operational efficiency.
• Lead technical validation and implementation of new water chemistry strategies and programs.

Communications

• Communicate complex water chemistry concepts and risks to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Provide clear, concise reporting to leadership on water program health, risks, and performance.
• Support customer-facing discussions as needed, ensuring alignment with contractual and operational expectations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or equivalent training/experience.
• 8+ years of experience in industrial water treatment, cooling tower chemistry, or related data center/mechanical systems environments.
• Demonstrated experience in managing third-party vendors and service providers.
• Strong understanding of cooling systems, hydronic systems, and water treatment processes in mission-critical environments.
• Experience interpreting water analysis reports, system trends, and performance data.
• Proven ability to develop and implement technical standards and programs at scale.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong customer service and stakeholder management acumen.
• Ability to travel up to 30%.

Competencies

• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs workflows and procedures.
• Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions; Displays orientation to profitability; Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; Aligns work with strategic goals.
• Change Management - Develops workable implementation plans; Communicates changes effectively; Builds commitment and overcomes resistance; Prepares and supports those affected by change; Monitors transition and evaluates results.
• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Design - Generates creative solutions; Translates concepts and information into images; Uses feedback to modify designs; Applies design principles; Demonstrates attention to detail.
• Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Educates others on the value of diversity; Promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce.
• Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.
• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Judgement - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization's goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.
• Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; Analyzes market and competition; Identifies external threats and opportunities; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
• Physical Demands And Work Environment