Biogas Operator

Vanguard Renewables; Spencer (MA); On-site; USD 38,572 - 44,083; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and vision benefits

Life and disability insurance

401(k) with match

Flexible Spending Account

Education assistance

Performance bonus

Paid time off

Cell phone reimbursement

Job summary

Vanguard Renewables in Weston, MA is hiring a Biogas Operator to run anaerobic digestion and associated equipment. You will monitor gas production, assist with maintenance, and ensure safety programs are followed.

The role requires strength to lift up to 50 lbs, ability to work on-call hours, and a background in safety. You will work with contractors and field teams to keep plant operations running smoothly.

Qualifications

• Must have valid driver's license.
• Able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Maintenance and operating experience in industrial or gas processing.
• Able to work on-call hours.
• Military experience or related training acceptable.
• Background in safety procedures.
• Able to respond quickly to changing conditions.
• English reading/writing required.
• Read and understand mechanical/electrical drawings.
• Minor electrical troubleshooting with multimeters.

Responsibilities

• Adheres to safety program; coordinate with outside contractors to work safely.
• Stress the importance of a safe work environment and follow lock-out/tag-out procedures.
• Support safety, health, and environmental programs; assist in incident investigations.
• Promote a zero-accident mindset in the workplace.
• Assist outside contractors with onsite maintenance and equipment overhauls.
• Monitor gas production and concentrations (O2, H2S).
• Record hourly/daily plant parameters and respond to trends.
• Troubleshoot initially before contacting technicians.
• Learn from technicians to maintain in-house capability.
• Operate pumps, blowers, and related equipment per guidelines.
• Participate in housekeeping and safety programs.
• Plan and execute preventive maintenance activities.
• Write work orders to track repairs and maintenance.
• Assist in SOPs and energy isolation procedures.
• Maintain consistent on-time attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Driver's license

Industrial maintenance

Gas processing

On-call availability

Safety procedures

Reading drawings

English literacy

Quick reaction

Data interpretation

Windows apps

Electrical troubleshooting

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

MS Outlook

Multimeters

Job description

Full-time

Vanguard Renewables, based in Weston, Massachusetts, is a national leader in environmental services and the development of food and dairy waste-to-renewable energy projects. The Company builds, owns, and operates on-farm anaerobic digestion facilities and is continuing to scale through an extensive national expansion of its Farm Powered ® platform. It is committed to advancing decarbonization by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farms and food waste, generating renewable energy, and supporting regenerative agriculture on partner farms. Vanguard Renewables is a portfolio company of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock.

Reporting to the Operations Manager, the Biogas Operator performs skilled work that is necessary in operating an anaerobic digester, gas conditioning skid, associated digester and upgrader plant equipment. The facility is composed of a digester, pumps, gas blowers, compressors, oxygen generators, condensers, chillers, and related auxiliary equipment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Adheres to, and has full working knowledge of, the company safety program. Will have limited oversight responsibility for outside maintenance contractors to ensure that they are working in a safe manner.
• Communicates with all personnel to stress the importance of a safe work environment. Required to isolate equipment following proper Lock-out Tag-Out procedures.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and supports the plant safety, health, and environmental programs in all activities. Contributes to incident investigations to reduce recurrence of accidents/incidents.
• Supports and promotes the philosophy of maintaining an accident/incident free workplace.
• Assist and support outside contractors with all onsite maintenance, including media change-outs, large equipment overhauls, and vacuum removal of solids from digesters.
• Monitor gas production of anaerobic digesters with a focus on O2 and H2S concentration.
• Complete hourly and daily rounds of plant equipment and capture fluid temps, pressures, oil levels, gas concentrations, process flows. Check equipment for proper operation looking for excessive vibration, fluid leaks and any conditions needing further attention. Accurately record all plant operational parameters and respond to unsatisfactory trends and remedy as needed.
• Conduct initial troubleshooting prior to calling in technicians and/or 3rd party contactors
• Learn from technicians and 3rd party contractors on servicing equipment to use in future scenarios to keep maintenance in-house
• Operate plant equipment including the pumps, blowers, and other related auxiliary equipment in accordance with manufacturer recommendation and established company policy.
• Participate in plant housekeeping programs and material handling safety activities to ensure safe working conditions.
• Participate in the planning and execution of preventative maintenance activities.
• Write work orders on work management software to track repairs and scheduled maintenance
• Assist in writing Standard Operating Procedures and Energy Isolation Procedures
• Consistent and on-time attendance
• Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Valid driver's license and ability to operate a motor vehicle is required.
• Will be required to regularly lift, move and/or push objects weighing up to 50lbs
• Maintenance and operating experience in an industrial or gas processing environment.
• Ability to work on-call hours as required.
• Operational experience may be supplemented with military experience or training in a related field.
• A relevant background in safety procedures/practices.
• Able to quickly respond to rapidly changing conditions.
• Ability to read, write and understand English is required.
• Ability to read and understand mechanical and electrical drawings.
• Ability to do minor electrical troubleshooting with the use of multimeters i.e., testing fuses and verifying line voltages
• Ability to analyze and interpret data and to make sound recommendations on plant conditions.
• Fundamental proficiency in Windows-based applications (Outlook, Word, and Excel) on a PC or tablet required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work locations are industrial and agricultural, primarily outdoors.
• Limited exposure to hazardous materials and/or toxic fumes will require the use of approved personal protective equipment. Regular exposure to heat, noise, flammable materials, rotating equipment, and other conditions normally encountered in an industrial environment should be expected.
• Vanguard Renewables will ensure all applicable work rules and safety requirements are closely adhered to.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive health insurance benefits, including HSA option, with substantial employer premium contributions.
• Competitive, employer-sponsored (100% paid) dental, vision, and wellness benefits.
• Basic employer-paid life and disability insurance, with optional supplemental life and AD&D coverage.
• 401(k) retirement program with employer match and immediate eligibility.
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options to support healthcare and dependent care expenses.
• Education and adoption assistance programs to support personal and family goals.
• Discretionary performance-based bonus opportunity in addition to competitive base salary.
• Robust paid time off supporting flexibility and work-life balance.
• Monthly cell phone and business expense reimbursement.

Vanguard Renewables is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a work environment that supports, inspires, and respects all individuals and in which personnel processes are merit-based and applied without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, national or ethnic origin, military service status, citizenship, or other protected characteristic.

$28-$32