Biogas Operator

Vanguard Renewables; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental & Vision insurance

401(k) with match

Paid time off

Cell phone reimbursement

Job summary

Vanguard Renewables, based in Weston, Massachusetts, is seeking a Biogas Technician to operate and maintain an anaerobic digester and related equipment at our facilities. You will monitor gas production, temperatures, pressures, and equipment conditions to ensure safe, reliable plant operations.

Reporting to the Operations Manager, you will coordinate with contractors, support preventative maintenance, and train Biogas Operators to foster self-sufficient plant operations while upholding safety

Qualifications

• Valid driver''s license required.
• Regularly lift/move objects up to 50 lbs.
• Maintenance/operating experience in industrial or gas processing preferred.
• Experience or training in safety procedures/practices.
• Ability to read, write and understand English.
• Ability to read mechanical and electrical drawings.
• Troubleshoot mechanical and electrical issues onsite.
• Proficient with Windows-based applications (Outlook, Word, Excel).

Responsibilities

• Adheres to safety program and oversees contractor safety to ensure safe work.
• Supports plant safety and contributes to incident investigations.
• Promotes an accident/incident free workplace.
• General mechanical duties including valve work and motor replacement.
• Oversees 3rd party contractor service per contracts and assists with maintenance.
• Monitors gas production and concentrations (O2, H2S).
• Records operating data daily and checks for anomalies.
• Operates pumps, blowers and related equipment per policy.
• Participates in housekeeping and material handling safety.
• Executes preventative maintenance planning and writing work orders.
• Trains Biogas Operators on maintenance and repairs.

Skills

Valid driver's license

Lift 50 lbs

Industrial/gas processing experience

Safety procedures

Read/write English

Read drawings (mechanical/electrical)

Troubleshooting

MS Office (Outlook/Word/Excel)

Tools

Multimeters

Job description

Description

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 Technician 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.
• General Mechanical Duties- including valve replacement, tighten valve packing, minor pipe/flange repairs, disconnect and replace mixer motors on digesters, open and close bolted manway
• Schedule and oversee 3rd party contractor service implementation as outlined in established service contracts. Assist and support outside contractors with maintenance onsite maintenance such as 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 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.
• 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
• Train and mentor Biogas Operators on maintenance and repair procedures to encourage growth and knowledge gain, empowering self-sufficient plant operations with minimal outside assistance
• Consistent and on-time attendance
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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
• Relevant maintenance and operating experience in an industrial or gas processing environment is desired.
• Operational experience may be supplemented with military experience or training in a related field.
• A relevant background in safety procedures/practices.
• Ability to work on-call hours as required.
• 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 troubleshoot and remedy mechanical and electrical issues as they present on sites
• Comfortable using multimeters
• 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.