Biogas Operator

Vanguard Renewables; Virginia; On-site; USD 60,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

FSA

Job summary

Vanguard Renewables is seeking a Biogas Technician to operate and maintain anaerobic digesters and related equipment. You will monitor gas production, perform routine maintenance, and support contractor activities to ensure safe, reliable plant operation.

You will participate in safety programs, write work orders, analyze data, and mentor Biogas Operators to grow skills and keep the site compliant with company policies and regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of plant safety, health, and environmental programs.
• Ability to read, write and understand English.
• Ability to read mechanical and electrical drawings.
• Willingness to work on-call hours as required.

Responsibilities

• Adheres to safety program; oversee outside contractors for safe work.
• Monitor gas production and digester parameters.
• Write work orders and track maintenance.
• Operate and maintain plant equipment per procedures.
• Train Biogas Operators and mentor team.

Skills

Mechanical maintenance

Electrical troubleshooting

Reading drawings

Data analysis

On-call

Safety procedures

English proficiency

Tools

Multimeters

MS Office

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.

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.