Environmental Specialist, Senior

ConAgra Foods; Council Bluffs (IA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive healthcare plans

Bonus incentive opportunity

Matching 401(k)

Career development opportunities

Job summary

ConAgra Foods is seeking a Sr. Environmental Specialist to optimize wastewater treatment systems across its manufacturing network. You will be responsible for improving the reliability and efficiency of lagoon treatment and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and over 5 years of experience in wastewater treatment. The position offers a salary range of $82,000-$120,000 and various employee benefits such as healthcare plans and career development opportunities.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in operation and optimization of industrial or municipal wastewater treatment systems.
• Experience interpreting operational data, identifying trends, and implementing corrective actions.
• Experience with wastewater solids management and agricultural land application preferred.

Responsibilities

• Optimize wastewater treatment systems across Conagra's manufacturing network.
• Lead initiatives to improve reliability and efficiency of lagoon treatment.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local wastewater discharge permits.

Skills

Wastewater treatment process design

Operational data analysis

Communication skills

Lagoon treatment systems

Supervisory control and data acquisition systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, environmental science, or related field

Tools

Laboratory testing

Job description

Reporting to the Senior Director of Environmental, you will serve as the Sr. Environmental Specialist responsible for optimizing the daily performance of wastewater treatment systems across Conagra's manufacturing network. You will lead initiatives to improve reliability and efficiency of lagoon treatment, dissolved air flotation, neutralization, and equalization systems while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. You will provide technical guidance, analyze system data, and support operator training to maintain best-in-class wastewater operations.

This position can be based in: Fayetteville AR, Russellville AR, Fort Madison IA, Imail City MI, Archbold OH, Council Bluffs IA, Marshall MO, Troy OH or Darien WI.

A Taste of Your Responsibilities

• Serve as subject matter expert on wastewater treatment process design, control, and troubleshooting.
• Collaborate with engineering, maintenance, and environmental health and safety teams to evaluate system modifications and upgrades.
• Lead process monitoring and optimization of lagoon treatment, dissolved air flotation, equalization, and neutralization systems.
• Evaluate biological and chemical treatment performance through sampling, laboratory analysis, and data trending.
• Develop operational playbooks and standardized procedures across the manufacturing network.
• Travel to multiple sites to identify and implement process improvements that optimize treatment efficiency, energy use, and chemical consumption.
• Support daily operation of pumps, aerators, clarifiers, and other treatment infrastructure.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local wastewater discharge permits and environmental regulations.
• Establish standards for operational logs, sampling records, and performance reporting.
• Support preparation of permit applications, renewals, and regulatory inspections.
• Develop and deliver training for operators and plant personnel on treatment system operation, safety, and best practices.

Ingredients Required for Your Success

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, environmental science, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in operation and optimization of industrial or municipal wastewater treatment systems.
• Experience with lagoon treatment systems, dissolved air flotation units, neutralization, and equalization processes.
• Experience interpreting operational data, identifying trends, and implementing corrective actions.
• Experience with supervisory control and data acquisition systems, laboratory testing, and process control strategies.
• Strong communication skills to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Experience with wastewater solids management and agricultural land application preferred.
• Wastewater operator certification or Engineer in Training or Professional Engineer designation preferred.

Physical Requirements

More information about essential tasks and the facility will be shared during the hiring process. This role may require you to be in our manufacturing facilities. When visiting these sites, the physical requirements below may apply:

• May require walking around the facility, climbing stairs/ladders, kneeling, or performing repetitive tasks that require hand-eye coordination.
• May require lifting or carrying materials that can vary in weight and size.
• Manufacturing environment with large moving equipment; noise levels can be high and temperatures may vary.

Compensation

Pay Range: $82,000-$120,000

The annual salary listed above is the expected offering for this position. An employee’s actual annual salary will be based on but not limited to: location, relevant experience/level and skillset, while balancing internal Conagra employees’ equity. Conagra Brands will comply with applicable law regarding minimum salaries for exempt employees.

Our Benefits

We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role:

• Health: Comprehensive healthcare plans, wellness incentive program, mental wellbeing support and fitness reimbursement
• Wealth: Great pay, bonus incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan
• Growth: Career development opportunities, employee resource groups, on-demand learning and tuition reimbursement
• Balance: Paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role) and volunteer opportunities

Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request.