Industrial Wastewater Assistant Plant Manager

Socket.dev; Bound Brook (NJ); On-site; USD 83,000 - 98,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical and dental insurance

Retirement savings program

Certification support

Job summary

Woodard & Curran, a nationwide engineering and environmental services firm, seeks an Assistant Plant Manager for a 0.3 MGD groundwater treatment facility in Bridgewater, NJ. You will oversee daily operations, ensure regulatory compliance, and manage budgets and safety programs.

The role requires a NJ N-1 Industrial Wastewater license within 18 months and will involve coordinating with the Plant Manager, engineers, and field staff to maintain performance and safety at the site.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in water, wastewater, groundwater remediation, stormwater treatment, or related operations.
• Experience leading operators, maintenance personnel, contractors, or multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, P&IDs, manuals and specs.
• Strong mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and process troubleshooting skills.
• Experience supporting preventive maintenance, asset management, and improvement programs.
• Experience with capital projects, startups, or process modifications.
• Knowledge of environmental permits, sampling, and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day operation and maintenance of groundwater and stormwater treatment systems.
• Ensure regulatory permits, reporting, and environmental standards compliance.
• Coordinate maintenance activities and asset management programs.
• Assist with process optimization to improve system performance.
• Oversee contractors for maintenance, construction, and services.
• Support environmental sampling, reporting, and compliance documentation.
• Assist budget tracking and capital projects.
• Promote safety culture and compliance with health and safety rules.
• Build relationships with clients, regulators, vendors, and site personnel.

Skills

5+ years experience

Team leadership

Interpret drawings & specs

Troubleshooting skills

Regulatory compliance knowledge

Tools

Hach WIMS

Utility Cloud

Job description

Woodard & Curran is an employee-owned engineering, science, and operations firm dedicated to clean water, a safe environment, healthy communities, and happy people. We foster an inclusive, collaborative culture that supports professional growth, flexibility, and meaningful work, empowering our employees to make a lasting impact on our clients, communities, and the planet.

Build Your Career with Woodard & Curran!

At Woodard & Curran, you'll join a team of hundreds of certified operators supported by engineers, scientists, and environmental experts across the country. Together, we solve complex operational challenges, keep treatment facilities running efficiently, and help protect the environment and public health. We are also committed to investing in our people. Whether you're looking to expand your leadership responsibilities or advance your certifications, we'll support your professional growth through training, mentorship, and ongoing development opportunities.

We are seeking a full-time Assistant Plant Manager with a New Jersey N-1 Industrial Wastewater license to help lead operations and maintenance activities at a complex groundwater remediation facility in Bridgewater, New Jersey. In this role, you'll partner directly with the Plant Manager to support the safe, reliable, and compliant operation of a 0.3 MGD groundwater treatment system, two stormwater treatment systems, and associated infrastructure located at a large industrial site.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced operations professional who enjoys balancing technical problem-solving, leadership, project management, and environmental stewardship.

Key Responsibilities

As Assistant Plant Manager, you will:

• Support the day-to-day operation and maintenance of groundwater and stormwater treatment systems.
• Help ensure regulatory compliance with permits, reporting requirements, and environmental standards.
• Coordinate maintenance activities and support asset management and equipment reliability programs.
• Assist with process optimization initiatives to improve system performance and efficiency.
• Manage and oversee contractors performing maintenance, construction, and specialty services.
• Support environmental sampling programs, reporting, and compliance documentation.
• Participate in budget management and tracking of operational expenditures.
• Assist with capital improvement projects, equipment installations, and system upgrades.
• Promote a strong safety culture and help ensure compliance with health and safety requirements.
• Build positive relationships with clients, regulators, vendors, and site personnel.
• Provide support during operational emergencies, planned outages, and occasional after-hours activities.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in water, wastewater, groundwater remediation, stormwater treatment, industrial treatment, or related environmental operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading operators, maintenance personnel, contractors, or multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, P&IDs, equipment manuals, technical specifications, and operational data.
• Strong mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and process troubleshooting skills.
• Experience supporting preventive maintenance, asset management, equipment reliability, and process improvement programs.
• Experience supporting capital projects, equipment installations, startups, or process modifications.
• Knowledge of environmental permits, compliance requirements, sampling programs, and reporting processes.
• Strong communication, organizational, and project management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and facility management software, including Hach WIMS and Utility Cloud.
• Valid driver's license with a satisfactory driving record.

Licensing

• New Jersey N-1 Industrial Wastewater License required, or the ability to obtain the license within 18 months of hire.

Preferred Experience

Candidates with experience in any of the following areas are especially encouraged to apply:

• Groundwater remediation systems
• Industrial wastewater treatment
• Stormwater treatment operations
• Contractor management
• Budget oversight
• Environmental compliance programs

Physical & Work Environment

• This position involves working in both indoor and outdoor industrial environments and may require lifting up to 40 pounds. Team members must be available to respond to operational emergencies and provide occasional after-hours support when needed.
• As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to complete a job-related physical examination and background check.

Why Join Woodard & Curran?

This position offers the opportunity to:

• Expand your leadership and management skills.
• Gain hands-on experience with complex environmental treatment systems.
• Lead meaningful projects that support environmental compliance and sustainability.
• Work alongside experienced operators and technical specialists.
• Receive support for maintaining and advancing industry certifications.
• Build a long-term career with a growing employee-owned company.

Compensation & Benefits

Expected Salary Range: $83,000 - $97,760 annually, depending on experience and licensure.

In addition, eligible employees may receive overtime and bonus opportunities.

Woodard & Curran offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Generous paid time off and company holidays
• Medical and dental insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Retirement savings programs
• Professional development and certification support
• Career growth opportunities
• Employee assistance programs and additional wellness benefits

Woodard & Curran offers a comprehensive benefits package. For more information about our benefits & workplace policies visit Benefit & Policy Information - Woodard & Curran.

E-Verify Participation: Woodard & Curran participates in E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. As part of this process, we provide access to Right to Work & E-Verify postings.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Accessibility: Woodard & Curran is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to non-discrimination and make employment decisions based on job-related factors. Individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact Beth Sweitzer.

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