Lead Industrial Wastewater Operator

Woodard & Curran Inc.; Crossville (TN); On-site; USD 71,635,200 - 85,962,240; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits

401(k) with company match

Career growth opportunities

Licensure support

Job summary

Woodard & Curran is seeking a qualified Lead Operator to support the wastewater pretreatment plant for a food and beverage client in Crossville, Tennessee. You will lead daily operations, ensure compliance, and monitor treatment targets while coordinating with the Project Manager.

The role involves outdoor work, 8 days on/6 off schedule, primarily first shift, with 10- and 12-hour days as needed. A Tennessee wastewater license is preferred; licensure assistance provided.

Qualifications

• High School Degree or Equivalent.
• Valid Driver's License required.
• Tennessee Wastewater License preferred; licensure with company support.
• Minimum 5 years of related experience in wastewater treatment facility operations and maintenance.
• Background check, pre-placement physical and drug screen required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of the wastewater treatment facility as directed by the Plant/Project Manager.
• Ensure process targets are met across treatment and odor control systems.
• Monitor processes, troubleshoot, and implement procedures for safety and compliance.
• Collect samples and perform in-house lab analyses; coordinate external analyses as needed.
• Maintain records of chemical usage, flows, equipment, and logs for compliance.
• Communicate with regulatory officials and client representatives as required.
• Support capital planning and equipment performance improvements.

Skills

Wastewater treatment experience

Regulatory compliance

Lab analysis

Operations supervision

Safety procedures

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Woodard & Curran is a national engineering, science and operations firm with a simple vision for clean water, a safe environment, healthy communities and happy people. As an employee-owned company, we strive to cultivate teams that encourage collaboration in an inclusive culture. We seek talented individuals from all backgrounds to help us address a broad range of water and environmental issues. We prioritize our people, offering opportunities for professional growth, ownership and flexibility. This commitment enables us to make a meaningful impact on our clients, communities and the planet.

Woodard & Curran draws on the experience of hundreds of certified operators across the country, backed by the knowledge and skills of hundreds more engineers, scientists, and regulatory experts, to quickly tackle the most challenging operational issues and keep treatment plants running efficiently and in full compliance. Woodard & Curran also aids employees in earning, upgrading, and keeping their certifications within the industry.

What would you be doing at Woodard & Curran?

Woodard & Curran is growing, and we are looking for a qualified Lead Operator! Come join our team supporting the wastewater treatment needs for a food and beverage client located in Crossville, Tennessee! In this role, you will have the chance to work in Industrial Wastewater Treatment, allowing you the opportunity to grow and develop your skill set in the field. Each day presents different challenges and learning opportunities as we strive to maintain safety, compliance and produce the highest quality of treated wastewater.

You will be working in a wastewater pretreatment plant that treats Industrial wastewater. If you enjoy working outdoors protecting nature’s precious resource, water, then this position is for you.

The Wastewater Lead Operator regularly participates in the daily operations and maintenance of the Wastewater Treatment facility as directed by the Project Manager. Employees who join Woodard & Curran’s staff find a culture that is welcoming, supportive, and empowering.

• Assumes responsibility for all daily operations of the water and/or wastewater treatment facility as directed by the Plant/Project Manager.
• Responsible for ensuring that the facility meets all process control targets in the various treatment systems and odor control systems.
• Implements policies and procedures for process monitoring and control and troubleshooting.
• Supervises the collection of process samples or collects samples when necessary.
• Performs in-house lab analysis and interprets their results. May be required to coordinate all additional analysis with certified labs for compliance.
• Supervises or performs the adjustment of wastewater process systems, operations and equipment in order to comply with local, state and federal standards and compliance permit requirements.
• Coordinates with staff to evaluate equipment performance and correct deficiencies, assists with capital planning.
• Develops and maintains records such as chemical usage, flows, operations equipment and process checklists, diaries, logbooks and laboratory records in accordance with the compliance permit and client requests.

• May be required to communicate with regulatory officials and client representatives.

Schedule

The schedule is eight days on, six days off, and will mostly be on first shift, although there may be times where other shift coverage is required during emergencies or when other staff are out on vacation or other call-outs. The operators work from Wednesday through the following Wednesday and then get the next 6 days off. Weekdays are 10-hour days and the weekends (Saturday & Sunday) and holidays are 12-hour days.

What you will need to succeed!

• High School Degree or Equivalent.
• Valid Driver's License required.
• A wastewater license is not required but a Tennessee Wastewater License is preferred. We will work with employees to obtain licensure.

• Minimum 5 years of related experience in wastewater treatment facility operator and maintenance.

• Ability to make sound decisions in process control and follow instructions, as well as follow safety procedures.
• Successful candidates will be required to complete a background check, pre-placement physical and drug screen before employment.

Why would you choose Woodard & Curran?

• You would be offered a generous total rewards package:
  • Competitive compensation.
  • Excellent Benefits to include retirement, generous paid time off, holidays, medical & dental insurance, flexible spending account.
  • Career growth.
  • Support and reimbursement in earning, upgrading, and keeping your licenses and certifications within the industry. Bonus potential for obtaining next level licensure.
  • The opportunity to become more versatile and even more technically proficient. We cross-train to improve facility operations, job satisfaction, and job security.

$25 - $30 an hour

Pay range will vary based on level of experience and licensure.

Mutual Dispute Resolution (MDR)

As part of our commitment to a fair and respectful workplace, Woodard & Curran uses a Mutual Dispute Resolution (MDR) to help resolve most employment-related concerns efficiently and consistently.

What this means:

• MDR applies to both you and the Company
• Most workplace-related disputes are resolved through binding arbitration, rather than court proceedings
• Certain exceptions are outlined in the full agreement

If you are offered a position with Woodard & Curran, you will be asked to review and sign the MDR as part of your offer packet.

Review the full agreement here: Mutual Dispute Resolution Agreement

Employee Support & Benefits

Retirement Savings

• 401(k) Pre-tax or Roth Contributions: The company matches 100% of the first 3% of salary contributed

Time away from work

• Observed holidays: Choose up to 8 holidays to observe annually
• Vacation: Accrued based on years of experience and calculated on hours worked
• Sick time: Paid sick time for non-work-related illness or injury.
• Parental leave: Up to 80 hours of Paid Parental Leave for child bonding

Coverage and support for your needs and well-being

• Disability: Paid short- and long-term disability
• Health: Medical plan options; plus dental and vision plans.
• Life: Basic employee group life insurance and AD&D benefits; additional voluntary life insurance for employees and families is available through Sun Life.
• Wellbeing: DarioMind assistance program combined with personalized mental health and wellbeing resources.

Workplace Information

E-Verify Participation

Woodard & Curran participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. As part of this process, we display the required Notice of E-Verify Participation and Right to Work posters.

View required Right to Work and E-Verify posters here.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Accessiblity

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.

View our Equal Employment Opportunity Policy. View the 'Workplace Discrimination is Illegal' poster

Inclusion & Belonging

We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and believe diverse perspectives strengthen our ability to serve clients and communities.

As an employee-owned company, we are committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment where employees can grow, contribute fully, and deliver meaningful impact.

Recruitment Agency Policy

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies. Submissions without a signed agreement in place will be considered unsolicited and not eligible for referral fees.

Text Message Communication Notice

To support an efficient hiring process, we may send brief SMS updates or reminders. You may opt out at any time by replying "STOP".

Terms, Privacy & Use of AI in Hiring

Woodard & Curran Terms of Use. Woodard & Curran Privacy Statement. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support aspects of the hiring process (e.g., application review or resume screening). These tools assist our team but do not replace human decision-making. All final hiring decisions are made by people.